To increase the efficiency of fuel combustion, certain conditions are created, among which it is worth noting the use of purified air. This function is performed by air filters for cars.
Destination
Oxygen is necessary for the full combustion of fuel in the engine. At the same time, it must be clean and arrive in a sufficiently large amount. A device for solving a similar problem was created at the dawn of the automotive industry. As a result of intense mileage and various tests, it became clear that the engine should be equipped with special protection that reduces the likelihood of breakdowns and prolongs the period of operation.
Car air filters can have various external designs. Despite this, the principle of operation is always unchanged: through a special pipe, air enters the housing, inside which there is a filter element. Dust particles settle on it during flow, and clean air enters the motor manifold.
Kinds
Since the creation of this part, many varieties have appeared that differ in the following characteristics:
- number of stages of filtration;
- Operating conditions;
- manufacturing material of the filtering part;
- filtration method (cyclone, direct-flow, inertial oil);
- design (flat, square or round).
The most widely used types of filters are zero resistance, paper and inertial oil. Particular attention is currently being paid to increasing mileage, so manufacturers are taking various measures to change the air filter less frequently. Car-day is a unit of measurement of the quality of work of transport, which is also taken into account when calculating the operating time of the filter in an industrial environment.
Paper backed device
The most popular option can be safely called a paper filter, which is based on corrugated material. Its structure allows you to retain small particles and moisture on the fibers, while air passes through it without hindrance. The service life is calculated in mileage and is within 15 thousand kilometers. If the car is rarely used, the device must be replaced every two years. Low cost is the main advantage, it is also worth noting the light weight, quick installation and easy use. But air filters for cars are not without drawbacks. They are subject to moisture and mechanical stress. Due to the low strength of the paper base, they become unusable when the corrugated element is damaged. Also, the filter throughput characteristics tend to decrease over time due to surface contamination, this adversely affects the quality of the engine.
Inertial oil
Such an air filter of a GAZ car and other brands has also gained sufficient distribution. It has a simple design: mineral oil acts as a filter base and is located in a separate housing through which an air stream passes, while all contaminants and small particles remain in the oil. The main feature of this option is the possibility of reusable use. Since the degree of contamination of the oil component has a direct effect on the degree of clogging of the device, after using the oil resource, it is enough to rinse the structure and fill it with a new mineral-based compound. But today, such a device is used less and less due to the low degree of purification and large mass.
Zero resistance filter
Most often it can be found in sports tuned cars. It has some similarities with the paper version. Foam inserts used as filter parts are the main difference. Such devices provide an active intake of air into the motor, while it is pumped almost without delay, due to which it regularly receives the necessary amount of air. They are also great for cars equipped with turbocharged and boosted engines. Due to its high efficiency, engine power increases significantly after installation. In the process, such air filters for cars emit a noticeable noise - this is their only drawback. Moreover, this parameter is not relevant for the formed power units.
Filter change intervals
The frequency of device replacement depends on many factors and operating conditions. It is also worth taking into account the manufacturer's recommendations. It is believed that the car air filter should be replaced every 10 thousand kilometers. In most cases, this is true, but in winter and when the machine is inactive, the device may change less frequently.
Operating conditions are critical. Regular installation of new elements is necessary with frequent exposure to dust and driving on dirt roads, in which case the motor will last longer and will be protected from harmful effects. With heavy use of the car, you can focus on its behavior and controllability. There are main signs indicating the need to replace the filter:
- decrease in power characteristics;
- exhaust gases contain an increased amount of carbon dioxide;
- fuel consumption becomes greater compared to the previous period.
The appearance of such signs is extremely undesirable, since installing a new filter element is much simpler and cheaper than repairing the motor.
What you need to know
The basis of the filter also affects the frequency of its replacement, since the rate of its contamination depends on the type of material. Earlier production of air filters for cars limited to the use of a paper base with special impregnation, today it was replaced by a synthetic, more durable material. So manufacturers were able to achieve a significant increase in the period of operation of the filter element.
How to clean the car air filter
It is believed that devices of this kind can be reused after cleaning. And if this is true in relation to the oil filter, then it does not fit the option with a paper base. This device is designed for a certain period of operation, the implementation of such measures is not able to significantly increase it, while the risk of structural damage at the most inopportune moment increases.
If there is an urgent need for cleaning and there is no possibility of acquiring a new filter, it must be removed from the car and carefully knock out large dust lumps. If you have a compressor, you can do without removing the device. Then the base is cleaned using a conventional vacuum cleaner. After carrying out all work, it is necessary to carefully inspect the structure to make sure that there are no damages. The number of such cleanings can be unlimited, most often they are resorted to in the summer and before long trips.
Despite the fact that the filter may visually look clean, its functioning will be less efficient, and poorly cleaned air will enter the motor. To avoid unnecessary problems, it is worth making a replacement in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturers, especially since new, even the best air filters of cars are not so expensive.