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Your car’s engine needs a steady intake of fresh oxygen to mix with the fuel inside each cylinder. The air filter keeps airborne debris from entering the engine, but over time, these filters become dirty and clogged up with all the contaminants they collect. This means you need to periodically head to your local Honda dealership for a new air filter. Let’s look at how often you should do this.
Change Your Filter Every 30,000 to 45,000 Miles
A typical interval for air filter replacement is once every 30,000 to 45,000 miles, which is about once every two to three years. This schedule will work for most drivers who don’t drive in particularly dusty or dirty conditions.
Check the Owner’s Manual for Your Vehicle
Each vehicle make and model has its own recommended interval for air filter changes. It’s always best to follow this specific guidance, so take a look in your owner’s manual now.
Consider How Dusty Your Driving Conditions Are
Of course, how rapidly an air filter becomes clogged up with debris depends on how much dust and dirt is entering from the air outside. This means drivers who live in particularly hot and dusty environments, or who regularly use unpaved roads, will need a new filter more frequently. Even regular commuting in heavy traffic puts air filters under more strain than usual.
Keep an Eye on the Condition of Your Filter
The surest way to know how soon you’ll need to buy a new filter is to routinely check the condition of your current one. Draw your air filter out of the compartment every now and then to check how discolored or grimy it looks. New filters tend to be white or off-white in hue, fading to grey or black as they collect contaminants.
While inspecting it, make sure you look in between the filter’s pleats. If the filter looks very dirty and has clogged-up patches, then you can safely assume it’s time for a new one.
Watch Out for Signs of an Oxygen-Starved Engine
When an air filter becomes clogged, it can restrict the inflow of air to the engine. This can lead to engine misfires, dropping engine power, backfiring, smoke emerging from the tailpipe, and other problems. If you notice such issues developing in your car, check the condition of your air filter right away.
Ask for Guidance at Your Local Honda Dealership
If in doubt, you can always ask the technicians at your local dealership to inspect your air filter. They can also let you know how long it’s likely to be before you need a replacement.
Visit Ed Martin Honda in Indianapolis, IN, today to have your air filter replaced with a new one. We’re a long-standing family-owned dealership that’s been diligently serving the drivers of Indianapolis for decades.
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