If you have a car, you may definitely know that cleaning only the exterior part of the car does not suffice. Cleaning the interior parts is very important to keep up the peak performance. One of such parts that you need to clean at a regular interval is your car filter.
Chances are that you have a good K&N filter in your car and you want to know how often should i clean My K&N air filter and how to clean it most importantly. Don’t worry, we will talk about all these in this article.
Filter is an important part of every car. They prevent dust, debris and other particles from entering the car engine. And for this, for clogging up all those particles they need to be cleaned regularly so that they can trap those particles efficiently and give the car a better performance.
K&N air filters give a very good performance. But like all other filters they too need to be cleaned. We will discuss in this article the steps that you can follow to clean your K&N air filter. First and foremost, let’s discuss how often you should clean your air filter. So let’s jump right to it.
How Often Should I Clean My K&N Air Filter
Every 15,000 miles or so, clean your car’s air filter. You should follow the servicing schedule recommended in your car’s handbook for the air filter. If you reside in a rural region with more dirt and dust on the road, you may need to clean the air filter more frequently.
Even if you don’t drive much, we recommend cleaning the air filter as part of a regular service at least once a year to ensure the engine’s performance and efficiency. Air filters should be replaced every three years since they can become brittle and stop working properly over time.
Common Signs of a Dirty Air Filter
Air filters are sometimes forgotten as part of routine maintenance, but they must be cleaned according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If your air filter is unclean, you may notice the following symptoms:
- Fuel efficiency is reduced.
- Engine noises that are unusual
- Reduced energy
- Engine Inspection turn on the light
- The exhaust emits a thick black smoke.
- Engine is misfiring
- When starting the automobile, there is a strong scent of gasoline or diesel.
If you’re having trouble figuring out what’s wrong with your car, don’t forget to check the air filter. You may be able to cure the problem with a thorough cleaning, or you may need to replace it. Remember that washing the filter with water rather than vacuuming it gives better results if it’s really unclean; just make sure it’s completely dried before reinstalling it.
How to Clean Your K&N Air Filter
Cleaning the air filter is simple if you know where everything is located beneath the hood of your vehicle. You can get the job done in a few different ways, and we’ll show you how in our step-by-step directions below.
Step 01: Locating the Air Filter
Your car’s air filter is located on top of the engine, where it is easily accessible. If you can’t find it, consult your car’s owner’s handbook, which should list all of the engine components.
Step 02: Removing the Air Filter
Air filters are usually housed in a plastic or metal housing that must be opened before the filter can be removed. They’re usually merely clipped down in contemporary cars, making them easy to remove, but if your car is older, you may need to unscrew or unbolt a part of the housing.
It should only be a matter of pulling the air filter out after you’ve opened the air filter housing.
Step 03: Cleaning the Air Filter with a Vacuum Cleaner
Using a vacuum cleaner to clean an automobile air filter is the simplest method. When you connect the hose attachment to your regular home vacuum, you’ll have the ideal instrument for reaching under the ridges of the filter.
Vacuum both sides of the filter for two minutes to ensure that all visible dirt and debris is removed. When you’re finished, hold the filter up to a strong light to see if there are any parts you missed. Once you’ve gone through the filter one more time, it’s time to replace it.
Step 04: Cleaning the Air Filter with Water
If your car’s air filter is really dirty and you have some extra time, you may clean it with water. Cleaning an air filter with water takes much longer, especially when you include the drying period, but the results are excellent.
Fill a clean bucket halfway with water and a pinch of washing detergent. Submerge the filter in the water and swirl it around, agitating dirt and dust out of the filter material with your hands. Then, rinse it under running water after removing it from the water and shaking off any excess.
Place the filter on a clean cloth to dry after it’s been cleaned. The filter may take up to 24 hours to dry entirely, depending on where you dry it, so make sure you give it enough time before you intend to use your car again.
Before you replace the filter, make sure it’s completely dry. If it’s even slightly moist, dust and particles may cling to it and restrict the airflow, causing major engine difficulties. Before reinstalling it, make sure it’s completely dry.
Final Words
There you have it. Now you know all about cleaning your K&N air filter. Go through the steps carefully and you will have a nice clean filter delivering you the best performance for your car.
We hope our article will be helpful in your effort to clean your filter and give you what you wanted. With that hope, signing off for today. Happy cleaning.
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