Car Air Filter Replacement in El Paso, TX
What it does: Particles like mold and mildew, pollen, and dust can easily harm engine parts and the health of you and your passengers. Air filters keep the air that moves in to the engine clean. The majority of vehicles have 2 different kinds of air filters. The internal combustion air filter cleans and filters pollutants from the system that pulls air into the engine and avoids added wear and tear on it. The cabin air filter operates to cleanse the air that moves into the cabin through the ventilation system by filtering unsafe elements from the air conditioning and heating systems. This keeps the air that you and your passengers breathe clean and comfortable.
Why service is very important: Dirt and particles can easily damage engine parts, decrease performance, as well as limit proper air flow in the cabin. A filthy air filter could cause complications with gas economy, efficiency, discharges, and sometimes can cause added engine repairs. Worn or unclean cabin air filters can negatively impact AC performance and may also pose a prospective health danger for the driver and any passengers.
Car filters might have to be changed if you have:
- Reduction of engine power or fuel economy
- Emissions concerns
- Odd, wet, or musty smells when the vent out is on
It’s suggested that the cabin air filter be changed every 12,000 miles, or at least yearly. Internal combustion air filters should be spot checked often, and need to be changed every 3,000 – 15,000 miles or with your oil change. Vehicles that are often driven in extreme roadway conditions, through dirty roadways or roadway construction, or off-roading vehicles require air filter replacement and maintenance more often.
Frequently Asked Questions
Like any other filter, your car cabin air filter will eventually get dirty. If you don’t replace it at that point, your vehicle will soon begin to experience a few different issues:
- Your HVAC system will have to work harder to circulate air, putting added strain on this system and reducing its efficiency.
- Allergens and pollutants will be able to enter your vehicle’s cabin much more easily than before.
- Your car’s defroster will lose effectiveness, making it harder to clear your windshield on the rare occasions when El Paso, TX gets hit with wintry weather.
Due to these problems, you can’t afford to look the other way when your air filter gets clogged. Instead, you’ll need to visit a trustworthy auto shop for cabin air filter replacement. But before that, look around for shops that can deliver:
- Qualified mechanics. The best mechanics in El Paso have ASE certification—the industry’s equivalent to a master’s degree.
- Chances to save money. Whether you need a quick filter replacement or more in-depth work, you should be able to save with online coupons.
- Locations throughout the area. Your shop of choice should provide multiple locations in El Paso and nearby communities in Southern New Mexico.
Martin Tire Company delivers all these benefits and more—get started by scheduling an appointment today!
At a bare minimum, drivers in El Paso should take care of car cabin air filter replacement once a year or once every 12,000 miles. But even though this is a helpful starting point for scheduling air filter replacement, you might need to replace your cabin air filter ahead of schedule. This is especially likely for drivers who commonly travel on dirt roads, go off-roading, or regularly deal with other severe conditions while traveling.
Even if you don’t exhibit any of these driving habits, you may still have to schedule cabin filter replacement sooner than you’d think. Look out for dust inside your car, long-lasting unpleasant odors, or insufficient airflow when your climate control systems are running.
It’s all too easy to ignore your vehicle’s need for car cabin air filter replacement, but a bad car cabin air filter can cause all sorts of problems. If you wait too long to replace your cabin air filter, you could end up dealing with everything from bad smells and dust build-up in your vehicle to dangerously high levels of strain on your car’s HVAC system.
To avoid these issues, El Paso motorists should be aware of common symptoms of air filter problems and take action when this filter is about to fail. Along with that, drivers can personally inspect their vehicle’s cabin air filter for visual warning signs such as:
- Built-up dust and debris
- Mold
- Insects
- Cracking around the filter’s edge
If you notice any of these red flags, visit a local auto shop for air filter replacement right away.
Your car cabin air filter has an important job—it is responsible for keeping dust, pollen, and other pollutants out of your vehicle’s interior. While you may technically be able to operate your car’s AC system without this filter in place, this is not a good idea for a number of reasons.
As you might expect, having unfiltered, dust-filled air inside your car would be a less-than-pleasant experience for you and your passengers. On top of that, inhaling these contaminants could even have a negative impact on your health. With that in mind, it’s best to ensure your car doesn’t go too long between one cabin filter replacement appointment and the next.
If your engine air filter gets dirty enough, your vehicle’s onboard computer may notice that your engine isn’t getting the airflow it needs. In that case, it could activate your car’s “check engine” light to inform you of this problem. On the other hand, clogged cabin air filters do not normally trigger the “check engine” light.
If your “check engine” light is illuminated due to a dirty engine air filter or any other reason, you need to get to the bottom of this situation. That’s something the average driver in El Paso can’t do on their own—countless automotive issues can trigger this light, ranging from serious internal engine trouble to a loose gas cap. And because this light doesn’t indicate what problem you’re facing on its own, there’s always a risk that your vehicle could be in bigger trouble than you’d think.
Because of that, the only way to truly set things right is to visit a qualified auto shop as soon as your “check engine” light turns on. These businesses can use specialized diagnostic equipment to determine what your car is dealing with, and they employ skilled mechanics capable of fixing these issues—no matter how serious they are.
