How Many Filters Does A Car Have

Modern car filters can be disruptive, especially since they're each on their own unique maintenance and replacement schedules. These schedules tin can alter depending on how, where and for how long a vehicle is driven.

While the replacement interval recommendations for nearly of your vehicle'south filters tin often be found in the owner's manual, it may be helpful to accept a brief rundown of what each 1 does, forth with some general communication on their maintenance.

1. Oil Filter

Of all the car filters, the oil filter is the i you'll probable hear well-nigh the most. This is because oil changes are a fact of life for all vehicle owners. The oil filter'southward job is to remove whatsoever particles of clay and fine metal shavings that accumulate during normal performance. Change intervals vary according to engine blueprint, but a modify should be done between five,000 and 10,000 miles when swapping in fresh oil, or sooner if you bulldoze frequently in dusty or dingy environments like gravel roads or work sites.

2. Air Filter

The air filter and the oil filter work together to keep your engine clean. In fact, the air filter's placement at the front of your vehicle'southward air intake tube makes information technology the first line of defense for keeping grime out of your motor. It's typically made of newspaper or a thin fabric, and its replacement schedule is based on a visual inspection — if y'all can see dirt, leaves, or other gunk defenseless up inside, and then it'southward fourth dimension for a new filter or a cleaning.

3. Transmission Filter

Not all cars have transmission filters, simply these devices grab any clay that may exist floating through the fluid passages inside your vehicle's manual gearbox. Given that most transmissions that use filters are automatics — and manual filter designs are known for having peculiarly long service intervals — you'll have to check your vehicle'due south manual to get the exact mileage for a change.

iv. Motel Filter

Your cabin filter, too known as a cabin air filter, helps prevent pollen, dust and other outside contaminants from making their way into your vehicle's passenger compartment through the heating and cooling system. These are typically plant under the dash. Like the air filter, they're changed based on a visual inspection. A dirty filter should exist replaced, and while in that location'due south no specific mileage where the bandy must happen, information technology's a good idea to take a hard look at this filter with the irresolute of the seasons.

5. Fuel Filter

Fuel filters are placed with your vehicle'southward fuel lines, and at that place's normally more than one. Your car or truck may have a fuel filter nether the hood, under the car with the fuel line itself, or sometimes even in the gas tank. These filters make sure traces of corrosion and dirt that might be lurking in your tank don't brand it to the motor, where they could cause impairment or interfere with the combustion process. Most of the fourth dimension, fuel filters are only changed when a trouble is suspected (based on issues like hesitation while accelerating or trouble idling) because pulling them for inspection is a messy procedure.

Knowing what these different filters do should give you some idea of how important they are in keeping your car running. Make sure y'all check and alter them equally required.

Check out all the filtersavailable on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on motorcar filters, chat with a knowledgeable good at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

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Benjamin Hunting View All

Having been bitten by the car bug at a young age, I spent my formative years surrounded by Studebakers at car shows across Quebec and the northeastern United States. Over ten years of racing, restoring, and obsessing over automobiles pb me to balance scientific discipline writing and automotive journalism full time. I currently contribute every bit an editor to several online and impress automotive publications, and I as well write and consult for the pharmaceutical and medical device industry.