| If you never had the experience of living in | | | | damage, the oil filter should be changed before it |
| community housing, either in college or with a | | | | reaches this point. But unless you're one of those |
| number of roommates, you missed cleaning the | | | | who checks under the hood once a week, it's |
| bathroom, specifically the clogged shower | | | | hard to gauge exactly where you are in terms of |
| drain...and what an experience it is. As the drain | | | | saturation. Modern oil filters should easily stand up |
| clogs, the water gathers, finally reaching the point | | | | to 3,000 miles of normal driving but usually aren't |
| where you're left standing in two inches of murk. | | | | good much past the 6,000 mile mark. Replacing |
| And without Liquid Drano, the mess can get a | | | | your oil filter every time you change your oil is |
| whole lot uglier. | | | | the best practice to maintain the highest possible |
| The air filter and oil filter in your vehicle are similar. | | | | engine integrity. |
| They have to be replaced on a regular basis, just | | | | AIR FILTERS |
| like a clogged drain. While there isn't a definite set | | | | Similar to an oil filter, the life of an air filter |
| of hard and fast rules that dictate exactly how | | | | depends on how much crud it collects. Here, |
| often is often enough, depending on your driving | | | | however, you'll find a slight difference between |
| conditions and the number of miles you log, there | | | | the two. An air filter that is slightly dirty actually |
| are some guidelines you can follow that will ensure | | | | cleans more efficiently than one fresh from the |
| everything continues to work properly. | | | | box. The debris that becomes trapped in the air |
| OIL FILTERS | | | | filter actually helps screen out smaller particles. But |
| Simply put, an oil filter is your engine's primary line | | | | when your air filter reaches its saturation point, |
| of defense, protecting it against abrasion and the | | | | your vehicle suffers from a noticeable pressure |
| resulting wear and tear it causes. A performance | | | | drop as a result of the restricted airflow, greatly |
| oil filter removes solid contaminants from the oil, | | | | impacting fuel economy, performance and |
| including dirt, carbon and metal particles, before | | | | emissions. |
| they make their way into the engine and damage | | | | A performance-grade air filter, like K&N air filters, |
| bearings, pistons and cylinder walls. But as the oil | | | | will last between 20,000 - 30,000 miles under |
| filter begins to wear, it collects dirt and debris, | | | | normal conditions. Be prepared to change it more |
| which obstruct the flow of oil, resulting in a loss of | | | | often if you take your vehicle off-roading or into |
| lubrication that can lead to catastrophic damage to | | | | any other situation where there's a heavy amount |
| your engine. | | | | of dust or other airborne particles. |
| To maintain performance and prevent engine | | | | |