Engine Air Filters: How to clean them

One of the most important things you can do for your car is to check and clean the air filter. Keep in mind that your car’s air filter should be changed about every three months anyways. At the same time, do not buy into the myths that a clogged air filter will rob your gas mileage, either. The truth about that is that a properly working engine will only supply enough fuel to match the amount of air entering the engine. So if the engine in your vehicle is not as strong as it used to be, then one thing you will want to check is the air filter. Now we will discuss how to clean the air filter in your car or truck.
Finding the air filter is very easy. Just follow the big tube coming from your engine and running towards a fender. At the end of that tube, or air intake duct, is a big box. The air filter is in that box. There are usually several latches, like on a mason jar, holding it in place. Sometimes there are screws, and a 10 mm socket, really help get those off fast! Once you get the cover off the air box, the filter will just lift right out. Note: On some vehicles the air filter is mounted directly on top of the engine. To get those loose, simply loosen the “finger nuts” on the very top of the engine and remove the cover.
Okay! Now we have gotten to the filter, and lifted it out. Now it is time to clean it. If you have a permanent filter, like one made by K&N, then you can use the cleaning kit for that filter. If you have a paper style filter, however, you can only “knock the dirt off”. To clean the paper air filters, simply drop it on a clean piece of cardboard. The cardboard is soft enough to protect the filter, and still firm enough to get the dirt out of it. If you have an excessive amount of dirt coming out of the air filter, then cleaning it will not work, and you will have to replace it.
While you have the filter out of the air box, this would also be a good time to clean any dirt that might be sitting in the bottom of it. If you do not clean it, then the clean filter will not stay clean for long.
Enjoy!