The Different Types of Automotive Filters

The air and liquid that moves through a car need to stay clean to keep the vehicle functional and well-maintained. Regular maintenance on a vehicle involves changing the filters that keep the machine free of debris or pollution. These four types of filters are essential to maintaining the health of the car, so it lives a long life. For any mechanic, it’s important to tell the different types of automotive filters apart so you can provide customers with maintenance that will keep their car healthy for miles to come.

Oil Filter

The filter that you’ll likely replace most often is the oil filter. These filters keep solid material out of your vehicle’s oil supply, such as preventing metal shavings from entering the engine. As the metal shavings move through the oil, they will get caught on the oil filter and won’t be allowed to pass through the heart of the vehicle any longer. It’s imperative that you change this filter during every oil change, as it can clog rather quickly. If an oil filter clogs, it can result in costly damages to a car’s engine.

Fuel Filter

Another filter that removes solids and debris from your vehicle’s liquids is the fuel filter. While you may need to change a fuel filter less often, it’s necessary to replace it to keep the vehicle running smoothly for the longest amount of time possible. While newer fuel filters will last longer, older ones will need replacement every two years or 30,000 miles. Newer vehicles may require you to do a fuel pressure test to see if you need to replace this filter. A measurement between 30 and 60 PSI is considered normal for most cars. Without a functional fuel filter, the vehicle will struggle to start, and the gas mileage will suffer.

Diesel engines have a different kind of fuel filter that’s designed for separating water found in fuel from the fuel itself.

Air Filter

Just like how the liquids of a vehicle have debris or impurities, the air that pushes through the engine does as well. Your car’s engine air filter prevents dust and insects from reaching the interior of the engine and causing damage. For a temporary fix, you can blow the air filter off with an air hose. Once a year, you will want to completely replace the air filter to ensure a clean engine.

Cabin Air Filter

The cabin air filter will filter outside contaminants out of the air you breathe while inside the car. Not only is this filter important for drivers with respiratory problems, but it’s also essential to the health of your air conditioning and heating system. A faulty cabin air filter will push dirty air through the system, which can result in disgusting smells coming from the air itself. The environment plays a factor in when you replace the filter—dusty roads can lead to a more frequent cabin air filter change than normal—but typically, it’s best to replace it once a year.

For any automotive shop equipment or tools that are essential for replacing the different types of automotive filters, you can rely on the collections at Tooldom to keep you supplied.