What is the Air Filter?
The air filter is one of the simplest and most basic components of your vehicle, but it does a very important job: it helps protect your engine from many of the contaminants that could get inside and damage it. The air filter also has an effect on many other components related to the engine, such as overall fuel efficiency and maintenance costs. Below, we're going to take a deeper look into the most important reasons to perform this bit of car maintenance.
                   
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The Dirt Cycle
We're used to thinking of metal as being tough, and it is - there's a reason we build cars out of the stuff! However, even the toughest materials can become corroded, especially when a combination of moisture and abrasive debris enters them over time and at high speeds. Engines are primarily designed to run cars, and while they are built with defenses against contaminants, these defenses are by no means perfect.
When contaminants build up too much, the engine is effected. First, the engine becomes less efficient - mileage will drop, so you will have to spend more money just to keep your car running. Eventually, corrosion caused by contaminants could have a serious impact on the major parts of the engine, so you'll need to bring your car in for maintenance.
Of course, every vehicle needs maintenance every now and then in order to keep it running, even when the engine is something truly incredible. That's just how vehicles are. However, unexpected trips can cost you even more money that you could have avoided, and worse, the neglect can shorten the lifetime of your vehicle and lower its resale value.
All of this can happen just from having a dirty filter that nobody bothered to look at. Filters are by far one of the least-expensive parts on a vehicle to replace, not to mention one of the easiest. You can, and should, replace the filter on a regular basis - it's the best way to keep your vehicle running and your wallet full.
Frequency of Checks
Some vehicles should have their air filters checked more frequently. While cars like the Optima and Cadenza rarely encounter conditions that are too rough, Kia's line of SUVs is far more likely to experience the dirty conditions that can lead to a clogged filter.
You should check the air filter every 6,000 miles - this will help you manage it and ensure that you can avert problems before they become too serious. You should also consider checking the filter after any long road trip, especially if you went off-road, since these conditions can add dirt and debris far faster and are more likely to require some type of car maintenance afterwards.
Finding the Right Filter
While there are many filters on the market, it's best to stick with an official Kia product - among other things, you'll have the security of knowing that your filter was designed by the original creators specifically to work in your vehicle, and you won't have to worry about the quality-control issues that sometimes pop up with third-party parts. Here at McCafferty Kia of Langhorne we can set you up with the right filter for just about any Kia vehicle you care to name - and if the part isn't in stock, we'll find it for you!