More and more drivers and unaware mechanics assume that there is no need to install a new air filter during periodical inspections and it is sufficient to mechanically clean it (e.g. with compressed air).
What are the effects of mechanical cleaning of the filter?
During cleaning, fine particles of contaminants penetrate deep into the filter medium, causing:
1. permanent damage to the multilayer structure of the filter medium,
2. reduction of the filter’s filtration properties,
3. a change of the resistance of air flow through the filter.
These effects can result in impurities entering the combustion chamber which can damage piston rings, bushes and cylinders. Repairing these damages repeatedly exceeds the cost of a new air filter, so it is certainly not worth taking the risk by cleaning the filter. Cleaning the air filter only improves its appearance.
