This week I will be walking you through a basic air filter change. Clogged filters can affect performance, cost you at the pump, and even shorten engine life. It’s quick, cheap, and your car will thank you.

Changing your air filter should be a familiar and comfortable process; if it’s not, you’ve come to the right place. It’s inexpensive, easy and can play a big role in vehicle performance. You are probably wondering, “But how will I know when to change the filter? I’m no mechanic!” Well bewildered reader, a good rule of thumb is once or twice a year, or roughly every 12,000 miles. But keep in mind that your environment can affect this. Obviously daily dirt road driving will require you to replace your filter more often than Sunday driving in the city.

If nothing else, learn to change your own air filter. It’s so easy and saves you money.

Can you remember your last visit to Jiffy Lube for an oil change? These guys always hit you up with the patented, “You really need a new air filter” line. And you’re left wondering, “Do I really need a new one? What should I do? Can I really trust this guy?” If in your shock, you utter “Ok,” the mechanic then adds another set of fees for labor, parts, and a new air filter, whose brand is usually a mystery.

Now you can stick it to the man and simply say, “No thanks, I will do it myself.” That is if, in fact, it really needs to be done.

It’s time to get down and dirty. Park your car in a shaded area and let it cool for a few minutes—you don’t want to be working with a steaming engine that can potentially burn you; i.e. don’t change your filter after a six hour road trip.

You will need very few tools for this procedure. If possible grab two medium-sized screwdrivers, one Philips and one standard.

The air filter is typically enclosed in a black plastic casing near the top of the engine. In larger vehicles, it may be off to the side. It is usually the largest non-metal assembly you see; approximately the size of a bread box.

Most air boxes are held together by a couple of large metal clips on the side. Either pop off the clips or slide the flat-head screwdriver between the casing and the clip and pry the clip off. Occasionally you will find the top is held down by several long screws, in which case you simply unscrew them to access the filter.

Pop the air box top off and expose the secrets of the all mighty air box. Basically, you will find the air filter—riveting, I know. It’s usually bright yellow or orange or red, to better see collected dirt.

Pull it out. It’s typically one foot by six inches and has rubber edges along the bottom.

To check for cleanliness, hold it up and bend it back, so the paper ridges of the filter flutter like pages in a book. Now look in the crevices and look at all the dirt and grime it stopped from entering your engine. Pretty cool, huh? Hold the filter at arms length and look at it straight on. If the colored paper is mostly dirty in the center than it is time to replace it. Guess how much this will cost you– About $5; a lot less than Jiffy Lube.

You can throw the old filter in a plastic bag and bring it to your local auto part store to make sure you get the right replacement. Or you can save time by ordering a new one online. You can now stand proud and confidently say, “I know how to check and replace my air filter.” And damn it feels good.

The fuel system is the livelihood of its engine imports. To put it simply, if at any time the car becomes a hunger for gasoline, there is a good chance of damage to its engine, especially if using nitrous oxide, forced induction, or running at high rpms. So critical is the delivery of fuel to high-performance machines that most of the street turbocharger or nitrous kits larger systems or extra heavy fuel injectors and fuel pumps to keep up with demand.

It is clear that the maintenance of its fuel system in the best way possible, is essential when it comes to maintaining a healthy engine. There are several areas that you need to keep an eye on to make sure that your fuel system is operating at the highest level.

The first and easiest step you can take is to regularly replace your fuel filters. Now, I know this does not sound glamorous, but fuel filters are, in all likelihood, the forgotten component serviceable throughout the system. This is usually because, unlike an air filter, fuel filters can be hidden anywhere out of sight along the line of fuel. Usually, they are either near the fuel pump or near the tank. Some vehicles have a fuel tank at the pump with a filter in the vicinity, and some even have a fuel filter in the engine bay.

Wherever you are, the more time that can clog due to impurities in the fuel or corrosion in the gas tank or the lines themselves. This dramatically reduces obstructing the delivery of fuel, and can lead to bad news under the hood of his car, not to mention fuel economy lower. Replacing the fuel filter is usually cheap and easy, and worth at least once per season.

The nozzles can also get dirty or soiled, and this can lead to a reduction in power and mileage as well. What happens is that usually carbon or other contaminants away from the tip of the injector and turn the fine spray of gasoline on a drip or spray thick. This reduces the atomization gas, and let the overall performance below. You have a couple of options if you suspect your fuel injectors may be dirty. You can use a tank of fuel additive that used chemicals to try to strip away the coating the injectors, but this is not always effective. The safest way to clean up their act is to remove the nozzles and have dismissed one of several companies that specialize in cleaning them off. Sure, you will not be able to drive your car while you’re away, but once again is as good as new.

Finally, you should keep an eye on your fuel pump to make sure it still has some life left in it. If your car has a tank at the fuel pump, listening for any sound strange coming from the back of your car when you turn the key on the position. Using the pumps fuel tank as a lubricant and coolant, and if they are starting to carry out, can get very noisy. It is always best to replace a fuel pump that have to fail out of nowhere or in the center of a quarter mile run.

This week I will walk through an air filter change of base. Clogged filters can affect performance, cost at the pump, and even shorten the life of the engine. It’s fast, cheap, and through his car.

Change your air filter should be a familiar and comfortable, if not, you’ve reached the right place. It is cheap, easy and can play an important role in vehicle performance. You are probably wondering, “But how will I know when to change the filter? Mechanic I’m not!” Well puzzled reader, a good rule of thumb is once or twice a year, or about every 12,000 miles. But note that your environment can affect this. Obviously a day driving dirt road that is required to replace the filter more often than driving Sunday in the city.

If nothing else, learn to change your air filter. It is so easy and saves you money.

Remember your last visit to Jiffy Lube for an oil change? These guys always hit you with the patented, “Do we really need a new air filter” line. Left and you’re asking, “Do I really need a new one? What should I do? Can I really trust this guy?” If you crash, which completes “Ok,” the mechanic then adds another set of rates for labor , parts, and a new air filter, whose trademark is usually a mystery.

Now you can paste it to the man and simply say “No thanks, I’ll do it myself.” That is if, in fact, actually be done.

It is time for down and dirty. Park your car in a shaded area and let it cool for a few minutes, you do not want to work with a steam engine that you can record is, do not change the filter after a journey of six hours by road.

You need very few tools for this procedure. If you can take two medium-sized screwdrivers, a Philips and a standard.

The air filter is typically enclosed in a black plastic casing near the top of the engine. In larger vehicles, it can be to one side. It is usually the largest you can not see the erection of metal, about the size of a bread box.

Most of the air boxes are held together by a pair of large metal clamps to the side. Whether or pop clips of the overall presentation of the head between the casing and the clip and the clip outside meddling. Sometimes the top is maintained by several long screws, in which case simply unscrew to access the filter.

Pop air out of the upper and expose the secrets of the box air all powerful. Basically, there is the air filter-riveting, I know. It is usually bright yellow or orange or red, to see better dirt collected.

Out. It is typically one foot six inches and has rubber edges on the bottom.

To check the cleaning, hold it and fold again, so the role of the ridges of the filter as fluttering pages of a book. Now look in the eye and cracks in all the dirt and grime left by entering your engine. Pretty cool, huh? Keep the filter on the length of his arms and look ahead. If the role of color is mostly dirt in the center that it is time to replace it. Guess how much this will cost – about $ 5, much less than Jiffy Lube.

You can pull the old filter in a plastic bag and bring it to your local store by car to ensure that they obtain the right of substitution. Or, you can save time by ordering a new line. You can now say with pride and confidence, “I know how to control and change my air filter.” And damn it feels good.