The engine air filter plays a vital role in protecting your engine as it stops various debris particles from entering and causing damage. As debris adds up with every mile traveled, the air filter will reach its maximum dirt absorption capacity at some point. When this happens, the air flow resistance rises and affects the engine’s performance. So, it is important to replace the air filter at your vehicle’s specified maintenance interval. However, you may need to change your air filter sooner depending on your driving conditions.
This is an easy DIY that can save you a lot of money. For an overview of the procedure, check out the video above from YouTube channel, HowToDoYourself. You can find the parts and detailed instructions below.
Tools Required:
Parts Required:
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Step 1: Prepare your vehicle and work area.
- Ensure your engine isn’t hot so you don’t burn yourself.
- Park on a flat surface.
- Open the hood.
- Put on eye protection and gloves.
Step 2: Gain access to the engine air filters.
- The V8 models have an engine air filter on each side of the vehicle.
- Remove the plastic engine panels on the left and right sides.
- Each plastic engine panel is held on by a T25 torx screw and plastic clips that you can unscrew with a flat head screwdriver.
- On the passenger side, you will also need to remove a T20 torx screw which is located under the windshield wiper fluid reservoir cap.
- With both plastic engine panels removed, you should see both engine air boxes.
Step 3: Open the air filter housing.
- Starting with one side, separate the plastic engine air intake hose from the air filter housing by removing two T30 pins.
- To do this, rotate the left pin clockwise and the right pin counterclockwise until the pins line up with the visible notches; if you turn each pin the wrong way, you will break off a part of the pin.
- Once the pins are lined up with the tabs on the air filter housing, use pliers to pull them out.
- Next, pop off the two metal clips that hold the air filter housing together.
Step 4: Replace the engine air filter.
- Separate the engine air intake hose from the air filter housing cover and pull the air filter housing cover off.
- Remove the old engine filter.
- Vacuum the air filter housing to prevent any debris from getting into the engine
- Insert the new engine air filter.
- Re-install everything.
