An air filter is essential for the car’s fuel system and engine to function at its best. If you don’t have one, debris, dust, and particles will eventually ruin your engine. The air filter is usually inside the cold air collector box, near the front of the engine compartment.

You don’t want to have to clean or change your filter too often, so durability is key. Luckily, car filters are one of the more inexpensive parts to swap out, unless you opt for a performance-level filter, that is. And due to its straightforward process, even the most inexperienced

car owner

can successfully replace one.

If your car has a carburetor with a permanent filter, consult the owner’s manual for specific cleaning instructions.

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What is the best car air filter? Here are the different types

When looking for a good quality air filter, you’ll first need to decide between foam, paper, or cloth.

“Polyurethane foam filters soaked in oil are used in off-road vehicles because they’re very effective,”

Yourmechanic.com

notes. They’re also sturdy and reusable but have unfortunately been known to break down after long-term usage and even clog up the engine.

If you’re looking for an affordable option, paper is a great choice. It’s also the most common air filter material that comes standard in most cars. The sturdy industrial paper is folded in an accordion pattern that traps particles as they fly through. As you can imagine, opting for paper means you’ll have to replace the filter pretty frequently.

Cloth filters are typically made of cotton and are soaked in oil. They’re also a popular choice for increasing air intake in race car engines. These performance upgrade filters will cost a pretty penny.

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Best brands for replacing your air filter

Aftermarket

engine filters are known to be just as durable. They also contain less financial risk and offer drivers plenty of modern options. Who doesn’t want to customize their performance preferences? When it comes to the best car air filters, it's better to stick with the better-known brands.

The Replacement brand has plenty of choices to satisfy your needs. The company carries over 2 million OE-grade parts and accessories for all kinds of makes and models. According to

CarParts.com

, “It has a great selection of auto body, lighting, electrical, brake, suspension, intake and exhaust, and cooling and heating products made from top-notch components.”

Replacement air filters don’t require special tools or equipment and they’re quite easy to install. They also come with a 90-day return policy, a one-year unlimited mileage warranty, and are compatible with flex-panel models. They’ll work with diesel engines as well. Most filters fall in the $5 to $25 range.

Filters from FRAM have passed state-of-the-art process control and automated inspection standards. “FRAM air filters feature a heavy-duty design that makes it possible to trap small dirt particles not captured by traditional air filters,” CarParts.com notes.

And to improve engine performance and airflow, they offer a pleat-lock glue bead. The filters are also compatible with flex-panel models and are equipped with a heavy screen to ensure durability in the long term. FRAM filters start around $9 and go up from there.

K&N has been in the industry since 1969. K&N filters have layered and oiled cotton media to capture engine contaminants. You can also wash and reuse them multiple times. Not only are they easy to install, but they provide 50% more airflow than traditional paper filters, making them some of the best car air filters you can find.

K&N also offers a 10-year/1 million-mile warranty. Prices can vary, but most filters can be found in the $50 to $80 range.

If you’ve got a Ford vehicle, Motorcraft is the choice for you. “The brand carries a wide selection of air filters that have passed strict Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards,” YourMechanic.com reports. The filters, made from multi-fiber high-density media, are designed to withstand extreme humidity and heat.

Motorcraft buyers will receive filters coated with surfactant for maximum efficiency and a 30,000-mile warranty. Most filters can be found for less than $30.

Other notable and well-known brands include Hastings, Bosch, and AEM DryFlow.

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