Your engine inhales air 24/7—and you wouldn’t breathe through a filthy bandana, so why let your motor do it? A clogged filter chokes performance and zaps MPG by up to 10% .
Filter types:
- Paper: Cheap & disposable; swap every 12k–15k miles .
- Cotton/Gauze (K&N style): Reusable with proper oiling; clean every 30k–50k miles .
- Foam: Perfect for dusty off-roaders but need frequent washing and re-oiling .
Symptoms of suffocation:
- Lackluster acceleration
- Black smoke at startup
- Weird engine noises as it gulps air
Installing: pop open the filter box (usually held by clips or a couple of screws), swap the filter, reseal tightly, and you’ll breathe new life into your ride.
