How to Change Car Air Filter in 5 Steps (DIY Guide)
Last Updated on October 23, 2026 by Ryan
To change a car air filter, open the hood, unlatch the air cleaner housing cover, lift out the old filter, wipe the inside of the housing, set in the new filter the same way round, then close the cover and latch every clip. Owner’s manuals from Nissan, Kia and Hyundai describe this same job. Never drive with the air cleaner removed.
Key takeaways
- This guide covers the engine air filter. The cabin air filter is a different part (see our cabin air filter guide).
- Replace the filter on the schedule in your owner’s manual. Kia’s 2022 schedule, for example, replaces it at 30,000 miles or 48 months.
- A new filter helps acceleration, but fueleconomy.gov says it does not improve mpg on modern fuel-injected engines.
- Use the right filter for your car. Kia and Hyundai warn a non-genuine filter can damage the air flow sensor.
This guide explains how to change a car air filter the way the manufacturers describe it. The steps below follow the owner’s manuals listed in the sources, not our own test, and the exact layout of the housing differs from car to car, so keep your manual open.
What You Need
- A new engine air filter made for your car. Your owner’s manual or a parts store lookup by make, model and year will confirm the right one.
- A damp cloth to wipe the housing (Nissan’s manual calls for this).
- A screwdriver only if your housing uses screws. The manuals we read use clips or a lever.
How to Change Car Air Filter: 5 Steps
- Park, switch the engine off and open the hood. Find the air cleaner housing, usually a black plastic box connected to the intake. Your manual’s maintenance section shows where it is.
- Open the housing. Release the clips or the lever that holds the cover shut and lift the cover. Kia’s 2026 manual describes pulling a lever, and Nissan and Hyundai describe unlatching clips.
- Remove the old filter. Note which way it faces before you lift it out. Keep dust and dirt from falling into the air intake while the filter is out, as Kia and Hyundai both warn.
- Wipe the housing and fit the new filter. Wipe the inside of the housing and cover with a damp cloth, then set in the new filter the same way round as the old one.
- Close the cover and check it. Seat the cover in the housing and latch every clip. Nissan’s manual says to make sure the cover is seated before latching, and Hyundai says to confirm the cover is secure.
If the housing will not close flat, stop and recheck how the new filter sits. A cover that is not seated can leave a gap for unfiltered air.
Clean or Replace? What Manuals Say
The manuals do not agree on cleaning, so follow the one for your car.
| Owner’s manual | What it says about the engine air filter |
|---|---|
| Nissan 2016 Altima | Wipe the inside of the housing and cover with a damp cloth. The filter should not be cleaned and reused. Replace it according to the maintenance log in the Warranty Information and Maintenance Booklet. |
| Kia 2023 (model code MQ4KH) | Replace the filter, do not wash it. Compressed air may be used while inspecting the compartment. Replace more often if you often drive in very dusty or sandy areas. |
| Kia 2026 (model code CL4) | Pull the lever to release the cover, swap in a new filter and reassemble in reverse order. The filter can be cleaned with compressed air for inspection but not washed. |
| Hyundai 2026 (model code CN7) | Release the clip, replace the filter, close the cover and snap the clip shut. If the filter is dirty, replace it. Replace more often in very dusty or sandy areas. |
How Often to Change a Car Air Filter
Use the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual. For one example, the 2022 Kia normal maintenance schedule lists the air cleaner filter as inspected every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 12 months and replaced at 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 48 months, whichever comes first. Other makers set different intervals, and Nissan’s manual sends owners to its maintenance booklet.
Kia and Hyundai say to replace the filter more often if you often drive in very dusty or sandy areas. Hyundai also says a dirty filter should be replaced.
Does a New Air Filter Improve Gas Mileage or Power?
A common claim is that a new filter saves fuel. fueleconomy.gov says that on modern fuel-injected, computer-controlled gasoline engines and on diesels, replacing a clogged air filter does not improve fuel economy, but it can improve acceleration. On older carbureted engines it can improve both by a few percent.
That matches a laboratory study listed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s OSTI database. It tested five gasoline vehicles, four from model years 2003 to 2007 and one 1972 carbureted car. The modern vehicles showed little sensitivity to filter condition in fuel economy and emissions, while all five accelerated measurably slower with clogged filters.
So change the filter on schedule to protect the engine and keep acceleration, not to save fuel. If your car hesitates or jerks, see our guide on whether a dirty air filter makes a car jerk.
Engine Air Filter vs Cabin Air Filter
The cabin air filter cleans the air that comes through your vents, and it is a separate part with its own interval. Nissan’s manual lists the in-cabin microfilter in a separate section from the air cleaner. Our guide explains how often to replace a cabin air filter. If you are choosing a replacement engine filter, see our best air filters for cars roundup.
Car Air Filter FAQ
Can you change your own air filter in your car?
Yes. The Nissan, Kia and Hyundai owner’s manuals we read describe how an owner replaces the engine air filter, and the steps are the same in outline: open the housing, swap the filter, close it again.
How often should you change a car air filter?
Follow the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual. As one example, the 2022 Kia schedule inspects the air cleaner filter every 7,500 miles or 12 months and replaces it at 30,000 miles or 48 months, whichever comes first. Kia and Hyundai both say to replace it more often in very dusty or sandy areas.
Can you clean and reuse an engine air filter?
It depends on the car. Nissan’s manual says the filter should not be cleaned and reused. Kia and Hyundai say you can use compressed air for inspection but never wash the filter, and Hyundai says to replace a dirty one.
Will a new air filter improve gas mileage?
On modern fuel-injected gasoline and diesel engines, fueleconomy.gov says replacing a clogged filter does not improve fuel economy, but it can improve acceleration. On older carbureted engines it can improve both by a few percent.
Can I drive without the air filter?
No. Nissan’s manual warns that driving with the air cleaner removed can cause burns if the engine backfires, and Kia and Hyundai warn it causes engine wear.
What is the difference between the engine air filter and the cabin air filter?
The engine air filter cleans the air going into the engine. The cabin air filter cleans the air coming into the passenger compartment. They are separate parts with separate replacement jobs, and Nissan’s manual lists the in-cabin microfilter in its own section.
What does a replacement air filter cost?
Prices vary by car and brand. Our guide to how much an air filter for a car costs covers it.
Sources
- Nissan 2016 Altima owner’s manual (PDF), Air cleaner section
- Kia 2023 owner’s manual (MQ4KH): Replacing air cleaner filter
- Kia 2026 owner’s manual (CL4): Replacing the air cleaner filter
- Kia 2022 owner’s manual: Normal maintenance schedule
- Hyundai 2026 owner’s manual (CN7): Filter replacement
- fueleconomy.gov: Maintaining your car
- OSTI: Effect of intake air filter condition on light-duty gasoline vehicles
