All of us Chesapeake auto owners know we have to get the oil changed in our vans periodically. That’s just part of good car care. But when Chesapeake service professionals change your oil, they also usually inspect your air filter. That’s why they sometimes let you know that your air filter needs to be changed before releasing your van.

Don’t just chock this up to trying to sell you something else. Suffolk auto owners really do need to change their air filter when it gets dirty. You can check your owner’s manual to see how often your air filter should need to be changed, but remember, if you live in an area in Virginia with poor air quality, or if you drive a lot or drive under harsh conditions in the Chesapeake area, you may need to change that filter more often than is recommended.

Changing an air filter isn’t guesswork. If a filter’s dirty, it needs to be replaced. Air filters aren’t very expensive at West Service Center, Inc. in Chesapeake. But the problems they cause if Chesapeake drivers don’t change them can get to be costly.

For every gallon of gas your van burns, it needs 12,000 gallons of air. Clean filters allow better airflow into your engine, which means that your engine will get more air more quickly. That means your van engine runs more efficiently.

Dirty air filters cut airflow to your engine. All the debris in the filter clogs up the spaces the air needs to pass through to get to the engine. This dirty air can damage pricey electronic components.

If you are in tune with your van, you’ll notice a difference when you change a really dirty air filter for a clean one. Your van may actually purr for you again. Its performance improves when it has a new, clean filter. So remember, changing your air filter is one of the most vital elements of preventive maintenance. At West Service Center, Inc., it’s inexpensive, it’s effective, and it’s vital.