WHEN IS IT TIME FOR A NEW ONE?
Most experts recommend that you have a professional replace your vehicle's air filter about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles, or once per year. However, if you regularly drive in harsh conditions or heavy traffic, it's probably a good idea to have it looked at every 6,000 miles or so.
If you're not sure when your air filter was last changed, there are a few indicators to let you know it may be time for a new one. For instance, if you notice that you're eating up more fuel than usual on your commute, hear your engine making odd sounds, smell gasoline when you start the car or notice black smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe, it may point to a clogged filter. Of course, it's also worth keeping an eye out for an illuminated check engine light and manually inspecting the filter yourself to see if it looks dirty.