From the Front Desk: Live Free, Drive Free

Greetings from the front desk at Wareing Sturgis Ford. Think of all the things in our lives that have filters. Our water, coffee and tea, air conditioners, dryers, and even vacuum cleaners. We probably don’t give those filters much thought until something isn’t working quite right.

Imagine your morning coffee without a filter. Or how long your dryer or vacuum cleaner would last if all that lint and dust had nowhere to go.

Filters do a lot of work behind the scenes, and your vehicle is no different.

Under the hood are filters that help keep dirt and other unwanted particles away from important engine and vehicle components. There’s also a filter that helps keep the air inside your vehicle cleaner and more comfortable for you and your passengers.

Let’s take a look at five of them and what they do.

Engine Air Filter

Your engine needs air to run, but it doesn’t need everything floating around in that air.

The engine air filter catches dirt, sand, bugs, and bits of leaves and other plant debris before they can get inside. And there’s certainly no shortage of those things in and around the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Keeping that debris out helps protect the engine from unnecessary wear and allows it to get the clean air it needs to perform properly.

Not bad for something most drivers never think about.

Fuel Filter

Just as you wouldn’t want dirt in your drinking water, your vehicle doesn’t want dirt in its fuel.

A fuel filter helps catch unwanted particles before they reach sensitive parts of the fuel system. On diesel vehicles, the fuel-filter system also helps separate water from the fuel.

When a serviceable fuel filter becomes clogged, it can cause problems such as hard starting, reduced power, or even stalling.

It’s one more small part doing its job so the rest of the vehicle can do its job.

Oil Filter

Most of us know that our engines need clean motor oil. But why?

Motor oil keeps moving engine parts lubricated, helps carry away heat, and protects against wear and corrosion. As the oil circulates, it also picks up tiny particles that don’t belong there.

That’s where the oil filter comes in. It catches those particles before they can continue circulating through the engine.

Transmission Filter

Your transmission has an important job, too. It helps deliver power from the engine to the wheels, allowing your vehicle to move through its gears.

Inside an automatic transmission, the fluid helps lubricate, cool, and operate its moving parts. Over time, small particles from normal wear can find their way into that fluid.

Depending on the transmission design, a filter or screen helps keep those particles from circulating where they shouldn’t.

Transmission filters generally don’t need attention as often as engine oil filters. Some are serviced along with the transmission fluid, while others are not routinely replaced.

It’s another reason to follow the maintenance recommendations for your particular vehicle.

Cabin Air Filter

Now here’s a filter that does something for you instead of your engine.

Your cabin air filter helps catch dust, pollen, and other airborne particles before they enter the passenger area through the heating and air-conditioning system.

Here in the Black Hills, with plenty of gravel roads, windblown dust, and seasonal pollen, that filter can have its work cut out for it.

And if you’ve ever driven down a dusty gravel road behind another vehicle, you know exactly what we’re talking about.

A clean cabin air filter helps maintain airflow through your heating and air-conditioning system and makes the ride more comfortable for everyone inside.

Keeping Things Running Clean

Clean water, fresh air, and a great cup of coffee or tea. A well-filtered driver.

Clean air, clear fuel, and fresh motor oil. A well-filtered engine.

Filters are just one of those hidden essentials of everyday life. It’s easy to enjoy their benefits and just as easy to overlook their condition.

Check your owner’s manual for recommendations on when your vehicle’s filters should be inspected or replaced. And remember that driving conditions can make a difference, especially around here.

Thanks for reading, and drive free.