You may have encountered a situation where, before leaving on a trip, you realize that the key won’t turn in the ignition switch. Sometimes, you manage to turn it after all, but when you arrive at your destination, you can’t remove it from the switch. In this article, we look at the reasons why it gets stuck and suggest the simplest methods to solve the problem.

10 REASONS WHY THE IGNITION KEY WON’T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH

YOUR STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED

Almost all modern cars are equipped with an anti-theft protection system. In some cases, it locks the steering wheel and the ignition switch to prevent intruders from driving your car. The lock is triggered when you turn the steering wheel without a key in the ignition switch, or when you try to use another key or a very worn key. Sometimes the problem is caused by an attempt to turn a key that is not fully inserted into the cylinder. Additionally, the protection system can be triggered when the car’s wheels are fully turned to one side, for example when you park on a steep slope, or if the front wheels are resting against the curb or another obstacle. Usually, when the locking function is activated, you can hear a distinctive click and cannot remove the key from the ignition switch at all.

THE KEY IS DEFORMED

If you carry it in your pocket or wallet, or use it for other purposes, it can bend. Sometimes this means the key won’t turn, won’t come out of the ignition, or can’t even be inserted.

THE DOOR LOCK IS FROZEN

This can happen if it’s cold outside and water has accumulated in the lock cylinder.

THE CAR BATTERY IS FLAT

In some cars, when the battery is discharged, the key is locked in the ignition switch.

THE KEY TEETH ARE WORN

Poor quality products made from non-durable materials suffer from abrasive wear quite quickly. The key becomes loose in the switch and cannot interact properly with the moving parts of the ignition switch cylinder.

THE SWITCH CYLINDER IS DEFECTIVE

It also wears out over time. This can happen even faster due to the habit of many drivers attaching heavy keychains and other ornaments to their keys. When the car is moving, they create an additional load on the mechanism’s parts.

THE SWITCH CYLINDER AND KEY ARE DIRTY

Using the wrong lubricant leads to a buildup of dirt inside the mechanism and can cause it to stick over time. Usually, the key’s notches get dirty if it is used for purposes other than intended, for example, to tear packaging tape when opening packages.

WRONG GEAR SELECTION

In cars with automatic transmission, the key will be locked in the ignition switch until you put the selector lever in Park. To unlock the switch in manual transmission vehicles, the gear shift lever must be in neutral.

THE KEY HASN’T BEEN PUT IN THE PROPER POSITION

Sometimes drivers forget to turn the key to the “Lock” position.

THE COMPONENT IS BROKEN

Applying too much force when trying to turn the key in the ignition switch can cause it to break. It is difficult to extract the part of the key left in the mechanism.

Conclusion

Despite its simple design, the ignition key is a very important element and requires appropriate attention from the driver. A car can only be started if this component is in good working order. If your key is stuck in the ignition switch, follow our advice.

Tears, rips, and burns in your car seats can make your car’s interior look shabby and worn out. Do your own upholstery with our guide!

Having a tear or hole in your car seat upholstery can be incredibly frustrating. Unlike so many other problems related to your car’s aesthetics, nicks in the upholstery don’t just disappear with a simple wipe or easy replacement. They can make your car’s interior look poorly maintained and unkempt. Worse still, the longer they stay there, the more likely they are to get worse. A small hole turns into a small tear, which turns into a rip, which becomes a gaping giant gash with foam escaping that you can’t take your eyes off!

Taking your car to a garage to have the upholstery repaired or changed can be very expensive, but it’s also something you can do yourself. It’s not always easy to repair or replace car covers and you may need tools to do it, but with a little patience and our comprehensive guide, you can certainly do it. There are a variety of options for renewing the upholstery and there is a wide range of replacement kits available to completely replace car seats or materials that will help correct problems. Whatever type of material your car seats are made of and whatever the problem, we have some ideas and tips to get rid of your tears and make your car look factory-fresh again.

TYPES OF UPHOLSTERY

Before you can repair your car seat cover, it’s important to know what type of material you’re dealing with, as they all have different characteristics and require several different approaches.

Car seats are usually covered with one of the following materials.

• Nylon is one of the most common types of automotive upholstery and is known for its durability and ability to withstand heavy use. Nylon is quite porous and will pick up dirt and debris every time you drive your car, so even without tears, you might decide to replace your nylon sooner.
• Polyester is another popular choice for automotive upholstery and it’s designed to look like suede. This soft fabric is quite comfortable but can tear and rip easily.
• Vinyl has been a popular upholstery choice for a long time due to its strength and ease of cleaning. If it tears or a hole appears, it can be a bit more difficult to repair.
  It may look like leather, but it’s a smart, animal-friendly imposter: faux leather upholstery is a popular choice for luxury cars, and it’s relatively easy to keep clean, strong, and scratch-resistant.
• Leather seats are often a sign of a high-end luxury car. Leather upholstery requires special maintenance and cleaning products to keep it looking sharp, but it’s extremely durable and strong. However, it is much more difficult to repair than other, cheaper materials. Repairs on leather, especially new or light-colored leather, can also be very visible if not done correctly.

COMMON UPHOLSTERY PROBLEMS

Some of the most common problems people see with car seats are tears or rips. These can come from clothing catching on the seat or luggage or other objects cutting into it with hard or sharp edges. Frayed seat edges or seams are also a common problem and mainly come from age alone. Seams can also become unstitched, although this is unlikely. Burns, often caused by cigarettes, can also damage the surface of your seats. There can also be problems with car seat padding. If there is a tear deep enough, the padding can come out, or it can simply become too compressed and no longer supportive. Specifically for leather or vinyl, the seat may start to “crack” or show imperfections, such as small scratches. All these different problems will need to be dealt with in a different way,

TOOLS NEEDED

The tools you’ll need of course differ depending on what needs to be repaired, but these are tools you might find useful for general repairs or for car upholstery maintenance.

REPAIRING MINOR ISSUES

To start, let’s address some of the most common minor problems such as tears and rips. Before starting however, it’s important to recognize that if you do it yourself, a repaired seat tear will never be completely unnoticeable. If you want it to look like new, you’ll need to take it to a professional upholstery shop.

SMALL HOLES, TEARS, RIPS, OR BURNS IN CLOTH/FABRIC CAR SEATS

The best way to repair fabric seats is usually to use a patch on the seat cover to hide this type of wear and support the remaining seat fabric. You’ll want to try to find a patch that not only matches the color of the seat you’re working on, but also the type or pattern, and find a material that has the necessary strength to handle regular use. It’s worth asking for recommendations at a local garage or checking online if you can find a specific fabric for this type of repair.

You’ll need to cut the fabric to match the size of the hole in the fabric or the length of the tear before applying it to the seat. It should comfortably cover the hole or tear, but it’s up to you to determine how much excess material will join the current seat fabric. This can then be placed directly over the hole or small tear and, hopefully, blend seamlessly into the seat cover.

You have two options for applying the patch: use an adhesive patch or sew or stitch the material directly onto the seat. Most patches can be attached using contact adhesive, usually available as a spray. You can also use heat (from an iron or heat gun) to ensure a strong bond on the material. Some people worry that if they don’t sew it, it won’t be as effective, but the adhesive works just as well.

TEARS IN CLOTH/FABRIC SEATS

For a tear or rip more than a few inches in diameter, a patch won’t be suitable; it will leave the seat ugly and mismatched. Professional repair is always the best bet from an aesthetic standpoint in this situation, but there are DIY options available, the first of which is to re-stitch the tear.

Using a curved needle and thread, hold the two sides of the torn fabric together and stitch the tear using an X-stitch from top to bottom. Over this, you’re going to apply a larger patch, so that initial X-stitch will hold the sides together under the patch. From there, it’s very similar to the process described above. Choose a patch that matches the seat cover fabric and use an adhesive to cover the seams. Here, you won’t need to use too much adhesive; it’s the stitching that holds the seat together and not the glue.

TEARS IN LEATHER, FAUX LEATHER, OR VINYL

Tears on leather are slightly more delicate than tears on fabric seats, mainly because the material is different and requires much different treatment.

When the seat fabric splits and it’s not right against the seams, we’re in a good position because we have access to the back of both sides of the tear. Our solution is going to be to glue a piece of fabric (not leather, just ordinary fabric) to the back so that the two sides come together, and any gap can be filled with a filler specially designed for leather seats.

The first step is to ensure that the fabric, whether it’s leather, vinyl, or faux leather, is not connected to any seat padding or any other material that might be used to secure it; we just want to be able to access the fabric itself. If it is connected, you may need to use a piece of plastic or a knife to release the material from the padding, but be sure to do so carefully.

Next, apply adhesive to the patch. You won’t need to use much here, but enough to ensure it sticks on both sides. Slide it behind the seat cover and make sure it touches both sides. Take the two sides of the tear and hold the gap closed while the glue dries (this isn’t as easy as it sounds). It’s important to use an appropriate patch fabric. A piece of strong suede or duck cloth used for uniforms works well. The critical factor for the woven fabric is that it doesn’t stretch or change shape when subjected to stress, i.e., when you sit on it! If the color closely matches the seat, that’s a bonus.

Next, you need to apply a weight or constant pressure to the area so that the patch adheres effectively to the adhesive, as the glue can take some time to dry. This can be done using any type of weight or a pressure clamp to hold it in place.

The surface of the leather is always curved, due to the padding pushing it up, so you need to press hard enough to flatten the curve. If the tear is quite large, be sure to use a weight large enough to cover almost the entire space. If you don’t, one side would be overpowered and that could mean the gap tightens and worsens further. If possible, use clamps to reduce the gap while applying pressure. As for the adhesive you use, it’s best to look for a specific fabric adhesive. We’ll come to a few good brands for this later.

If the leather is thick, once the gap is closed, you can use a filler material to bring it back to an even surface. Various fillers will work and see below again for some product recommendations. The main requirements are that it is flexible, non-shrinking, and can be colored or painted in some way.

CRACKS, CREASES, AND HOLES IN LEATHER OR VINYL

Repairing cracks and creases in leather and vinyl is also a bit more complicated than dealing with fabric seats. However, there are many more products that can help in this process, so don’t be discouraged!

The first step is to ensure the seats are perfectly clean. Using specific leather seat cleaning products will ensure that any fillers or sealants used will truly adhere and apply well to the surface of the leather seats.

For small cracks, a temporary solution may simply be to use a leather color restorer or restoration product. These are widely available and will simply add color to the faded leather. They won’t change the surface but will give the appearance of new leather. This is only a very short-term solution, however.

For small holes, a leather and vinyl compound or coating can be used to fill the void. These can then be painted to blend into the leather seat (although for this to be effective, the entire seat really needs to be coated). Some are heat-activated, meaning you’ll need something to heat the liquid. Using a small trowel or spatula, you can insert and spread the filler into the holes. You need to do this in stages and layers to create the best finish and the strongest repair. Layer by layer, slowly fill the hole until it is flush with the surrounding leather. Feel the surface with your fingers to make sure it’s truly flat and level. Different products will need to be applied in different ways, so check the instructions provided with each product. Once you’re satisfied that the layer is relatively flush with the rest of the seat,

For anything more than discoloration and more severe cracks, heavier repairs are needed. Use masking tape to cover any parts of the seat that are not leather, for example the plastic bracket used to adjust the seat tilt angle or any fabric under the leather, then use fine sandpaper to level the existing damaged leather and remove any loose or compromised leather, creating a uniform, flat surface. There may be a lot of peaks and valleys or leather that is lost, but it’s important that the surface is as flat as possible by sanding or cutting off these protruding pieces. If we get the surface as even as possible, we won’t need to use as much filler and it will look much better and last much longer.

As with small holes, for our cracks, we’re going to use a leather or vinyl filler. Many of these are specially designed to reduce the appearance of cracks and can take about 20 to 30 minutes to dry and seal. They are often not heat-activated, but a heat gun can of course speed up the process. Spread the filler or putty evenly over the cracks and try to ensure it blends seamlessly with the surface, wiping off any excess. Apply only a small amount at a time using a spatula and your fingers in tight areas and be sure not to overdo it. Once you’re satisfied that the gaps have been filled as much as possible and the seat looks relatively even, sand lightly to remove any tiny ridges or uneven surfaces created by the filling. You can repeat this as many times as you like to get the best surface.

If cracks have completely worn through the seat, especially on the seat’s curvature, it may need to be re-stitched and replaced. There are limits to what you can do with products designed to repair small cracks, but these can still be smoothed using fillers and painted to match. The end result won’t be perfect, but will be cosmetically and aesthetically better than before and it can strengthen the area to prevent further damage.

PAINTING LEATHER

Once the cracks and holes have been repaired, it’s time to paint. Use a topcoat color selector to help you choose a shade to paint the seat. There are a variety of products to do this, but Global Smart Repairs offers a particularly good range to help you mix and match/find the right color.

Once you’ve selected your color, use a spray gun to paint the entire seat, not just the affected area. This will ensure it’s not obvious that an area has been repaired. Apply the paint evenly and not too thickly, keeping the air spray gun close to the surface so that the paint is smooth and still wet when it touches the surface. You should aim to find a good distance and keep moving while you paint, aiming for a light but adequate coating. The paint must be specially designed for leather and normal water-based paint won’t cut it. Water-based paints have poor durability and lack chemical and UV resistance properties, as specific leather paints should. Once you’re satisfied with the paint job, you can apply a protective coating to further increase durability.

LEATHER REPAIR KITS

When it comes to leather repair, many kits are available with

Give your car a breath of fresh air with a high-performance air filter.

Engines are a lot like humans – we all need air to function properly. Limit your engine’s air supply and it won’t work as well as it should, which usually results in increased fuel consumption. Engines need all the oxygen they can get for combustion, but they only want pure air, not all the other debris and tiny particles that can come with it. That’s where an air filter comes in handy.

As the old saying goes, not all air filters are created equal. There is a variety of choices, especially when it comes to performance or sport air filters for cars. Here, we will give you all the information you need about what they are, how they work, and how to choose the best air filter for your car.

WHAT IS AN AIR FILTER?

An air filter is what prevents debris and dirt from entering your car’s engine through the intake manifold valves.

Cars rely on an air-fuel mixture to power the engine and the purer the air, the better it is for the engine. The air filter will ensure that this is as clean as possible, not only removing large pieces of dirt and debris but in some cases stopping particles that would unbalance the air-fuel mixture and lead to worse performance or “misfiring.”

In addition to ensuring that performance remains constant, a good air filter will ensure that fuel consumption remains low. If the air drawn in is not “pure,” then more fuel will be needed to achieve the required engine power. Since the engine heats up as part of the combustion process necessary to power the car, a constant flow of clean, fresh air also prevents your car from overheating.

Due to the work they do and the fact that they have a limited capacity to collect dirt, air filters can become clogged and prevent air from passing through. In this case, they will need to be replaced. If you do not replace it, your engine’s performance will begin to decline, and dirt and grime can also mix with the oil supplied to the engine, which will wear down engine components over time.

Until the 1980s, air filters were round paper elements, but manufacturers began using flat filters that channeled air to fuel-injected engines. This would ensure that the systems remain cool.

However, factory air boxes often reduce power. The air intake passages provide the engine with enough air to stay cool when running, but they are not intended for the best performance.

WHAT IS A SPORT AIR FILTER?

While most standard filters are made of paper and need to be replaced when they reach their capacity, there are also special filters for sports or performance. These fit into the original housing and never need to be replaced. While factory-installed air filters are primarily designed to prevent dirt from entering the engine, a good performance air filter must find the perfect compromise of balancing filtration with airflow. The more air in the engine, the more power you can get.

For this reason, in the quest for increased power, a performance air filter is one of the simplest upgrades to make. Since the filter is the first part of the intake system, the amount of air it lets into the engine has a direct correlation with the power the engine can potentially produce. Allowing more air to enter by using a less restrictive sport air filter will therefore give your car the potential for increased power.

Most sport air filters are conical, meaning they are sometimes called cone air filters. This shape allows for a larger surface area when taking in air, although some can also be wedge-shaped. The filter element can be simply made of paper, but it is more often made of foam and designed to draw in more air from colder places than the factory air filter, thus keeping the engine cooler and helping you achieve optimal performance.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?

There are many advantages to sport air filters.

As briefly mentioned above, these filters do not need to be replaced. Unlike paper filters that can clog quite easily and need to be replaced regularly, all you have to do with sport air filters is clean them about every two years or so. This is because they do not clog as quickly or as easily because the filter has a larger surface area, but they offer better airflow and better filtration of the air entering your engine.

Since you never have to wonder when to change your cone air filter, you just need to think about how to clean the cone air filter, and another advantage of this is that it is relatively simple.

Most filters recommend cleaning after about 10,000 km as they can be quite dirty. There are a variety of filter cleaning kits available online that come with specific cleaners to use on your sport filter, as well as an oil to apply afterward so it continues to work as well as possible. These can simply be soaked in the cleaning substance, then left to dry, while brushing off as much dirt as possible during the process. Simple!

They will also improve your performance. If your engine gets more air, it can perform better. A question often asked by skeptics is, do cone air filters actually work, and the simple answer is yes. In fact, the best sport air filters can increase your power by about 3 to 5 HP and increase your torque.

Some more expensive units will also come with a cold air intake unit. This acts to draw air from outside the car instead of replacing the hot air used inside the engine compartment. This cold air is denser and will therefore burn better, further improving your engine’s performance. The free-flow intake pipe also draws in less turbulent air that moves faster and contains more oxygen than factory-installed air filters.

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES?

A sport air filter sounds louder than a normal air filter because the larger volume of air is less restricted. Although the increased air is necessary for performance, it will make your car roar much more than normal. This may not be particularly friendly when driving through sleepy villages at night, but it certainly makes your car much more dynamic.

Another issue that has been noted is that due to the increased air intake, high-performance filters can actually expose your engine to more dirt and debris. This increased intake of foreign objects can wear down the internal moving parts of the engine more and cause damage there, although this is quite rare.

A final issue, especially with cold air intakes, is that water from the road (and with it mud and other forms of dirt) can splash and soak your filter, and water can even enter your engine. However, there are ways to avoid this, such as by purchasing a hydroshield and making sure not to drive through roads with high water levels. Getting a decent filter from a reputable brand and paying a fair price should actually put an end to all these problems. As with many car parts, the more you spend, the fewer risks there are for your engine.

HOW TO INSTALL A SPORT AIR FILTER

Installing or removing a sport air filter to clean it is a relatively simple process.

Open the hood to expose the engine compartment and the air filter should be located either in the engine cover itself or in a separate housing, although this of course varies depending on car and filter manufacturers.

Check your car’s manual if you are unsure where it is located. Unscrew the fasteners or open the clips of your old air filter. You simply need to attach your new replacement cone air filter to the location of the old air filter. Most universal sport air filters have a clip or screw that holds them in place and will come with instructions on how to attach them.

We’ve filtered out the worst to leave you only the best oil filters.

Oil is the lifeblood of your car; it keeps the working parts of your engine in good working order by letting them slide against each other, meaning you get the best performance. Just as you wouldn’t want dirty blood circulating around your body, you don’t want dirty oil flowing around your car’s engine. Ensuring this never happens is the role of the oil filter, and a poor-quality filter can shorten your engine’s lifespan and cause other serious problems. It may be a small part of your car’s lubrication system, but it plays a very big role. There are several types of oil filters. So our guide will introduce you to some of the best oil filter brands and tell you which is the best oil filter to use.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF AN OIL FILTER?

To put it simply, the oil filter removes dirt, sediment, or other impurities from the engine oil as it circulates around your engine. It plays an absolutely crucial role in ensuring your engine runs properly. It is a small cartridge containing a filtration system, which is connected to the engine, and the location of the oil filter is usually the same in all cars. When the oil has circulated around all the moving parts of the engine, it is then pumped through the filter, which removes impurities and contaminants.

Dirt and sand can enter the engine in various ways, and if even small particles of hard substances get into the oil flow, they can rub up and down against essential parts of the machinery (mainly the pistons and cylinders) and can wear them out much faster. In the worst case, one of these pieces of dirt or stone can be large enough to lodge in a part of your engine and prevent a piston from moving or a valve from closing. This would have serious consequences on your engine’s overall performance and could lead to very expensive repairs. The oil filter ensures this does not happen.

Oil filters do not last forever. Over time, dust and dirt build up in the oil filter and it begins to clog. It stops working as effectively as before and it’s time to replace it. The duration depends, as we will see below, on the quality or type of oil and filter and driving conditions.

BUT WHY DO I NEED A GOOD OIL FILTER FOR MY CAR?

In addition to the damage caused by unfiltered oil described above, using a bad filter can cause oil leaks and a poorly fitted filter can simply fall off – certainly something that won’t be good for your car when you’re speeding down the highway late for an important meeting.

Many manufacturers recommend getting a new oil filter every time you change your oil. This can range from 3,000 to over 15,000 miles. That’s a lot of mileage, so it makes sense to get the best possible oil filter. This is especially true when using synthetic oil, as it contains additives and detergents that prevent dirt particles from settling in the engine. This means they don’t need to be changed as often, but the filter has to work much harder. Getting a high-quality filter will limit the risk of these floating particles damaging engine parts.

A top-notch filter will also protect against oil oxidation. Regardless of the situation or conditions, oil reacts with oxygen in a process called oxidation. This ongoing chemical reaction increases the oil’s viscosity and makes it less effective, in addition to causing sludge buildup. An oil filter prevents the physical byproducts of this from entering the engine and prevents it from being damaged.

The engine always operates at high temperatures, and preventing it from overheating is also one of the many tasks of the oil filter. A buildup of dirt and impurities in the oil can reduce thermal conductivity, meaning the oil draws less heat away from the engine’s moving parts. This will cause the engine to overheat, just as when poor-quality oil is used.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of a good oil filter is extended engine life. Since the filter allows oil to flow cleanly and smoothly, removing any debris that could cause damage, your engine will always be powerful and last a long time.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD QUALITY OIL FILTER?

The key elements of an oil filter are the filter element, the anti-drain back valve, and the gasket or seal. The materials they are made of can have a direct impact on the oil filter’s effectiveness.

Anti-drain back valves prevent oil from flowing back into the reservoir unfiltered and can be made of rubber or silicone. Rubber valves are cheaper and often indicate rather poor quality, although they may be suitable for engines using conventional non-synthetic oils. Overall, they tend not to last as long and often become quite stiff after about 3,000 miles of use. The fact that they are not as flexible can mean they do not form a tight enough seal. Silicone, on the other hand, lasts much longer and retains its flexibility, but is more expensive than rubber. As is often the case, you get what you pay for. Silicone can go 6,000 to 8,000 miles and still reseal. It therefore makes a good seal and prevents unfiltered oil from flowing back.

The type of filter element is also very important in determining the filter’s effectiveness at keeping the oil clean. This is the material that actually filters the oil. It is made of cellulose, synthetic material, or a blend of both and can often look like cardboard. Synthetic elements are usually made from polyester, glass, cotton, or nylon and have better filtration capacity due to tightly woven fibers. They can capture even tiny impurities in the fluid without slowing the oil flow and are very difficult to tear or rip, making them robust with great longevity. Cellulose elements are cheaper than synthetic elements, but the quality is worse. Blended elements offer a better choice in terms of cost and performance. Some high-quality oil filters have a metal mesh on top of the filter element, which removes larger pieces of debris before the oil reaches the filter element. This protects the material and ultimately makes it last much longer.

The oil filter’s capacity refers to the filter’s ability to hold the contaminants it extracts from the oil and continue to function effectively, meaning it does not need to be replaced. The type of element and the filter’s construction will impact this capacity. The higher the capacity, the more miles you will get out of it. Some high-quality filters will have a bypass valve that allows unfiltered oil to enter the engine, so it can continue to operate. Others, which do not have this bypass valve, may prevent any oil from entering the engine when they reach their capacity.

The size and shape of the filter are also worth considering, as not all filters fit all cars. Your manufacturer may also recommend certain filters or be designed for a specific filter. For example, some Land Rover models may be fitted almost exclusively with Wix oil filters due to their size. There are no common standards for oil filters, meaning each car brand and model has its own specifications. The oil filter’s weight and housing design determine whether it can be installed in your car or not. Make sure the filter’s specifications match your car’s requirements as outlined in the owner’s manual. If the oil filter housing is too heavy, it can also affect your vehicle’s performance.

THE TOP 7 OIL FILTER BRANDS

1. BOSCH

For conventional and blended filters, Bosch may offer the best oil filter on the market. Their filters feature a robust, thick blended filter element with high glass content and the ability to hold up to 14 grams of dirt. They are sturdy, reliable, and fit well in most Asian and European vehicles.

2. MANN-FILTER

Mann-Filter focuses on high performance and incredible durability. Their filters feature anti-drain back and bypass valves, and the filter elements have been specially designed for modern engines. They offer a wide variety and claim to be the safest option and the trucker’s choice of oil filter.

3. MAHLE ORIGINAL

Mahle offers very interesting options for those looking for a new replacement oil filter. In addition to selling premium oil filters with fully synthetic elements, they also have the cheaper and more environmentally friendly option of replacing only the element itself rather than the housing, an “oil filter cartridge” as they call it.

4. K&N

For racing and high-speed driving, K&N offers the perfect design. A nut at the bottom and slots on each side help keep the filter in place, even during high-speed travel. It has a silicone anti-drain back valve and a thickness of 77mm, which is thicker than your average filter.

5. VALEO

Valeo filters are designed to provide the highest standards of filtration quality and meet all their users’ needs. Their impressive oil filter technology blocks particles as small as 40 microns (40 µm), half the width of a human hair.

6. BLUE PRINT

Blue Print offers filters for gasoline, diesel, electric, and hybrid cars, and their replacement filters are designed to meet the required standards of most vehicles so they can be easily replaced. Blue Print filters are made from premium materials.

7. STARK

Stark products claim to offer long life, good flow, and reliable rubber sealing elements. They are equipped with anti-drain back and bypass valves to ensure timely oil supply immediately after starting the engine and avoid damaging its components if the filter element has reached its capacity.

Dust, soot, rubber particles, abrasive substances, ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulfur and carbon dioxide, benzene, and plant pollen in spring and summer enter the car through the vents with the air. Due to the enclosed space, the concentration of these substances inside the cabin can be several times higher than outside. Inhaling polluted air can tire the lungs and cause allergic reactions. The cabin filter (or pollen filter) is designed to solve this problem. Here is our advice for choosing a high-quality filter suitable for your car.

Why it is important to replace this part in due time

A pollen filter is a consumable part, so it must be replaced regularly. It is recommended to change it at least once a year or every 15,000 km. If you live in a big city and are often stuck in traffic jams or, conversely, if you drive on dusty country roads most of the time, you may need to replace it more often.

A dirty filter can reduce the efficiency of the air conditioning, heating, and ventilation systems, as the filter’s resistance to airflow increases due to dirt buildup. Windows fog up heavily in rainy weather, and over time, pathogenic bacteria and fungi begin to grow on the surface of the filter element.

Sometimes the filter element deforms, and the airflow bypasses it, allowing all contaminants to enter the cabin.

The different types of cabin filter

Nowadays, the following types are popular:

1. Conventional barrier filter. These are dust traps. They are made of special paper or synthetic fibers. They usually consist of several layers. Each is designed to trap particles of a certain size. It is worth noting that using synthetic fibers as the filtering material is preferable because they can ensure effective cleaning without offering resistance to airflow. In high-quality filters, one of the layers may use an electrostatic charge that allows its fibers to capture even the smallest dust particles.
2. With absorbent layers. Each of these layers has a textile base with activated carbon granules up to 0.5 mm. The granules have a porous surface that absorbs molecules of toxic substances that enter the car through the air. Such filters are more expensive but guarantee finer cleaning. Additionally, they neutralize unpleasant odors.
3. With an antibacterial layer. This layer is made of a bactericidal material, usually polyphenol. It binds and neutralizes bacteria and allergens and inhibits mold growth by several dozen times. These parts are the most expensive as they guarantee maximum protection.

4 tips from AUTODOC on choosing and using cabin filters

1. Choose products from reputable manufacturers. We recommend Mann-Filter, Bosch, Mahle Original, Stark Automotive, Knecht, K&N, and Ridex. In low-quality items, less material is used for the filter layers, which results in better air purification. Poor-quality products may even have a fake carbon filter that is actually just a conventional dust filter with one of its layers painted black.
2. Check the condition of the pollen filter if you notice any of the following:
   1. an unpleasant smell inside the car;
   2. it is cold in the car even when the heater is on or hot when the air conditioning is activated;
   3. dust starts to accumulate on the dashboard.
3. Choose the replacement part in strict accordance with your vehicle’s specifications. It is impossible to install components larger than necessary. Parts smaller than standard ones allow unfiltered air to enter the cabin.
4. When installing the filter, make sure to position it correctly. The airflow direction should be marked on the side of the part, which is particularly important for carbon and anti-allergy filters.

Conclusion

The pollen filter does not directly affect the operation of the car’s basic systems and assemblies, such as the engine or transmission. For this reason, some car owners do not bother to replace it in a timely manner. This can be dangerous for your health. High-quality components are capable of trapping up to 99% of dust and allergens. That is why you should not skimp on this part. By following our simple tips, you will ensure a comfortable and safe car environment for a long time.

Hydrogen Cars: Just Another Hype or the Holy Grail of Green Automotive?

Cars equipped with hydrogen fuel cells burn no fossil fuels, produce no pollution or greenhouse gases, operate with the same chemical reaction that powers rockets, and travel twice the distance of a Tesla, meaning they are a credible and effective alternative to electric cars as part of a fossil fuel-free future.

If you haven’t heard of this utopian car yet, you wouldn’t be alone. Only Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai have already established fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) production lines, and it’s rare to see one outside of California, the hub where this technology is slowly but surely developing.

This could change, however: the UK government announced in 2017 a £23 million fund to support the development of cars with hydrogen fuel cells and infrastructure, and Transport Minister John Hayes noted that “hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles can play a vital role… in helping us reduce harmful emissions.” This funding is certainly needed, as there are currently only about 17 hydrogen refueling stations in the UK (most in London, you guessed it) and none in the US outside of California.

There are clearly startup issues, but if FCEVs follow the same path as electric vehicles, it’s important to ask what these hydrogen cars are, how good they really are, and what are the best hydrogen cars on the market?

HOW DO HYDROGEN CARS WORK?

Despite running on gaseous fuel, hydrogen cars are technically also electric cars; they are powered by an electric motor rather than a gasoline or diesel engine. Hydrogen is stored in a tank, which is connected to the fuel cell. Hydrogen enters the fuel cell and mixes with oxygen from the ambient air. Hydrogen and oxygen react and combine to produce electrical energy and harmless water vapor, which is then expelled as a byproduct.

There are no moving parts in the fuel cell, just a chemical reaction that creates electricity to power the engine. The battery where electricity is stored, known as the Peak Power Battery, is significantly smaller and therefore lighter than the battery of a standard electric vehicle, as it is constantly recharged by the fuel cell, as well as by regenerative braking in some models, a process in which the electric motor converts the car’s kinetic energy into electrical energy and feeds it into the backup battery.

Hydrogen tanks are refueled in a way that is almost the same as gasoline and diesel; gaseous hydrogen is pumped into the tank as you would with gasoline. For a vehicle that could change the world, the system as a whole is incredibly simple.

THE ADVANTAGES OF HYDROGEN CARS

THE DISADVANTAGES OF HYDROGEN CARS

5 BEST HYDROGEN CARS

TOYOTA MIRAI

Toyota clearly has big plans for the Mirai, as it means “future” in Japanese. Its sleek and elegant look complements its excellent handling, but it is expensive and rare: starting at £65,000 before the government’s £3,500 ultra-low emission grant, only 15 will be released in the UK in 2020.

HONDA CLARITY

With Clarity, of course, referring to the lack of emissions from Honda’s first fuel cell vehicle, that’s not the only thing it has going for it. The Clarity offers attractive performance, top-notch engineering, and provides great range and comfort. Unfortunately, it can’t even be leased in the UK yet.

HYUNDAI NEXO

Following on from the Hyundai ix35 FCEV, the Nexo offers a guaranteed great range of 414 miles, with even more possibilities thanks to regenerative braking. The South Korean manufacturer claims it can even purify the air around it – and for a huge amount of £68,000, you’d expect that at a minimum.

MERCEDES-BENZ GLC F-CELL

The GLC F-Cell is Mercedes’ first attempt with an FCEV, and it looks promising so far. The tank has a capacity of 4.4 kg of hydrogen, giving it a range of 478 km and a power output of 155 kWh. More importantly, 90% less platinum was used, making it potentially very affordable.

BMW HYDROGEN X5

Scheduled to go into production in 2022, the X5 will have a total power of 368 hp, a total of 6 kg of hydrogen in its two H tanks, and regenerative braking to help support the battery. Refueling is said to take between three and four minutes, and this could be a very strong offering for the future.