You go in to use your oil change coupons and they offer to change your air filter. Why?
We've all been there. It's a busy lunch break and you only have a few minutes to spare. Or it's the end of a long day and you are just waiting to get home to put your feet up. We try to fit those important vehicle maintenance appointments into convenient time slots in our busy lives. When the oil change coupons show up in the mail, we know our time is almost near and that we should head to a quick lube place sooner than later. Many parts of the service appointment seem obvious, but there is one aspect that may not be quite as self-explanatory. Why are they offering to change your air filter when you come to get your fluids checked?
The air filter is a common part of most 21-point inspections that accompany a regular oil change. Coupons often list all of the things that the technician will check and the garage usually delivers a paper version of the checklist for your reference. Inevitably, they will find something wrong somewhere. The oil change coupons are often used as a draw to bring new business into the garage and many people believe the technicians make money on the things they find wrong with the vehicle once you enter their building.
Almost everyone that has had their oil changed will know what it's like to have the service technician offer to change the air filter as well. The air filter is found in a very accessible place under the hood and is simple to get to. It takes only a few seconds to place and is relatively cheap, but the garage can charge its own mark-up on the equipment and make money with very little labor. For these reasons, the air filter is a common and popular thing to replace during fluid checks. The mechanic may even pull out the air filter to show you how dirty it is and claim that you should change it right away to get maximum gas mileage out of your vehicle.
While it is true that gas mileage improves with a clean air filter, this does not need to be replaced every time you get an oil change. Coupons may include this service in their price and, if so, you should be encouraged to take advantage of it. Otherwise it is often a waste of time. Change your air filter regularly, but not every single time you get your fluids changed. You do not need a new air filter every 3,000 or 5,000 miles.
