Changing air filter - a3

Belloni · 2 Feb 2013 at 16:26

Has anyone got experience with this?! Can't seem to find much on it, nothing in the manual.

I think i'm getting the oil and air filter confused also. I've read it should be under the car engine cover, but I think there is one under the glove compartment box on the passenger side?

[TW]Fox · 2 Feb 2013 at 16:28

Is this the same Audi A3 you posted about before? If so, is home-servicing a reasonably new Audi not a bit counter-productive given the effect it will have on its value?

Clarkey · 2 Feb 2013 at 16:28

Tip, it's connected to the throttle

DampDog · 2 Feb 2013 at 16:34

If you don't know the differnce between an air filter, oil filter and pollen filter. Give it to someone who does and save yourself hours of grief wondering what you did wrong.

Is it diesel or petrol?

iaind · 2 Feb 2013 at 16:46

Is this an attempt to increase your mpg? Has it not been serviced when its due?

Belloni · 2 Feb 2013 at 16:48

[TW]Fox;23681352 said:
Is this the same Audi A3 you posted about before? If so, is home-servicing a reasonably new Audi not a bit counter-productive given the effect it will have on its value?

It is, but I like to learn new things. If I take it to a garage won't they charge me loads for a relatively "simple" job?

It's petrol Dampdog.

Belloni · 2 Feb 2013 at 16:49

iaind said:
Is this an attempt to increase your mpg? Has it not been serviced when its due?

I read that services often overlook the filters?

Duke · 2 Feb 2013 at 16:49

The pollen filter is the one that is behind the glove box area.

[TW]Fox · 2 Feb 2013 at 16:52

Belloni said:
It is, but I like to learn new things. If I take it to a garage won't they charge me loads for a relatively "simple" job?

The replacement of the air filter is part of the service schedule Audi have devised for your car. It isn't done with every service, only certain ones.

If you start not bothering to get it serviced properly then you will devalue your car. If you had a P reg Audi A3 then this makes absolutely no difference and you might as well save a few quid but with a reasonably new A3 the money you'll lose when you sell it or trade it in will be greater than the money saved by doing it yourself.

Fuzz · 2 Feb 2013 at 16:53

Belloni said:
It is, but I like to learn new things. If I take it to a garage won't they charge me loads for a relatively "simple" job?

It's petrol Dampdog.

Like anything in life.... It's only simple if you know what you are doing.

If you don't even know what you are looking for, for the love of god take it to a garage.

iaind · 2 Feb 2013 at 16:53

Belloni said:
I read that services often overlook the filters?

A new filter isn't going to get your car doing 45mpg

[TW]Fox · 2 Feb 2013 at 16:54

Does anyone else get the impression that perhaps buying the Audi wasn't the most sensible of ideas?

Belloni · 2 Feb 2013 at 16:58

[TW]Fox;23681527 said:
The replacement of the air filter is part of the service schedule Audi have devised for your car. It isn't done with every service, only certain ones.

If you start not bothering to get it serviced properly then you will devalue your car. If you had a P reg Audi A3 then this makes absolutely no difference and you might as well save a few quid but with a reasonably new A3 the money you'll lose when you sell it or trade it in will be greater than the money saved by doing it yourself.

Oh ok I thought it a every service.

I do it get serviced properly by Audi don't worry

iaind · 2 Feb 2013 at 16:59

[TW]Fox;23681542 said:
Does anyone else get the impression that perhaps buying the Audi wasn't the most sensible of ideas?

A 1.6 a3 isn't exactly extravagant, it has ok fuel economy and is probably quite cheap to run otherwise. Sounds like someone said he should get a small engine as possible to save fuel and he didn't do any reasearch....even I knew the 1.6 non fsi was relatively poor on fuel for its size

Belloni · 2 Feb 2013 at 16:59

iaind said:
A new filter isn't going to get your car doing 45mpg

Ha I don't expect that at all, but I always look to improve things

iaind · 2 Feb 2013 at 16:59

Belloni said:
Oh ok I thought it a every service.

I do it get serviced properly by Audi don't worry

Leave it then, it's not due for replacement

Belloni · 2 Feb 2013 at 17:01

iaind said:
A 1.6 a3 isn't exactly extravagant, it has ok fuel economy and is probably quite cheap to run otherwise. Sounds like someone said he should get a small engine as possible to save fuel and he didn't do any reasearch....even I knew the 1.6 non fsi was relatively poor on fuel for its size

Yeah we all make mistakes, I definitely should have looked into more but I know this for next time definitely!

Matt82 · 2 Feb 2013 at 17:02

Belloni said:
It is, but I like to learn new things. If I take it to a garage won't they charge me loads for a relatively "simple" job?

It's petrol Dampdog.

Get yourself a diagram of your engine/engine bay.

Name/label all the main components and learn what they do.

Then you'll start to understand what is connected to what and most importantly why.

At that stage, even if you can't spot the airbox, the tip regarding the throttle wouldn't be necessary as by process of elimination you'd know what else should be connected to it

Or just pay someone to service it

iaind · 2 Feb 2013 at 17:05

Belloni said:
Yeah we all make mistakes, I definitely should have looked into more but I know this for next time definitely!

But as I pointed out before - its doing low/mid 30s on a mixed run. Maybe more, maybe less as you still haven't bothered measuring it yet. A decent petrol or average diesel will be doing low 40s, but for your mileage it's only going to save you a few quid a month. That 20 quid fillup would be 15...not exactly a big deal!

Firestar_3x · 2 Feb 2013 at 17:06

Air filter on the A3 is optional, many state that removing it totally gives you another 5mpg.