by 
The Curious Bag
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<h4 class="dechead">On One Hand: By the Book
Most manufacturers tell you how often to change your vehicle air filters in the "Maintenance" section of the owner's manual. If you don't have an owner's manual handy, you can follow the plan suggested by Edmunds.com and change your air filters every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.
On the Other: Reuse Instead of Replace
Some companies, like K&N and FRAM, produce reusable air filters. Instead of throwing the old filter out and putting in a new one, you simply remove the reusable filter, wash it off, apply a special type of oil supplied by the manufacturer, then put the air filter back in its place. These cleanings should still be done regularly, as if you were in fact replacing the filter.
Bottom Line
If you drive your vehicle in extremely dusty or dirty conditions, or drive it off-road regularly, you may need to change the air filter more frequently than usual. Otherwise, you can afford to stick to the manufacturer's recommendations or the basic 12 months/12,000 miles rule for replacing a paper filter or cleaning a reusable filter.
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