The air cleaner assembly in your Mercedes-Benz vehicle is comprised of an engine air filter and housing. You can usually find it above or beside the carburetor, if you're driving an older model, or above or beside the throttle body. Its job is to help keep airborne contaminants from getting into your engine cylinders and wearing out other engine parts.

Most air cleaner assemblies are made of either metal or plastic, and many have removable lids made of the same materials. They may also come with a dedicated duct to admit either cool or warm air. Plus, there are several types.

• Pleated paper air cleaner assemblies, on the one hand, are for everyday driving, ideal for most vehicles. They're both easy to replace and cost-effective.
• Foam air cleaner assemblies and cotton air cleaner assemblies, on the other hand, are for sports cars and other performance vehicles. The former use oil-wetted polyurethane and are designed for motorsports applications, as they're long-lasting. The latter use oiled cotton gauze. Both ensure optimal airflow and have a high dirt-collection capacity.
• Oil bath air cleaner assemblies, however, are composed of sumps containing pools of oil as well as fiber, mesh, foam, or other coarse insert material. They're used for off-roading since they have high air filtration capacities.

How long any air cleaner assembly lasts depends on a variety of factors. Either way, if you're wondering when to replace one, most owner's manuals recommend taking care of it every 12,000 to 15,000 miles. Check yours for an answer to the question. You should also look for the signs of air cleaner assembly failure, too. They include:

• A lit Check Engine light on the dashboard
• Ignition problems
• Unusual engine noises
• A drop in fuel economy

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If your air cleaner assembly needs changing, our auto parts store can help. We carry only the genuine article, made by Mercedes-Benz for its cars and SUVs specifically. Order now, and we'll ship one to you immediately, so you can get repairs done in no time.