Changing the air filter for Volkswagen Polo sedan (+part numbers)

Frequency of air filter replacement

The frequency of replacing the filter element depends on the specific operating conditions of the vehicle.

According to the operating instructions, the frequency of its replacement is every 30 thousand kilometers . This interval is definitely recommended based on average European operating conditions. The realities of domestic roads and the operation of cars in Russian conditions are still different from the homelands of the same Volkswagen. You may find information about resetting the service interval useful, since filter replacement is USUALLY timed to coincide with an oil change.

We list the main factors that require the air filter to be perfectly clean:

• The state of the atmosphere on the roads.
• Fuel quality.
• Motor life of the engine.

What does using a “dirty” filter lead to?

For comparison, new and old filters (mileage 17,000 km, mostly in the city).

The most expensive element of any filter is paper. Its main tasks are to stop the access of dirt, dust and foreign substances of a certain size to the components and assemblies of the car.

The key here is the particle size.

By the way, the quality of air coming from outside largely depends on the amount of filter material in the filter. You can compare it by the number of folds of the curtain (paper).

How to change the air filter yourself

If there is a need to replace an unusable part, you can do it yourself without much difficulty. To do this, you need to have two basic tools with you: a Phillips screwdriver and a rag. First you need to open the hood. After this, you can immediately notice the part you need and begin replacing it.

The screws that secure the structure must be unscrewed with a Phillips screwdriver (it is not necessary to unscrew them completely). After this, you can disconnect the tube leading to the motor.

When the old mechanism is safely disconnected, the seat must be thoroughly cleaned of any contaminants that remain there. Only after this can you install a new one, firmly securing it.

Article numbers and filter selection

Filter 036129620-J – marking.

View from below.

View from above.

According to the Volkswagen catalog, filter 036129620 with the index “ J ” or “ H ” is recommended for the Polo sedan. Note that the modern market of automobile filters offers several dozen analogues to this filter.

Despite the external similarity, the price difference here can reach hundreds of percent, and the choice here depends only on the car enthusiast himself. We advise you to trust reliable and qualified sellers and not the cheapest prices.

Of the most popular and trustworthy analogues, the following can be noted:

• FA087 - Fortech . Country of origin - (Korea-Russia);
• K746 - MFilter (Lithuania);
• A0470 - JS ASAKASHI (Japan);
• C3880 - MANN-FILTER (Germany);
• 58301005 — HDE;
• 71-01060-SX - STELLOX ;
• GB8001 - BIG FILTER (Russia);
• A -31230 - Sakura (Indonesia).

Which filter to choose

Filters for Volkswagen cars are sold under the article number VAG 036129620, as well as VAG 036129620H and have a low cost. When replacing the air filter on a Volkswagen Polo Sedan 1.6, the same designs are used, regardless of the type of engine. VAG 036129620 is produced by the Russian company Big Filter. It has a durable structure and sealed elastic bands. As for VAG 036129620H, its manufacturer is unknown, but a significant part of these products are manufactured in Italy, as well as in other European countries.

There are no fundamental differences in the shape and structure of both options, but based on customer reviews, the Russian VAG 036129620 is superior in quality to the VAG 036129620H.

In order to choose the right air filter, you first need to know the right size. The standard parameters are approximately the following: 380 mm in length, 190 mm in width and 42 mm in height.

Popular examples of analogues:

• C 3880 MANN-FILTER is a high-quality filter material with well-connected parts, reminiscent of the original European product VAG 036129620H. Belongs to a high price category.
• AP 183/3 FILTRON - the quality of the air-purifying structures of this company is no worse than that of MANN-FILTER, but nevertheless has a lower cost.
• FA734 AMD is a budget product and is quite cheap compared to the examples above. The filter paper and housing are made of high quality, the fastening is reliable. Despite the low price, the materials are not much different from more well-known expensive analogues.

conclusions

After work, we record the mileage so as not to miss the next filter replacement date.

From the above, we can conclude that for Russian conditions, the optimal period for replacing the air filter should be 18-20 thousand km . When choosing a particular brand, remember that the air filter is not the place where you need to save money .

Let's be attentive to the state of the engine's operation during the period of time between services, and then nothing will darken your mood on the road, and you will “hear” only words of gratitude from the car itself.

Dirty air filter: consequences

If it is “clogged,” processes that are undesirable for the engine and the car as a whole arise and develop:

• Fuel consumption increases, vehicle dynamics deteriorate, carbon formation on engine parts and components increases;
• in exhaust gases the quantity and volume of harmful ingredients that are dangerous to the environment and humans increases;
• The engine life is noticeably reduced due to abrasive wear of valves, valve seats and the cylinder-piston group;
• It will not be possible to save on this element, because it is cheap, but driving on an old filter will quickly cause expensive repairs to the power plant.

In addition, contaminants that have penetrated inside the engine are gradually washed away and accumulate in the engine oil and spread throughout it, clogging the lubrication channels causing oil starvation.

How often should the filter be changed?

According to the maintenance regulations, the filter element must be changed once a year or after 15,000 kilometers, whichever comes first.

When operating on dusty and dirty roads, it is recommended to reduce this interval by 2-2.5 times.

To increase the service life of the element, it is recommended to knock dust out of it once every 2-3 months or blow it with compressed air in the direction opposite to the air movement when the engine is running.

Catalog numbers (articles)

Original

Analogs

Why is it important to replace?

The air filter is a rather important detail in a Volkswagen Polo car, the importance of which sometimes even experienced motorists underestimate. But it is the air purifier that prevents foreign bodies, dust and dirt from entering certain components of your car. And above all, to the engine!

Clogging and untimely replacement lead to serious consequences and entail unexpected financial costs.

Change the air filter in a timely manner

Why do you need to regularly change the part that cleans the air in the engine? Here are a few important reasons:

1. Improves fuel efficiency. After all, an old air filter not only increases fuel consumption, but also negatively affects the car’s handling. In some cases, replacing a worn part even improves acceleration performance (with fuel injection by 6-11%).
2. Thanks to the timely replacement of the old air filtration element in the Volkswagen Polo engine, the amount of harmful emissions is significantly reduced.
3. Engine service life increases. The main task of the air-cleaning element is to catch dust, dirt particles and foreign substances that can cause irreparable damage to the internal parts of the engine in the Polo Sedan (for example, render a cylinder or piston unusable). Remember, it only takes a grain of salt to enter your engine to cause costly repairs to your vehicle.
4. Changing the old filter is a quick and inexpensive procedure. After all, the element itself for purifying the air in a car engine is one of the cheapest and most replaceable parts of a sedan.
5. The deadline is easy to track. How often you need to change the part that filters the air in the engine is indicated in the maintenance schedule (contained in the Volkswagen owner's manual). As a rule, every 15–30 thousand km. Taking into account the many years of experience of specialists, as well as some complicated situations (heat, dusty areas, etc.), professionals advise changing the air filter every 10 thousand km. Take note: replacement is necessary, even if the old element for filtering air in the car engine turns out to be clean!

Articles

To select an analogue of the air-cleaning filter for the Polo sedan engine, you need to know the dimensions of the original, which are 38 × 19 × 4.2 cm.

Among the inexpensive, but quite suitable brands, we can name GB-8000, GB-8001 at a price of 300 rubles, produced in the Russian Federation, and FA734 AMD 4.1 (South Korea) for 220 rubles.