Does Your Car Need a New Car Air Filter?

When a car starts experiencing engine problems, few people think to check their car air filter. But this relatively simple car part has a large impact on how a car’s engine performs, especially if the filter becomes clogged up. Below are the most common signs that an engine’s air filter might need to be replaced. You can have a new filter quickly installed at your local used car dealership.

Misfiring Engine

The combustion chambers inside your car’s engine need a steady supply of fresh oxygen to mix with the fuel. If a clogged air filter restricts this inflow of air, the fuel-air mixture becomes unbalanced.

This leads to a build-up of excess unburned fuel inside the chambers, which eventually starts to coat the spark plugs in sooty residue. These fouled spark plugs start to misfire, causing the engine to sputter and shake and struggle to perform.

Reduced Acceleration

As a result of this misfiring, your engine will rapidly lose power. You’ll find it reacting sluggishly when you step on the gas. This might cause problems when you’re trying to overtake another car or cross a busy intersection.

Falling Gas Mileage

When an engine is starved of oxygen because of a clogged filter, it will continue burning through fuel only less efficiently. This means you’ll be stopping for gas more often and watching your weekly fuel expenditure steadily rise.

Black Exhaust Smoke

The excess fuel that a clogged filter causes to build inside the combustion chambers can begin to escape through the exhaust pipes. In the intense heat of the exhaust system, this fuel might combust, causing backfiring. It might also ignite partially, causing black smoke to emerge from behind your car.

Check Engine Light

Fortunately, the various engine issues caused by a clogged air filter will almost always trigger the check engine light to appear on your instrument panel. It’s best not to ignore this warning light; have a technician take a look without delay.

Filthy-Looking Filter

If you suspect that your air filter might be causing problems, pop the hood to inspect it. Be sure to check in between the filter’s pleats. If there are significant dark patches of congealed dirt and grime, you probably need a new filter.

Replace Your Filter at Your Local Used Car Dealer

Most of the time, air filters will last about a year. If you’ve been using the same filter for this long or longer, consider visiting your nearest dealership for a new one. If you regularly use particularly dusty roads, or you drive daily in heavy traffic with lots of airborne contaminants, you might need to replace your filter more frequently than this.

Have your air filter inspected and replaced today at Duncan Suzuki. We’re been diligently serving the region’s drivers with top-notch vehicles, deals, and customer service for over 20 years.

Tags: How To Tell When My Car Air Filter Needs To Be Replaced, When Should I Replace My Car Air Filter?
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