A car air filter is an afterthought when it comes to vehicle maintenance by many, but replacing it regularly is key when it comes to keeping an engine healthy. Unfortunately, the signs of a dirty air filter may not be obvious. If left for long periods in a vehicle with excess build-up, hefty bills can result to get the car running properly again. As such, knowing the signs that it is time to replace an air filter is important when it comes to keeping a vehicle running smoothly.
1. Fuel Efficiency
Measuring gas mileage is as easy as keeping track of the number of times you fuel up in a week. This is because as an engine is starved of the clean oxygen it needs to run efficiently, it will begin to pull energy from the vehicle’s fuel to run instead. Therefore, if more money is increasingly being spent at the gas station weekly, it is a good indication a dirty air filter is the culprit.
2. Service Engine Light
The service engine light is something all drivers despise seeing because worst-case scenarios immediately come to mind. Fortunately, for most, it does not mean that the engine itself needs replacing. Getting the light to turn off could be as simple as replacing a dirty air filter with a clean one.
3. Problems Starting Car
Healthy engines turn over without hesitation. When filtered oxygen is not being provided to an engine, and soot begins to build up on the spark plugs, it becomes more difficult for the spark plugs to ignite the engine. For many cars, there is not any warning that the engine is having problems firing. As such, it is important to keep air filters changed as recommended to prevent sudden engine failure from occurring.
4. Reduced Horsepower
When accelerating, especially quickly, there is an expectation that a vehicle will respond without hesitation. If it feels like there is a delay in acceleration when pressing the gas pedal, a dirty air filter may be to blame. A quick fix to a delayed response can be a short trip to the dealership to trade out a dirty air filter for a clean one.
5. Exhaust Smoke
Inefficient fuel burning is what causes smoke to be expelled from the exhaust. And that fuel not being burned completely by the engine is a direct result of a dirty car air filter. Therefore, changing out the air filter immediately is advised to stop exhaust smoke in its tracks.
6. Dirty Air Filter
Plain and simple, if an air filter appears dirty and has layers of build-up on it, it is time to replace it. For most vehicles, this occurs every 15,000 to 30,000 miles.
A clean air filter is a vital component in keeping a car’s engine running smoothly. Come visit our certified technicians in the service department at Bill Snethkamp for your air filter maintenance and other car service needs.
Connect with us
