A dirty air filter can have a significant impact on your car's performance and your health. It reduces the amount of air supplied to the engine, leading to an increase in unburned fuel that turns into soot residue. This soot can build up on spark plug tips, making them unable to produce a proper spark. As a result, the car may move abruptly, idle, and in some cases, the engine may fail.
Engine misfires, rough idling, and hard starts are all signs of a clogged engine air filter. The dirty air filter restricts air supply to the engine, causing unburned fuel to form a soot residue that accumulates in the spark plug. This fouls the spark plug (s) and decreases its ability to produce the spark needed for the combustion process. Replacing the affected air filter and spark plugs will restore your engine's performance.
Decreased fuel economy is another symptom of a faulty or dirty air filter. A bad or dirty air filter restricts airflow and reduces oxygen in the mixture. Your engine compensates for this by consuming more fuel to produce enough power to move the same distance or speed as it could with a clean filter. In some cases, the air filter may allow air to pass through sporadically, while other times it may not supply air in proportion to the fuel, making the trip rough and bumpy.
But when the air filter doesn't allow enough or constant air to enter, it can cause the engine to have problems accelerating. Have your mechanic scan your vehicle to locate the source of the problem, as it could be as simple as replacing the air filter. If an air filter doesn't work as it should, it could be letting dirt, dust particles, and other contaminants into the engine, which could cause damage. Newer fuel-injected vehicles use an on-board computer to achieve the optimal air-fuel mixture and automatically adjust fuel flow. When stepping on the accelerator, the engine is required to draw in more air to burn the fuel that is injected for power.
Vehicles have an air intake system to suck in air and purify it before using it in this air-fuel mixture. If you have a clogged air filter, one of the symptoms you would experience is reduced engine performance. Driving with a dirty air filter may seem like no big deal, but doing so can have a negative impact on your health and that of your vehicle. Without a proper air intake, the fuel mixture will be too rich in fuel, so it will not burn properly and the engine will be deprived of the oxygen it needs. Many mechanics or dealers will allow you to purchase the filter on your own and take it with you for installation.
Older model cars that do not include an airflow sensor of any kind have difficulty dealing with air volumes, as they can easily alter their fuel ratios, making them very vulnerable to the effects of a clogged air filter. Inadequate air supply can cause carbon deposits to build up on the engine, which will eventually activate the engine check light. As a car owner, you need to be aware of the symptoms of dirty air cleaner to ensure your engine stays free of debris. Air entering the system tends to contain contaminants such as dirt, sand, worn tire particles, dust and pollen, so it needs to pass through an air filter which traps these contaminants and allows clean air to pass to the engine. Without this filtration process in place, dirt and other debris can enter your engine and cause serious damage. A dirty air filter can lead to decreased performance and fuel economy as well as increased emissions from your vehicle. It can also cause damage to your engine if left unchecked for too long.
To avoid these issues, make sure you check your car's air filter regularly and replace it when necessary.
