Common Signs of a Dirty Air Filter

 

To generate power, a car engine combines both air and gasoline. The former gets to the engine through an air filter which is designed to keep out a host of debris including dirt, bugs, pollen, and other harmful contaminants. After it has been in use for a while, it will not function as effectively as it once did. And when this happens, less air will reach the engine, which can lead to extensive car trouble further down the line. As a rule of thumb, it is recommended that you change the filter every 10,000 to 15,000 miles.

If you get regular tune-ups at your local garage, many mechanics will automatically check if the filter to see if it needs replacing or not. However, you don’t want to only rely on others. It is important that you are able to identify some common warning signs yourself. Otherwise, you could end up causing further damage to your vehicle which was easily avoidable.

The question remains: how can you tell if your air filter is dirty? Well, we are going to help you answer this query by talking you through some of the most common signs that it is time for a replacement filter. So, here are the top 10 indicators that you need to take action on your air filter.

1. Air Filter Appears Dirty

2. Reduced Fuel Economy

3. Misfiring Engine

4. Strange Engine Noises

5. Bad Spark Plugs

6. Check Engine Light On

7. Reduced Horsepower

8. Flames or Black Smoke from Exhaust Pipe

9. Strong Fuel Smell

10. Rough Idle

To know more the detailed explanation of each indicators, read here

Conclusion

Replacing your air filter when it is dirty is a simple job to do, but it makes such a big difference to the performance of your vehicle. Just a few of the issues which can arise if you don’t tackle this task quickly are an increase in harmful emissions, damaged spark plugs, engine build up, and wasted fuel. All you need to do is keep your filter clean and well-maintained to stop yourself from needing an expensive fix. This can also help to extend the life of your vehicle. The longer you drive a vehicle with a dirty air filter, the more you will be wasting fuel, and the greater the chance that a serious issue will occur. If you don’t think that you can replace the filter by yourself, you will need to visit your local mechanic to get a professional to do the job for you.