The engine air filter in your car is designed to filter the air as it gets sucked into your engine to keep the inside of your engine clean. Not changing the engine air filter on your car can lead to a ton of engine-related problems. But how often should you replace the engine filter in your car?
Most vehicle manufacturers recommend changing your engine air filter every 15,000 to 30,000 miles. Well, most mechanics in Nigeria don’t have any idea about this, so we don’t expect the same from you. That means for most people, the air filter on their car should be changed after 2 or 3 oil changes, depending on the oil change interval specified for their car.
So how do you know when your car’s air filter needs to be changed? What would happen if you never replaced your engine’s air filter? These questions and more are answered below.
What Does an Engine Air Filter Do?
If you already understand what an engine filter does then we hail you. But if you’re curious to learn more about what an engine air filter does and how they work, keep reading.
Your engine is essentially a large air pump that sucks in air, combusts said air, and then expels it out of the exhaust pipe. It’s important for the air being sucked into your engine to be clean because you don’t want a bunch of dirt and debris to be sucked into your engine; you want the inside of your engine to remain clean.
The job of an engine air filter is (you guessed it) to filter the air coming into your engine. Engine air filters will become dirty over time and are designed to be replaced. But how important is it to change the engine air filter on your car, and how do you know when it needs to be changed?
Is it Important to Change the Engine Air Filter in Your Car?
Yes, it’s important that you change the engine air filter in your car periodically to allow clean air to flow through the air filter and into your engine. With a new engine air filter, your engine can breathe freely without restriction. As dirt and debris collect in the air filter, it will increase the air restriction and won’t allow as much air into your engine. So how do you know when your air filter needs changing? You see, most mechanics will call any diagnosis for your car’s engine problem just to get money from you, so you should know this aspect very well to identify the signs.
How Do You Know When Your Car’s Engine Air Filter Needs Changing?
The easiest way to determine if the engine air filter on your car needs to be replaced is by inspecting it. The good news is that most car manufacturers make checking your engine air filter easy; you just need to remove the top of your air intake box and your engine air filter will be sitting inside. When your car is to be serviced, ensure you tell your mechanic about your air filter, most Nigerian mechanics are fun of rush work and don’t bother to check most times.
What Are the Symptoms of a Bad Engine Air Filter in a Car?
Engine Dies When Driving
Having your engine die when driving can be another symptom of a dirty engine air filter. Your engine needs to keep sucking in the air to keep it running. When you have a bad, dirty, or clogged air filter, it can restrict the airflow going into the engine. If your engine is cutting out or dying randomly, it’s worth checking the engine filter installed in your car to make sure it’s not all clogged up with dirt.
The engine Won’t Start
When your engine’s air filter is clogged with dirt, it can prevent the engine from getting the air that it needs, which can keep your engine from starting altogether. If your car won’t start or is hesitating to start and you’ve ruled out your battery you’d want to check your engine air filter to make sure it’s not completely filled with dirt and other debris.
Dirty throttle body
The throttle body on your car is designed to open and close to allow a specific volume of air to pass into the engine and is connected to the air intake of your car. When your engine’s air filter is dirty, it can allow excess dirt particles to get past the filter and make their way to your car’s throttle body.
When this happens, it can obstruct the throttle body valves and not allow them to open and close properly. If you inspect your throttle body and it’s dirty (and you didn’t replace your engine air filter recently), there is a good chance that your car’s air filter is dirty and needs to be replaced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a New Air Filter Improve Performance?
A new engine air filter typically won’t improve the performance of an engine, but it can restore the performance lost from a dirty air filter. , but any performance increase would be minimal and would only return the engine to stock levels of performance.
What Happens If You Don’t Change the Air Filter In Your Car?
As we mentioned previously, your engine has to suck in air to operate. The longer you go without changing your engine air filter, the harder it will be for your engine to draw in air. This can lead to rough idle problems, a gummed-up throttle body, and even prevent your engine from starting.
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