How a Dirty Air Filter Can Affect Your Car's Performance

Most vehicles have two air filters that allow clean air to enter into the vehicle. The first air filter is a cabin air filter, which provides clean air to the interior of a vehicle for its occupants to enjoy. The second air filter is an engine air filter, which supplies clean air to the engine of a vehicle.
 

The engine air filter is vital to the performance of a vehicle because it separates particles from the air that enters into the vehicle's engine compartment. It is necessary for this air to remain clean, as the air is used by the vehicle's engine to complete its combustion process and provide power to the vehicle. When the air filter of a vehicle's engine is dirty, it cannot clean the new air effectively. In some cases, a dirty air filter can prevent air from entering an engine. There are several problems that a driver may experience when the engine air filter of their vehicle is too dirty.

 

Reduced Performance

An engine that has a dirty air filter that is attached to its intake will not be able to perform as well; the dirty air filter will eventually reduce the engine's airflow. To function properly, engines need both fuel and air. The combustion of fuel and air within the combustion chambers of a vehicle's cylinders allows the engine to produce power. Without air, an engine will be missing a key component of its performance.

 

Worse Fuel Economy

A dirty air filter can drastically reduce the fuel efficiency of a vehicle's engine. Modern vehicles can adapt to various situations and conditions quickly. However, this can come with a cost. When poor airflow is detected by the computer of a vehicle's engine, the computer will allow the engine to compensate for the decreased airflow by increasing the amount of fuel that is used in the air-fuel mixture. This allows the vehicle to produce enough performance to propel the vehicle forward. Over time, as a result, a driver will continually need to take more trips to gas stations for fuel due to the decreased fuel efficiency of their vehicle's engine.

 

Increased Soot and Black Smoke

A dirty air filter will inadvertently cause a vehicle to produce more black smoke or soot. The black smoke and soot are both byproducts of the excess fuel that an engine has to burn when its air filter is clogged. While a driver may not notice this sign immediately, as they continue to drive their vehicle with a dirty engine air filter, the catalytic converters of the vehicle will be unable to contain all of the excess smoke and soot.

 

Rough Running Condition

In extreme cases, an engine will run very roughly when its air filter is too dirty. A driver may notice their vehicle's engine misfiring, vibrating excessively, stalling, or a combination of these symptoms when the engine's air filter is clogged. Additionally, an engine may be hard to start when its air filter is too dirty. There are several reasons why a dirty engine air filter can lead to these issues, but one of the most common is due to the effect that the dirty filter has on an engine's spark plugs. The spark plugs of a vehicle's engine can be covered with soot when the vehicle is burning too much fuel. This soot can prevent the vehicle's spark plugs from creating the sparks that are needed to ignite the air-fuel mixtures that are in the cylinders of the vehicle's engine.

 

Check Engine Light

When a vehicle's engine is not receiving the airflow that it needs, its computer may produce a check engine code for the vehicle's driver to address. When the code is created, the vehicle will display a check engine light on its gauge cluster. A driver can then have their vehicle scanned by a scanning tool to read the code, which will then let them know that the engine's air filter is too dirty and isn't allowing the engine to receive enough air.

 

Let Glockner Chevrolet Help

A dirty engine air filter can lead to many problems if it isn't addressed. Fortunately, changing an engine air filter is simple and does not take very long. At Glockner Chevrolet, you will find the services that you need to keep your vehicle running in excellent condition. Contact us or visit our dealership if you would like us to service your vehicle. You can also reach out to a member of our dealership's team for more information.