What's the point of having an air filter in my car?
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Considered part of a vehicle's fuel supply system, a car's air filter helps keep the engine clean and free from clogging. Regular air filter replacement by a mechanic helps keep the vehicle in top condition. In addition, a properly functioning air filter not only keeps the air clean for the combustion process, but also helps to increase the vehicle's overall fuel consumption.
The role of the air filter
The role of an air filter in a car is to filter the air that enters through the throttle body through the air duct on new cars or through the carburetor on older models. Air passes through a paper, foam or cotton filter before entering the combustion chambers through the intake manifold. The filter helps remove dirt, insects, and other particles from the incoming air, keeping these debris out of the engine.
Without an air filter, the engine would become clogged with debris such as dirt, leaves, and insects, soon become completely clogged, and eventually fail completely. Car owners can find an air filter either in the round air cleaner above the carburetor in older cars or in the cold air manifold located on one side of the engine in newer cars.
Signs that an Air Filter Needs to be Replaced
Vehicle owners need to learn to recognize some of the obvious signs that they need to replace their air filter. If they think it's time to replace it, they should consult a mechanic who can advise them for sure. Some of the more common signals that it's time to replace your car's air filter include:
Noticeable reduction in fuel consumption
Dirty spark plugs that cause ignition problems such as rough idle, engine misfiring and starting problems.
The Check Engine light comes on, caused by an increase in deposits in the engine due to a too rich fuel mixture.
Decreased acceleration due in part to restricted airflow caused by a dirty air filter.
Weird engine noises due to lack of airflow due to a dirty filter
The frequency with which vehicle owners should change the air filter in their vehicle depends largely on environmental conditions, how hard they drive the vehicle, and how often they drive the vehicle. The best way to know when to change your air filter is to consult a mechanic who can also advise on the best air filter for your vehicle.
When should the air filter be changed?
You can ask the mechanic to change the air filter in your car on various schedules. Most often, a mechanic inspects the filter when changing the oil in your car and changes it when it reaches a certain level of contamination. Some other schedules include changing the filter at every second oil change, every year, or based on mileage. Regardless of the work schedule, if the car shows any of the above signs, you should ask the mechanic to check the air filter at your next visit.
Other types of automotive air filters
In addition to the intake air filter, some vehicles, especially older models, also use a cabin air filter. Like the intake air filter, the cabin air filter (which is usually located behind or around the glove box) removes all dirt and debris from the air.
Instead of purifying the air for use by the engine, the cabin air filter purifies the air before it enters the vehicle interior. See a mechanic to see if your car has a cabin air filter and if it needs to be replaced.
