How a Dirty Air Filter Affects Performance

Your vehicle has two primary filters; the cabin air filter and the engine air filter. The cabin air filter keeps the air that goes into your vehicle's cabin clean, while the engine air filter keeps the air that your vehicle's engine intakes clean. As you drive your vehicle, the air filter of your vehicle's engine separates debris from the air that is going into the engine. This debris is collected by the filter and can eventually clog the filter when the filter isn't changed promptly. There are several things that you will experience when the air filter of your vehicle's engine needs to be replaced.
 

Reduced Power

Air is essential for the performance of an engine. Air is a key part of an engine's combustion process and combines with fuel to allow an engine to produce power.  Without an adequate supply of air, an engine cannot make power and may not turn on.

Poor Acceleration

When the air filter of your vehicle is too dirty or clogged, the vehicle will not be able to accelerate as quickly as normal. You may not immediately feel the difference in performance if you drive the vehicle regularly. However, you may notice that the vehicle takes longer to get up to speed over time. 

Decreased Fuel Economy

Your vehicle's fuel economy will suffer when the air filter of its engine is too dirty. To make up for its decreased supply of air, your vehicle's engine will begin to inject more fuel during its combustion cycle, allowing the engine to make power. However, this excess fuel will not be fully combusted and will be wasted by the engine.

If your vehicle is equipped with technology that informs you of its fuel efficiency, then you will see a sharp decrease in its fuel economy. Alternatively, you may also notice that you are spending more time at the fuel pump. Inspect the air filter that is on your vehicle's engine if you notice either of these signs.

Misfiring

Your vehicle may begin to misfire when the air filter of its engine is too dirty. Any excess fuel that is not combusted in the vehicle's engine leaves deposits in the engine and on various components of the vehicle. Over time, these fuel deposits can cause issues for important components of the vehicle, including the engine's spark plugs. When the spark plugs of your vehicle's engine are clogged by fuel, they will be unable to spark correctly, providing either late sparks or no sparks at all; this is known as misfiring. Misfiring can be both heard and felt through vibrations and a rough engine running condition.

Strange Sounds

Your vehicle's engine may begin to make strange sounds, aside from the sounds that are caused by misfiring. These may be wheezing sounds or coughing sounds. These sounds are caused by an engine air filter that is clogged and is not letting enough air into the vehicle's engine.

Check Engine Light

Modern vehicles can adapt to various circumstances and can also quickly identify when there are issues with their systems. When the air filter of your vehicle's engine is too dirty, the vehicle may produce a check engine code, subsequently illuminating the vehicle's check engine light. When you scan the computer of your vehicle to read the check engine code, you will see that the engine's air filter needs to be replaced. Replacing the engine's air filter may turn the light off automatically, but you may need to reset the vehicle's computer if the light doesn't turn off on its own.

Air Filter Replacement Schedule

It is generally recommended that drivers have the engine air filters of their vehicles replaced at least once every 15,000 miles. There are outliers to this recommendation, however. Drivers who routinely drive in dusty environments or areas that have a lot of particles in their air will need to replace the air filters of their vehicles more often than drivers who barely drive their vehicles, for example. The design of a vehicle can also play a role in how often the air filter of its engine needs to be replaced. To determine what air filter replacement schedule will be the best for your vehicle and situation, refer to the vehicle's owner's manual to view what its manufacturer recommends.

Visit Sport Cadillac

The air filter that is in your vehicle's engine will get dirtier as you drive your vehicle. Therefore, you should routinely replace it so that your vehicle's engine can perform optimally and efficiently. Visit us at Sport Cadillac if you would like us to inspect the air filter of your vehicle or help you determine when your vehicle's air filter needs to be replaced. Our dealership offers a range of dependable products and services, and we will be glad to help you maintain your vehicle's condition.