Benefits of A Clean Engine Air Filter
There are many parts in the vehicle that need regular maintenance and replacements. All of them serve a different purpose to keep your vehicle’s performance at an optimum level. Today’s topic focuses on the engine air filter. The air needed to burn the fuel in the combustion chamber passes through the air filter. Technically speaking, every 1 pound of fuel needs 14.7 pounds of air to burn. In terms of volume, it is equal to 9,000 gallons of air to burn 1 gallon of fuel. The cleanliness of air along with the easy flow of air is crucial for the efficient burning of gasoline. Let’s discuss further how a clean air filter benefits your vehicle.
Engine Protection and Engine Life
Your car is hit with debris, water, mud, sand, countless bugs, leaves, and other things. You would not want this stuff to get inside your engine. The engine air filter stops all these unwanted particles from getting into the engine. In time the engine filter becomes blocked and restricts the airflow. Depending on where you drive, the air filter can get dirty or blocked earlier than the recommended filter change time.
The combustion chamber of a gasoline engine is a sealed compartment where fuel and air are the only working substances. Involvement of any foreign objects other than air and fuel can result in serious damage to the cylinder, piston, and piston rings. Even a small amount of dirt or sand could be very harmful. The filter helps to trap all these foreign substances to keep the engine safe for a long period of time.
Engine Performance
Engine needs air in the combustion chamber to perform the combustion process. It would be ideal to say that the engine breathes air to burn fuel and produce power to propel the vehicle. The quality of the airflow depends on your filter. A dirty air filter would affect the performance of the engine. A blocked air filter would eventually paralyze the engine. A new air filter helps in improving the acceleration and can lead to lower carbon emissions. Making your engine more efficient and clean running.
Low Cost, Big Impact
Air filters might not be the first thing that comes to your mind when talking about vehicle maintenance but is an important part of any vehicle. They are inexpensive, small, and easy to change. If you are not afraid to get your hands dirty then you don't need a technician to change your air filter. Yes, it is that easy! Also, going for a higher-end air filter would last longer and save you money in the long run.
Fuel Economy and Lower Emissions
Clean and unobstructed air plays a vital role in improved engine efficiency. A clean air filter can help boost the fuel economy by 14%. Although it might seem like a small number, it would end up saving you money every time you fill-up. Less airflow in the combustion compartment would result in an air-fuel mixture that has a high concentration of fuel. This in turn will result in higher carbon emission. There is a risk of making your spark plugs dirty and an increase in engine deposits. This can also turn ON the check engine light. That’s the ‘scariest’ warning light on your dashboard. Keep your filter clean to avoid costly repairs.
Change When Needed
How do you know when your vehicle needs a new filter? The vehicle maintenance schedule varies based on the make and model of your vehicle. It is, however, a good idea to check the user's manual to find out when you might need an air filter change. There are also some symptoms that you can look for, this includes a noticeable decrease in the gas mileage or ignition problems.
Depending on how much you drive, the air filter needs to be changed accordingly. If you drive a lot, you would need to change the filter often. If you don’t drive much then the filter will last much longer. This doesn’t mean you don’t have to change the filter if you don't drive a lot. The filter may still appear to be clean when it is dirty, depending on the type and color of substance caught in it. Most car manufacturers recommend replacing the air filter every 12,000 to 15,000 miles, regardless of whether an air filter appears to be clean.
As you can see, there are so many benefits from a clean air filter. If you haven’t checked your vehicle’s air filter in a while then it is time to check it out. You might be missing out on the true performance and efficiency of your car.