Changing your engine’s air filter is one of the least expensive ways to keep your vehicle running reliably and smoothly. Our team at Freeman Motor Service will advise you to keep your car in good health.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CHANGING YOUR VEHICLE’S AIR FILTER
Changing your engine’s air filter is one of the least expensive ways to keep your vehicle running reliably and smoothly.
Your engine’s air filter is a key part of your engine’s respiratory system. It is responsible for cleaning the air before it enters the combustion chamber. Your vehicle relies on clean air and fuel to create maximum power. Without a proper functioning air filter, your vehicle could be starved of the oxygen needed to create combustion. The useful life of a filter depends greatly upon the climate and driving style of the owner. Most manufacturers specify a replacement between 15,000 and 30,000 miles in normal conditions. If your vehicle hasn’t had a replacement filter since this past summer’s Columbia Gorge Fire, it may be full of contaminants.
What Happens When You Don’t Change Your Car’s Air Filter…
When your engine air filter gets dirty, it can block or restrict the vital air passage that feeds your engine. Here is what happens:
- A restricted filter causes your engine to work much harder to get the air that it requires to complete the combustion cycle. Pulling air through the restricted filter can cause dirt particles to get sucked through the filter which can damage internal components.
- The additional vacuum effect can overwhelm the engine crankcase ventilation system and lead to oil consumption. This can lead to catastrophic consequences like oil starvation, carbon build up, or catalytic converter failure.
- Since the engine is being starved of clean air, the car may consume more fuel than it normal, resulting in a reduction of overall fuel efficiency.
As you can see, continuing to put off changing your car’s air filter is certainly not recommended!
