Did you know that 68% of cars have at least one thing wrong with them? It’s essential to always ensure your car air filter is spick and span. After all, dirty and worn-out filters will trigger poor engine performance and diminished acceleration. That’s the last thing you need. Although the rule of thumb is to replace the filter every 15,000 to 30,000 miles, here are 5 signs that a replacement is due now.
1. Your Air Filter Looks Grimy and Dark
A clean air filter should be off-white or pure white. With the accumulation of dirt and dust after a while, it’ll become darker, at which point you’ll need to switch it with a new one. At times, the inner layers will have grime that can be difficult to spot, though. Rope in a mechanic to check if that’s the case.
2. Your Car Seems to Have Less Power
A clean air filter will usher in the optimum performance of your engine. It can elevate acceleration by up to 11% on newer car models. On older models, it can boost mileage by 14%. Other signs the filter is impacting the performance of your car is a jerking motion upon acceleration or failure to respond as well as it should.
3. Your Check Engine Light Goes On
The light can go on for a boatload of reasons that could be a sign of a bigger problem or as minor as a loose gas cap. For instance, it might stem from insufficient airflow to the engine, causing carbon deposits to form and triggering the light on your dashboard. When you take your car to a mechanic, they can perform a quick scan to discover the root cause and inform you if it’s an air filter problem.
4. Your Car Emits Strange Noises
With inadequate airflow, the engine may make sputtering and coughing noises or vibrate excessively when you flip it. That’s a tell-tale sign that it’s in desperate need of a new air filter. If you notice bizarre sounds, mainly when your car is idle, that’s known as a ‘rough idle.’
5. A Burst of Flames or Smoke When You Start Your Car
If you notice black smoke emanating from your exhaust pipe when you fire up the engine, it’s a clear indication that a filter replacement is due. Additionally, you may notice a popping sound or a flame at the end of the pipe.
That occurs when there’s inadequate air supply in the engine, which means the fuel doesn’t entirely burn in the combustion cycle and makes its way through the exhaust. Concurrently, it ignites the fuel in the tailpipe, causing a flame. We recommend taking the car to your mechanic upon noticing this as it can be hazardous.
Replacing the air filter is part of an overall tune-up service that will usher in improved performance and mileage. Additionally, it’s a foolproof way to resolve minor issues and prevent them from spiraling out of control. If you’re looking to service your car and replace the filter or any other services that keep your vehicle safe and running smoothly at an affordable cost, visit us at DARCARS Used Car & Service Center of Frederick today.
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