Flame or black smoke from the exhaust pipe is an obvious sign of a dirty air filter. Performing a visual inspection is an easy way to know if an air filter needs to be changed. A new air filter is white or off-white, while a dirty air filter will appear darker with visible dirt and debris. Most automotive companies recommend changing the air filter every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or every 12 months.
However, if you normally drive in dusty or rural areas such as Scottsdale, Arizona or San Antonio, Texas, it's a good idea to have your mechanic check and change it more often, for example, every 6,000 miles. Driving in busy areas where there is a lot of traffic, including Los Angeles and Washington DC, making it stop and start more often also requires you to replace the air cleaner more often. Most vehicles also have a cabin air filter that is used to clean the air entering the interior of the car, but it has a different maintenance program than an engine air filter. Our certified mobile mechanics perform more than 600 services, including diagnostics, brakes, oil changes, scheduled mileage maintenance, and will come to you with all the necessary parts and tools.
Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in more than 2,000 U. S. cities. An internal combustion engine needs to mix approximately 10,000 liters of air with each liter of fuel to run.
Air enters the engine through the air filter. Without a proper air intake, the fuel mixture will be too rich in fuel, so it will not burn properly and the engine will be deprived of the oxygen it needs. Most manufacturers recommend replacing the air filter every 12,000 miles (approximately 19,000 km) or every 12 months, whichever comes first. However, you should consider replacing your air cleaner more often if you live in an agricultural area or in any area with a lot of dust or impurities in the air.
Inadequate air supply can cause carbon deposits to build up on the engine, which will eventually activate the engine check light. If the light comes on, check the air filter to see if it needs to be replaced before performing other diagnostics. For this reason, most car manufacturers recommend changing the air filter every 12,000 miles (approximately 19,000 km) or every 12 months, whichever comes first, regardless of how dirty the air filter appears to be. It is generally recommended to replace the engine air filter every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or every 12 months.
But if you drive in dusty or crowded areas where traffic is heavy causing you to stop and start frequently, change it more often - every 6,000 miles. Shortness of breath can also impair the performance of your vehicle causing slow acceleration. If you notice that your car responds slower than usual or moves abruptly when accelerating this could indicate that your engine is not getting all the air it needs to run. Replacing the air filter can improve acceleration or power by up to 11%.
Designed to allow clean air to enter the engine, the air filter is your vehicle's first line of defense by preventing air pollutants such as dirt, dust and leaves from entering the engine compartment. Have your mechanic scan your vehicle to locate the source of the problem as it could be as simple as replacing the air filter. But when the air filter doesn't allow enough or constant air to enter it can cause the engine to have problems accelerating. If the air filter becomes too congested during summer cooling season it can cause a lack of airflow to evaporator or cooling coils.
While manufacturers vary in their recommendations for how often an air filter should be changed if you notice any of these signs that your air filter is dirty it's time for them to inspect it. Replacing an air filter before it becomes clogged ensures that you don't have to change spark plugs. A clean air filter has a white or off-white color but as it collects dust and dirt it will look darker. Inspecting a dirty air filter and replacing one is arguably one of the easiest maintenance tasks one can do for their car.
To do it yourself first refer to owner's manual for location of filter and refer to step-by-step guide for removing an air filter. If you have clogged air filter one of symptoms you would experience is reduction in engine performance because it improves airflow replacing an air filter can improve acceleration or power by up to 11%. So if you have old carburetor vehicle it's best to keep up with an air filter replacement. If an air filter becomes clogged with dirt and debris it can have profound effect on performance of car's engine given money already invested in home not changing filters regularly simply doesn't make sense over time an air filter can get dirty and clogged and lack of airflow can affect overall performance of car.
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