A faulty air filter can cause a range of issues for your vehicle, from black smoke or flames in the exhaust to an increase in unburned fuel that becomes soot residues. It can also lead to an increase in energy consumption and a decrease in engine performance. Fortunately, the symptoms of a dirty air filter are easy to identify once you know what to look for. The most common symptom of a dirty air filter is black smoke or flames coming from the exhaust.
This is caused by an insufficient amount of air being supplied to the engine, resulting in unburned fuel that becomes soot residues. This soot can build up on the tips of the spark plugs, preventing them from emitting a proper spark. As a result, your car may shake, idle, and in some cases, the engine may fail. In addition to black smoke or flames in the exhaust, you may also notice that it smells like gasoline.
This is because the dirty air filter reduces the amount of air supplied to the engine, causing the fuel to not burn properly. A dirty air filter can also cause your car's engine to work harder than it should. This not only increases your energy consumption and increases your utility bill, but it can also cause the heat exchanger to overheat and shut down prematurely. If this continues to happen, there is an electronic “limit switch” protection that will fail and cause the oven to not turn on at all, which will lead to an expensive repair. Whether or not to clean an air filter depends on the type of air filter you use in your car.
If you have an older model that does not include an airflow sensor of any kind, it can be difficult for it to handle air volumes as it can easily alter its fuel ratios, making it very vulnerable to the effects of a clogged air filter. A dirty air filter can also make your air conditioner work less efficiently, meaning it doesn't cool your house as well as it should. This can end up costing you more money in the long run. Please note that even if you don't see any visible debris or dust on the inner layers of filter paper inside the air filter, it may still be clogged. Make sure your mechanic checks the air filter when you leave your car for service and follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding air filter replacement. Replacing a dirty engine air filter with a new, clean one can improve engine acceleration and throttle response. It can also help prevent your heat exchanger from overheating and shutting down prematurely. When it comes to your home's air filters, they are responsible for filtering out all microscopic particles such as dust, pollen, pet dander, bacteria, plant spores and mold and even smoke.
If these filters become too congested during the summer cooling season, they may cause a lack of airflow to the evaporator or cooling coils. As a car owner, you should be aware of the symptoms of a dirty air filter so that you can make sure your engine remains free of debris. The location of an air filter may vary between models, but it is usually easily accessible from near the front of the engine block, connected to the intake pipe from where you can simply remove it to inspect or replace it.
