How Do You Detect Your Car’s Engine Air Filter Is Worn Out

A dirty engine air filter can negatively affect your car’s health and performance. The truth is that almost every modern car nowadays comes with two air filters: engine air filter and carbon air filter. An engine air filter protects the car engine from external pollution, including dust and dirt. A car filter is prone to clogging because it’s actively used during performance and may accumulate debris over time, which makes it important to change the air filters.

When does your car’s engine air filter need to be changed?

Whether an engine filter needs to be replaced or not depends on many factors. The first is the brand and model of the car. Chevrolets, for example, are known to need new air filters every 45,000 miles. As for Hyundai, the company recommends replacing the filter after every 15,000 miles, especially for owners who use bad roads. In general, many manufacturers recommend that owners replace engine air filters regularly and as soon as possible.

How to know if a car’s engine has worn out

It’s simple to find out whether your car’s engine air filter is worn out by examining it carefully. One of the signs to show that your air filter must be replaced is when it has blackened or gotten soot. The good news is that air filters today are cheap and easy to find from local auto shops. If you are unable to find a decent seller to replace your worn air filter, check out the car’s manual to get all the information you need.

Should your air filter not be black yet, but the car has driven beyond 30k miles, you need to replace it. Fortunately, you do not have to look for a professional, you can replace it yourself.

Still, you need to be aware that some professionals can mislead and convince you to replace a filter even when there’s no need. As such, car owners need to know when and how to change the filters themselves.

However, if you do not want to learn or don’t have the time to change the filters yourself, you can get help from a reputable professional. Some cars can go for a year without needing an air filter replacement. It all depends on the condition of your road, how heavy duty the tasks are and the number of miles.

Wrap up

In summary, your car’s performance can be low or high due to the condition of the air filter. A clogged filter also does not affect a car’s fuel economy. According to a study conducted by the US Department of Energy, clogged air filters had no effect on a car’s fuel economy. Unfortunately, some believe that a clogged filter somehow helps with fuel economy, but this is not true. Interestingly, a good number of car owners can perceive a car’s decreased acceleration rate caused by air filters. Always change your car’s air filter to keep the engine running effectively.

Time to Visit Your Fraser, MI Auto Repair Shop?

Feel free to stop in and visit Car Guys Auto Center today or give us a call at (586) 285-4444!  We would be happy to answer any auto-related questions you may have.  We are located at :

Car Guys Auto Center
32639 Groesbeck Hwy
Fraser, MI 48026