EdupradaYour vehicle’s air filter is essential to ensure the quality of the air introduced into the engine cylinders. As it retains dust and particles, it can become clogged more or less quickly. Its clogging will have significant consequences on the proper functioning of your car both in terms of fuel consumption and engine power!
How do you know if the air filter is clogged?
When you are behind the wheel of your car, you will quickly realize that your car’s air filter is clogged . Firstly, if you visually check the condition of the air filter, it will be loaded with impurities and residues . Secondly, your vehicle will experience significant malfunctions and you will experience the following symptoms:
- Fuel consumption is increasing : if the filter is no longer capable of properly filtering the air, the quantity and quality of the air received will not be optimal. In response to this, the engine will consume more fuel to compensate;
- The engine has poorer performance : the engine will lose power and will have more difficulty reaching high engine speed. This will be felt particularly when you accelerate;
- The presence of engine misfires during your travels : gaps during acceleration phases may appear. In addition, the engine will have difficulty functioning properly and will experience increasingly significant misfires.
As soon as one of these signs appears, there is no doubt that your air filter is clogged and needs to be changed quickly.
What is the fuel consumption with a clogged air filter?
Clogged air filter will have a significant impact on your fuel consumption . This applies regardless of the engine of your vehicle, i.e. gasoline or diesel . Depending on the specifics of your vehicle and the fuel used, the increase in consumption can be between 10% and 25% .
As you can see, this excess fuel consumption is very significant and will have a strong impact on your budget. In fact, fuel remains a significant part of your budget dedicated to your vehicle. It should be noted that this increase is not only linked to the worn air filter but to what its wear can cause. As a result, wear of the air filter causes clogging of the engine and the exhaust system . This plays a major role in the increase in gasoline or diesel consumption.
In order to save on your fuel costs, it is strongly recommended to change your air filter every 20,000 kilometers . In addition, this will allow you to save money on your car maintenance because wear of the air filter will cause premature wear of engine parts and require descaling or changing one of them.
How to measure the power loss caused by a clogged air filter?
The loss of engine power is difficult to calculate on your vehicle. As it depends on several criteria, it cannot be measured with precision. For example, if the air filter is very dirty, it will take longer to reach high engine speed and in some cases, you will not be able to reach the desired speed.
In the case of a slightly worn filter, the power loss will be very slight and you will not feel it right away. However, as soon as the air filter deteriorates more intensely, you will gradually feel the loss of power set in. If acceleration holes and engine misfires appear, the air filter is very damaged.
What are the risks incurred with a clogged air filter?
If you continue to drive regularly despite the wear of your air filter, you will damage your vehicle and continue to experience combustion problems. Thus, you incur two main risks which are as follows:
- Engine clogging : poor air filtering as well as increased fuel consumption will cause engine clogging by facilitating the appearance of carbon. In fact, unburned deposits will be deposited on many parts such as the injectors, the EGR valve or even the throttle body;
- Clogging of the exhaust system : when the engine system becomes clogged with carbon, the exhaust system will follow. Indeed, as it is located after the engine, it will also suffer from poor filtration of impurities and fuel deposits.
Clogged air filter should not be taken lightly as it has a direct impact on the combustion of the air and fuel mixture within the engine cylinders. To preserve the engine parts and maintain good performance, you must change the air filter as soon as it seems damaged.