What Happens When the Air Filter Gets Dirty?
2 Answers
When the air filter is dirty, it can lead to insufficient air intake, incomplete fuel combustion, unstable engine operation, and symptoms such as a muffled engine sound when continuously pressing the accelerator pedal, sluggish acceleration response, weak operation, and thick, black exhaust emissions. Below are specific details about the air filter: 1. Function: The car air filter is installed in front of the carburetor or intake pipe to filter the air entering the engine. During operation, the engine draws in a large amount of air, which contains many dust particles. Without filtration by the air filter, this can accelerate wear on the piston group and cylinder. The car air filter serves to remove dust and particulate matter from the air, ensuring that sufficient clean and dry air enters the cylinder. 2. How to Determine if It's Dirty: You can check the surface color of the air filter. If the filter paper remains gray-black after cleaning the surface dust, it indicates that the filter paper can no longer be used and should be replaced immediately.
I've noticed many car owners tend to overlook air filter issues. When it gets clogged, the most obvious symptom is the car 'breathing' with difficulty – you'll feel the engine struggling when accelerating, especially noticeable during hill climbs. Last time I encountered an owner complaining about a 15% fuel consumption spike. Upon opening the air filter box – wow – leaves and poplar fluff had nearly turned the filter into a carpet. When the engine can't get sufficient air, gasoline combustion becomes incomplete. Prolonged operation like this may even cause black smoke from the exhaust and worsen carbon buildup problems. Now I make it a habit to check my filter every 5,000 km, and in dusty areas I replace it even earlier.
