Dirty car air filters can have many unpleasant effects on your driving experience. But possibly the worst outcome of a dirty air filter is a damaged engine. So, it's obviously important to know the signs that your air filters need to be replaced. Here they are.
You will often notice that you get fewer miles per gallon when you have a problem with dirty air filters. Your engine has to work hard to keep air flowing through the vehicle, and a dirty air filter simply means that your engine has to put out more energy to do the same job. So, lower performance is one of the first signs of a bad air filter.
Another potential sign of dirty air filters is trouble with spark plugs. The spark plugs rely on a steady volume of clean air to mix with the fuel for optimal performance. When engine air filters are dirty, not enough clean air will reach the engine. The hyper-rich mix of fuel and oxygen can cause the spark plugs to malfunction. If you have trouble with your spark plugs, definitely make sure to check on air filters as well as the spark plugs themselves.
You can also notice a dirty air filter if you get into the engine and visually inspect the filter. It is important to use a bright light to do your inspection, because clogged air filters may not immediately be visible. It doesn't have to be black to be dirty and need to be discarded; sometimes, fine particles can clog the filter and be hard to see with the naked eye. Things like dust and pollen have a light enough color that they may pas a very surface-level inspection.
You may not always get a strong signal that your air filters need to be replaced. That's why, no matter what, it is a good idea to replace the filters yourself every 15,000 miles. Look for vehicle air filter replacement products online and learn how to do the replacement yourself for the most hassle-free option. You will save so much money by learning this simple maintenance task yourself, rather than outsourcing it to a mechanic. If you think that the potential of a hefty repair bill would prevent you from getting your air filters changed at all, that is even more reason to take the DIY route.
Contact local auto parts stores to learn more about your options.