You may routinely check their tyres for proper inflation, top off engine fluid levels and maintain oil change schedules. However, some of you may still do not understand the importance of keeping engine air filters clean.
An air filter is a cheap part, but it does an important job. For every litre of petrol a car burns, it uses the equivalent of 45,000 litres of air, and that air has to be filtered to keep the engine clean.
Air filters catch all of the dust, grime, insects, sap, leaves and any other debris that may get sucked up past the air intake of the vehicle's grill and into the engine itself. Without the air filter, those contaminants may compromise the engine, causing corrosion and abrasion. If the air filter in the engine becomes too dirty and is not changed regularly, the engine is starved of air.
Clean air filters allow just the right ratio of air to fuel to enable the engine to function properly. Engines need adequate air for the combustion process to take place. Without the proper combustion levels, vehicles cannot perform properly or efficiently and the engine may burn more petrol or get fewer km/litre. A dirty filter also can reduce an engine of power. Drivers may notice sluggish acceleration.
Air filters can also get so dirty that the engine stalls completely, but that only happens after considerable neglect. An air filter may not need replacing at every oil change service. Many technicians advise replacing it within a fixed number of kilometres.
Mechanics can often tell when an air filter needs replacing. If the filter looks particularly dirty, it's probably time for a new one. Replacing it is a relatively inexpensive repair for the performance and reassurance a new filter provides.
