Is your car acting up with a pungent gasoline smell, black smoke, and misfires?
Well, you might have a clogged engine air filter.
Although this tiny, unsung hero helps your engine breathe, once it gets dirty, the filter can affect your engine performance, drain your fuel efficiency, and damage other engine components.
To save you all these headaches, explore a few clogged air filter symptoms and the ideal time for a replacement.
Let’s get started!
This Article Contains:
- 6 Common Symptoms of a Clogged Air Filter
- Is It Safe to Drive with a Clogged Air Filter?
- How Often Should You Change Your Air Filters?
- How to Check and Replace a Clogged Air Filter
- How Much Does a Clogged Air Filter Replacement Cost?
- How to Extend the Life of Your Air Filter?
- What’s the Difference Between an Engine and a Cabin Air Filter?
6 Common Symptoms of a Clogged Air Filter
Here are a few dirty air filter symptoms to help you figure out the problem:
1. Strong Fuel Smell
When your air filter is blocked, the engine may not get enough clean air to power your car. In such cases, your engine may increase fuel consumption to compensate for the lack of sufficient air.
But here’s the catch.
Your engine can’t burn the extra fuel in the combustion chamber, and some of the unburnt fuel escapes from the exhaust pipe as black smoke. This makes your car smell like gas and results in reduced fuel economy.
Note: Fuel smell can also result from problems like fuel system leaks or fuel pump issues.
2. Engine Misfire
A dirty air filter can mess with the air-fuel mixture, potentially resulting in an engine misfire.
For instance, if the air-fuel ratio isn’t right, the unburnt fuel creates a sooty mess due to incomplete combustion. This soot then piles up on the spark plug, preventing it from delivering the perfect spark needed to kickstart your engine.
And that’s when your engine idles, jerks, or misfires.
3. Decreasing Acceleration
When your engine doesn’t get sufficient air due to a bad air filter, it leads to reduced horsepower — the engine struggles to produce the power necessary for quick acceleration.
4. Unusual Engine Noises
Hearing strange engine noises, like sputtering, coughing, or popping sounds, is a dirty air filter symptom. It means the engine isn’t getting sufficient air to help burn the fuel. Sometimes, a dirty filter may also make your car vibrate when you accelerate. That’s because your engine can’t keep the combustion process up due to the lack of air supply.
Note: If your car has a ratty idle or produces vibrating sounds, it’s best to inspect your spark plugs as well. Spark plug issues can also show similar symptoms.
5. Illuminated Check Engine Light
An air filter has no sensor to trigger the check engine light.
However, the engine control module (ECM) uses other sensors to check if your engine air filter works properly. For example, if your airflow levels are low, the mass airflow sensor can trigger the check engine light to indicate potential air filter issues.
6. Dirty Air Filter
If you’ve spotted a few symptoms of a dirty air filter, the best way to check is to pop the hood.
You should examine the air filter under proper light. If it’s clogged with contaminants, like dirt, dust particles, and debris, the air filter will appear black or brown.
Caution: Inspecting used air filters without proper automotive knowledge can be risky, as it might let contaminants into the engine. To avoid potential damage, it’s best to replace the dirty air filter even if it’s removed for inspection.
Wondering if you can drive with these issues?
Let’s find out.
Is It Safe to Drive with a Clogged Air Filter?
No, driving with a clogged filter isn’t safe at all.
The imbalanced air-fuel mixture can damage a critical engine component, such as the catalytic converter, spark plug, and oxygen sensors, leading to expensive fixes.
Your engine can also generate harmful emissions and pollutants that the catalytic converter or diesel particulate filter (DPF filter) can’t remove effectively. The decreased fuel economy can also mean you’ll have to pay more for gas.
However, you can avoid these troubles by scheduling routine air filter checks and getting them replaced on time.
How Often Should You Change Your Air Filters?
Most car filter manufacturers recommend replacing the air filter every 15,000 to 30,000 miles or once a year.
But, if you drive on dusty roads, especially in dry or tough conditions like off-roading, you should change the air filter more often for optimal engine performance — around every 12,000 miles.
Pro Tip: You can also request an air filter inspection when you get an oil change or check your owner’s manual for the recommended air filter change interval.
Up next, let’s find out what an engine air filter replacement process looks like.
How to Check and Replace a Clogged Air Filter
Automotive professionals, with their extensive knowledge of different vehicle types, can identify air filter concerns better. So, it’s best to consult a mechanic.
Check out the typical diagnostic process they follow.
A. Checking a Clogged Air Filter
Here’s how they’ll inspect your engine air filter:
- Locate the air filter housing. It’s usually found in the front corner of the engine bay.
- Open the air filter housing, undo the wing nuts (depending on the air filter type), and remove the air filter. Your mechanic may remove the covers or heat shields first to access the filter.
- Conduct a visual inspection to check whether the engine air filter is filled with contaminants and debris or its seals are cracked.
B. Replacing a Clogged Air Filter
They’ll undertake the following steps to replace a dirty engine air filter:
- After taking the dirty filter out, the mechanic will clean the vehicle’s air filter housing. They’ll blow out the dust by connecting the air hose to the compressor or simply using a vacuum cleaner.
- Once done, the mechanic will insert the new clean air filter into the housing with its rim facing outwards and ensure the rim seals all edges.
- Then, they’ll gently put the cover back into the air conduit and push it down onto the lower part of the vehicle’s air filter unit. Once done, they will fasten the screws and close the bonnet.
- Finally, the mechanic will start your car and check if it’s running smoothly without any dirty engine air filter symptoms.
Next, we’ll explore how much you’ll have to pay for a new air filter.
How Much Does a Clogged Air Filter Replacement Cost?
Depending on your vehicle’s year, make, and model, air filter replacement can cost anywhere between $40 to $100.
This includes the cost of a standard clean air filter, which is around $20 to $25, and labor charges of about $20 to $40.
But what can you do to prolong an air filter’s life and maintain fuel efficiency?
Keep reading to find out.
How to Extend the Life of Your Air Filters
To keep your car’s air filters happy for a long time, try dodging dusty roads, using high-quality filters, and getting regular maintenance.
You can also give the air filter a good cleaning every now and then (provided your filter type can be cleaned).
Here’s how you can clean your air filter:
- With a vacuum cleaner: Vacuum both sides of the filter for about two minutes till you get all the dirt out.
- Using water: Fill a bucket with water, add some detergent, and swish the filter around in it to wash away all the dirt.
Note: Ensure the filter is completely dry before you put it back. That’s because even a tiny bit of dampness may make it a magnet for dirt and dust particles, clogging up the airflow and restricting the air intake.
Now, it’s easy to get confused between engine and cabin air filters — let’s clear the air for good.
What’s the Difference Between Engine and Cabin Air Filter?
The engine air filter prevents dirt, dust, and debris from entering the engine, ensuring better air quality and smooth engine performance.
On the other hand, the cabin air filter cleans the air that enters the interior of the car through the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC system). This helps improve the indoor air quality of your car.
Get Your Air Filter Fixed with AutoNation Mobile Service
Something as simple as a clogged filter can cause everything from rough idling and unusual engine noises to reduced fuel economy.
But since some of its symptoms, like fuel smell, can also be caused by other issues, such as spark plugs, it’s best to get an automotive expert’s help instead of attempting a DIY.
That’s where AutoNation Mobile Service comes in!
We are a mobile auto repair service available seven days a week. We offer upfront pricing, convenient online booking, and a 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty on all your repairs.
So why wait?
Get in touch with us, and we’ll fix your dirty air filter or any other issue, like a bad spark plug, right from your driveway.