Springtime Filter Change

Your Engine Air Filter Does More Than You Know

What does your engine air filter do anyway?  More than you’d think! In addition to filtering out dirt and debris from the air that your engine breathes, it also helps protect other components of your vehicle’s engine. A dirty or clogged filter can reduce airflow, leading to a decrease in fuel efficiency and even damage to expensive parts like spark plugs. Replacing your air filter regularly is one of the easiest and most important preventative maintenance tasks you can do for your engine. Make sure that you always use a quality air filter from Christian’s Automotive to keep it running at its best. Give us a call today to learn more about our selection of air filters and shop automotive parts!

The air all around us contains dust, dirt, pollen, spores, etc. Some areas and times of the year have more contaminants in the air. The job of the air filter is to keep that stuff out of your engine. The benefit to drivers is obvious.

Now your engine uses a lot of air – like 12,000 times the volume of air as fuel – so the engine air filter has job to do. When the filter gets full and can’t hold any more dirt, all that air still has to get to the engine so dirt gets forced through the filter and heads on downstream.

The air flows passed the mass air flow (MAF) sensor on its way to the engine. The MAF sensor tells the engine control computer how much air is coming so the computer can send the proper amount of fuel into the engine to maintain the correct air-to-fuel ratio.

When dirty air is flowing passed the filter, dirt starts to build up on the delicate MAF sensor elements, causing incorrect air flow readings. The computer then sends the wrong amount of fuel to the engine. This can rob power from the engine. But the harm comes from unburned fuel passing out through the exhaust system and getting caught in the catalytic converter, leading to damage.

A primary cause of catalytic converter failure is improper engine management, often triggered by a dirty MAF sensor which was contaminated because the engine air filter had not been replaced as recommended. Now drivers can buy several cases of engine air filters for what it would cost to replace a catalytic converter. So when it’s time to replace your engine filter, keep in mind the potential long term effects of putting it off. Talk to your friendly and knowledgeable Christian’s Automotive service advisor.

**With regular filter replacement, you can keep your engine running efficiently and extend the life of your vehicle. Christians Automotive has a variety of air filters designed to fit any car make and model, so whatever you drive, we’ve got what you need! Our team is also available to answer any questions and provide helpful advice on how to best maintain the health of your engine. Come visit us today and get the best air filters for your car!**