For your car to move, fuel and air must mix, and this mixture must be lit. The process is simple, but it requires a huge amount of clean air. Your car’s air filter is responsible for cleaning the air that enters your engine. The filter traps dust and debris, but as it does this it starts to clog up. A car air filter needs to be replaced regularly, and as your Mazda dealer, we can easily fit a new one
for you.
5 Signs You May Need a New Car Air Filter From Your Mazda Dealer
Engine Light Comes On
The check engine light comes on when one of the sensors in your car detects a problem. These sensors are attached to all of your engine’s vital components, and they monitor the components for any sign of trouble. A lack of air in the combustion chamber causes the fuel to burn badly. Poor combustion leads to a build-up of mineral deposits in your engine and this can trigger the warning light.
Strange Engine Sounds
A smooth-running engine shouldn’t make any strange noises. Sipping or coughing sounds from the engine are signs that your engine doesn’t have enough air. When the air filter is blocked, it prevents clean air from reaching the engine. The strange sounds are caused by your spark plugs trying to spark in a fuel-rich environment.
Misfiring Engine
A poor air to fuel mix makes combustion difficult, as the excess fuel floods the combustion chamber. Without enough air, much of the fuel won’t burn. The spark plugs also don’t ignite correctly without air and this causes your engine to misfire. If you find you have to rev your engine to start it, or your engine consistently misfires, a blocked air filter is the most likely culprit.
Damaged Spark Plugs
As mentioned earlier, too much fuel in the combustion chamber makes it difficult for the spark plugs to fire. The fuel-rich atmosphere also causes a buildup of sticky black residue from the fuel on the spark plugs. This residue damages the plugs and makes it even more difficult for them to spark. Damaged spark plugs will also need to be replaced when we replace your air filter.
Dirty Air Filter
The air filter is one of your car’s components that’s easy to check. Your car’s manual shows the position of the air filter box, and if you pop the hood you can easily see the filter. New filters are white or cream, but constant filtering of dust and dirt changes their color to brown or black. If your air filter looks dirty, it’s time to replace it.
A new air filter is very inexpensive and it’s also quick and easy to replace. If you continue to drive with a dirty air filter you will damage your spark plugs and possibly cause damage to other vital components. If your air filter is blocked, call our service department at Tom Bush Mazda and one of our expert technicians will replace it.
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