Your engine needs a considerable amount of air for efficient combustion. The car air filter cleans dust and debris from the air that flows into your engine. As the air filter works, it starts to clog up with dirt. A dirty air filter will affect your car’s performance, increase your fuel cost, and can damage engine parts. When you need a replacement, we can fit a new one for you as your VW dealer.
Dirty Air Filter
Your air filter is usually replaced at the same time as your oil filter according to your scheduled service plan. Your filter may need to be replaced earlier if you often drive in dusty conditions. The more dirt your filter collects, the faster it will wear out. A dirty filter will block airflow into the combustion chamber. Good airflow is essential for efficient combustion, as the mix of air to fuel must not be less than 14 to 1.
Many car components are difficult to check without special knowledge and tools. Your air filter, however, is straightforward to find. Your car’s manual shows the location of the air filter box. If you open the hood and find the box, you’ll be able to see the state of your filter. A good filter should be white or cream, but it gets dirtier over time. If the filter is brown or black, it’s time to see us for a replacement.
Check Engine Light Comes On
Your check engine light covers numerous possible engine problems. When the light comes on, it will also display an error code. Our technicians will use that code to find the source of the problem. Sensors are placed throughout your car to monitor essential components. If any problem is detected, the appropriate sensor will signal your car’s computer, and the light will come on.
If your air filter is blocked, your engine will get very little air. Without air, your engine won’t combust correctly. Much of the fuel that enters the combustion chamber will be wasted and forced out of the exhaust. However, this unburnt fuel will leave dirty deposits behind in your engine. The longer your engine operates without air, the more the deposits will grow. When these deposits affect your engine performance, the light will come on.
Strong Smell of Gas
Inefficient combustion will waste fuel. When the air to fuel ratio is less than 14 to1, it won’t burn up much of the fuel in the combustion chamber. This will force all the unburnt fuel out of your engine. This fuel, however, has high levels of dangerous chemicals. As the fuel passes down the exhaust, your catalytic converter will remove some impurities.
The unburnt fuel will exit the exhaust as a cloud of black smoke, rather than the usual gray exhaust smoke color.
If you experience any of these problems, visit us at DARCARS Volkswagen, and we’ll help you get it fixed.
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