The engine of your car needs oxygen to keep going almost as much as you do. As your vehicle draws in oxygen, the air filter keeps airborne contaminants out of the engine’s cylinders. But this filter can eventually become clogged up, which restricts the airflow, leading to all kinds of problems. If your car is experiencing the following issues, you might need to head to your local Nissan dealership for a new car air filter.
Misfiring Spark Plugs
While operating properly, the engine continually combusts a mixture of fuel and air inside each cylinder. When the inflow of air is restricted by a clogged air filter, this fuel-air mixture becomes unbalanced, which leads to an excess of fuel. This excess unburned fuel gradually builds up inside each chamber, coating the spark plugs in a sooty residue.
When fouled in this way, spark plugs cannot ignite the fuel as effectively, causing them to misfire. While misfiring, the car will vibrate and sputter, especially while idling or driving at high speeds.
Reduced Acceleration
An oxygen-starved misfiring engine will also begin to lose power. As a result, you may find it difficult to accelerate rapidly while crossing a busy intersection or trying to overtake another vehicle.
Falling Fuel Economy
As a clogged air filter causes each cylinder to combust fuel less efficiently, you’ll find your car traveling less far for each gallon of gas it guzzles.
Thickening Exhaust Fumes
One of the dangers of misfiring spark plugs is the damage it can do to other parts of the car. As the excess of unburnt fuel begins to escape from the cylinders, it leaks back into the exhaust system, sometimes igniting inside the exhaust pipes and causing black smoke to emerge from the tailpipe.
Check Engine Light Appears
The various problems caused by a clogged air filter will usually trigger the check engine light to appear on the dashboard. If you ever see this light, it’s best to ask a trusted technician to diagnose and repair the fault without delay.
Replace Your Air Filter at Your Nearest Nissan Dealership
Installing a new air filter is a quick procedure that shouldn’t take the technician long at your local dealership. It’s generally recommended to replace an engine air filter every 12 months or so. If you drive in a particularly dusty environment, you might need a new filter more frequently than this.
Visit Courtesy Nissan PA in Altoona, PA, today to have your air filter checked and replaced. We’re a local one-stop shop for all the automotive needs of the region’s drivers, with courteous, professional staff providing top-notch customer service.
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