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What happens if you don't change the car air filter?
To be honest, I’ve kind of neglected my car’s engine air filter for a while. My mechanic told me a while ago I should change it, but I just didn’t want to pay for it at the time. What happens if you don't change the car air filter?
Melanie Mergen · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Uh oh! It sounds like you might want to take care of that sooner than later—a dirty engine air filter could cause more expensive problems over time if you don’t change it when needed. If an air filter collects too much dirt and debris, it will start to interfere with the engine’s combustion process.
As the filter becomes more and more clogged, less air is able to enter the combustion chamber. As a result, your engine will end up needing to use more fuel to compensate, and you’ll probably see worsened engine performance and gas mileage as a result.
Some of that excess dirt and debris could also make its way into the engine, which could put it at an increased risk of damage over time if the problem isn’t addressed.
Keep an eye out for signs like your air filter being visibly dirty, sooty smoke developing around your tailpipe, the check engine light, or a decrease in horsepower or overall performance. Each of these symptoms could mean it’s time to replace your car’s air filter.
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