Does Your Buick or GMC Need a New Car Air Filter?

Your vehicle’s engine combines air and gas in the combustion engine to produce power. The air filter keeps out road dirt, debris, and other contaminants and allows clean air to flow to the engine. When an air filter becomes dirty, it reduces the airflow, resulting in poor vehicle performance, reduced gas mileage, limited horsepower, and loads of other issues. Contact your Springdale, AR, GMC dealer for a new car air filter before more damage occurs.

Do You Need a New Car Air Filter From Your Springdale, AR, GMC Dealer?

Poor Gas Mileage

When your vehicle burns more gas than usual, it’s an indication that it’s not running as smoothly as it should. An engine will consume more gas to compensate for a reduction in airflow. A dirty air filter will reduce the amount of airflow to the engine and cause your vehicle to consume more fuel.

Limited Horsepower

You will notice your vehicle is slow and sluggish and does not respond as it should when you step on the accelerator. Reduced horsepower could be due to a lack of airflow. It means the engine is not getting the air required to perform optimally. All you need to do to rectify the problem is replace the air filter to improve your vehicle’s performance.

Gas Odor

When you start your car and smell gas, it could be due to a lack of oxygen. The unburnt fuel escapes through the exhaust pipe, and that’s when you’ll get a whiff of gasoline. If you smell gas when you start your vehicle’s engine, replace the air filter to sort out the problem.

Unfamiliar Engine Sounds

Your car should purr like a kitten when you turn on the engine. It should vibrate subtly, and there shouldn’t be any strange noises coming from the engine. If your vehicle vibrates excessively and shakes, and you hear coughing sounds when it’s idling, a dirty air filter or dirty spark plugs could be the culprit.

Hard Starts, Jerks, and Misfiring

Do you find it hard to start your car? Does it jerk forward and misfire? The answer to the problem could be a dirty or clogged air filter reducing airflow. The unburnt fuel caused by a reduction in airflow exits the engine as soot and accumulates on the spark plugs. The soot prevents the spark plug from producing a spark to combust the air-fuel mixture. When this happens, you will find it hard to start your vehicle, and your car will jerk forward and misfire.

Black Smoke and Flames

As we said before, unburnt gas will escape through the exhaust pipe with a reduction in air supply. You will see black smoke pouring out of your tailpipe. In extreme cases, the heat in the exhaust system will ignite the unburnt gas, causing a flame to exit the tailpipe.

Check Engine Light Is Illuminated

Due to limited air supply, carbon deposits that accumulate on the engine will trigger your vehicle’s check engine light. When the check engine light comes on, don’t delay. Ask your technician to inspect your vehicle asap to avoid further damage.

Dirty or Clogged Air Filter

If you experience any of the above signs, ask your technician to check your vehicle’s air filter as soon as possible. When an air filter is new, it will be white or off-white. Over time the filter becomes dirty and clogged and changes to a darker color. When the filter is dusty and dirty, it reduces airflow to the engine, resulting in the issues described above.

To ensure optimal vehicle performance and save money on gas and repairs, replace your vehicle’s air filter at the factory recommended intervals. Contact Crain Buick GMC of Springdale today. Our certified technicians will perform a thorough inspection and ensure that your vehicle is in tip-top condition.

Image by Peter H from Pixabay

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