5 Symptoms of a Dirty Air Filter: Possible Reason Why Your Car Feels Sluggish

The engine air filter is a vital component that filters dirt and debris from the air entering your engine. It helps keep your engine running cleanly and efficiently.
Today, I want to go over some of the common symptoms that indicate your car's air filter needs to be replaced. A dirty or clogged air filter can cause a variety of problems, so being able to recognize when it needs to be swapped out is important.
What is an air filter? The air filter is usually a pleated paper or fabric cartridge that sits inside a plastic or metal housing connected to the engine air intake system.
As air passes through, the filter captures dust, pollen, smoke and other pollutants before they can enter the engine. This keeps your engine internals clean.
When to replace? Most automakers recommend inspecting your engine air filter at every oil change and replacing it as needed or at least once a year. Shorter intervals may be required if you drive in very dusty or polluted conditions regularly. An extremely clogged filter should be replaced immediately.
Symptom 1: Decreased engine performance...
Symptom 2: Higher fuel consumption...
Symptom 3: The check engine light comes on...
Symptom 4: Strange smells from the vents...
Symptom 5: Engine surging or misfiring...
Replacing a dirty air filter is one of the easiest and most important maintenance tasks for your vehicle.
Catching a clogged filter early helps maximize engine performance and fuel economy. Let me know in the comments if you've experienced any of these air filter issues!

[@HolyGrailArts]

Great video. Thank you.

[@eastboundndown4703]

off topic here, so i put bad gas in out of a gas can! ya it was dumb, anyhow car was misfiring and flashing engine light was on, had it towed it was black smoke n stalling shuddering too, he emptied out the tank blew the tank out added new fuel and replaced the plugs, car ran but under heavy acceleration id deal with spark knock! here we are 2 months later it happened again, ive ran probably 10 tanks of good fuel through, but it pulled the black smoke shuddering flashing check engine again, so back in shop, car runs fine but if i accelerate heavy it breaks down. what are ya thinking? appreciate a response

[@adamnugroho7496]

Thanks for sharing this. Can it trigger a P0420 code?

[@sumer4549]

No that’s your catalytic converter.

[@elsieolufolabi7052]

Can it cause the car to switch off immediately after you put ut on??Thx

[@FredoDoubleOhSeven]

Yes

[@HonestMechanicChannel]

Hi, A severely clogged air filter can potentially cause a car to turn off shortly after starting, though it's a less common cause for such a symptom. The air filter is crucial for providing clean air to the engine; when it's extremely dirty, it can restrict the airflow. This restriction might lead the engine to receive an improper air-fuel mixture, making it difficult for the engine to run properly, especially just after starting when the engine might be more susceptible to performance issues. However, if a car turns off immediately after starting, other issues are often more likely to be the cause. These can include problems with the fuel system (like a failing fuel pump or dirty fuel injectors), issues with the ignition system (such as faulty spark plugs or ignition coils), or even electronic problems like sensor malfunctions.

[@arniegajudo]

Can it trigger P0122 code?

[@OfficialNSjib]

Yes

[@teamicecebuanoschapter]

🫡🫡🫡

[@HonestMechanicChannel]

Thanks for watching!