Your engine needs air, and all of this air passes through the car air filter. The filter needs to trap dirt and other debris that could damage your engine. Eventually, the filter will fill up and become blocked, and you’ll need a replacement. As your Hyundai dealer, we can easily install a new one for you. These are some of the signs that your filter needs to be changed.
You’re Using More Gas
Decreased gas mileage is always a sign that your engine is working inefficiently. Your engine needs fuel and air for combustion, but it uses far more air than fuel. As we’ve seen, this air must enter your car through the air filter. A blocked air filter will reduce the amount of air available, which means your engine will become fuel-rich.
A fuel-rich engine makes combustion difficult, and you’ll notice misfiring and even stalling. These problems are caused by the spark plugs not operating effectively in this type of environment. The lack of air also means that much of the fuel injected into the cylinders won’t burn. This excess fuel is dumped into the exhaust system and wasted.
Coughing Noises
Strange coughing noises under the hood are a sure sign that your spark plugs are laboring. When your engine is operating correctly, the fuel and air mix enters the cylinders, are compressed, and then ignited by the spark plugs. A blocked air filter changes this, as the lack of air makes the spark plugs job much harder.
The fuel-rich environment in the engine makes sparking more difficult, as the plugs can’t fire without air. The coughing sounds you’re hearing are the plugs struggling to spark. The plugs will also be damaged in this type of environment, as the increased heat and lack of air mean the plugs become coated in a sticky carbon solution. Replacing the filter will fix this problem. We’ll also check and replace any damaged plugs.
Black Exhaust Smoke
Black smoke from the exhaust is caused by unburnt fuel being forced out of your exhaust. The excessive amount of fuel in the cylinders compared to air ensures much of the fuel won’t burn. The hot, unburnt fuel is dumped out of the cylinders into your exhaust system. This high concentration of fuel can overwhelm the catalytic converter’s ability to convert these dangerous chemicals.
If you see black smoke billowing from your exhaust, call us ASAP. Our technicians will replace the filer and also check the converter and other components for signs of damage.
An air filter is a quick and simple fix, and it can save expensive repair bills. Call us today at Mike Kelly Hyundai.
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