Does Your Jeep Need a New Car Air Filter?

The combustion chambers inside your car’s engine require a carefully measured injection of both fuel and oxygen to function properly. When the inflow of air becomes restricted by a clogged air filter, this combustion process falters, leading to misfiring and other problems. This is why it’s so important to check your filter regularly and get a new car air filter at your local Jeep dealer as soon as you need one.

Your Filter Looks Filthy

Whether you use your Jeep for regular off-roading or only drive in urban commutes, there are all sorts of airborne contaminants entering your car’s air vents. The air filter’s job is to catch all this dirt and debris before it floats into the engine. 

Over time, these contaminants naturally build up on the filter, gradually making it darker and grimier. If you visually inspect your air filter and see that it’s clearly clogged up with filth, it’s probably time for a new one. 

Your Engine Keeps Misfiring

When a clogged air filter starts to restrict the inflow of air, the engine becomes starved of fresh oxygen. This unbalances the fuel-air mixture, which leads to an excess of fuel inside the cylinders. 

This unburned fuel soon starts to coat the spark plugs in a sooty residue, which fouls the plugs and causes them to misfire. This will make your engine cough and shudder unexpectedly. 

You’re Losing Acceleration

While misfiring because of a blocked air filter, your car’s engine will start to lose power. You’re most likely to notice this when you need a quick burst of speed and all you get when you step on the gas is a half-hearted crawl forward. 

Your Fuel Efficiency Falls

An oxygen-starved engine is also less efficient and will start wasting fuel as it struggles to compensate. This reduces fuel efficiency, causing the driver to stop more often to refill the gas tank.

You See Sooty Smoke Behind You

The excess fuel that builds up because of a clogged air filter will usually start to leak back into the exhaust pipes. Once there, the heat of the exhaust system may cause the fuel to partially ignite, which creates a sooty black smoke that you’ll see pouring out of the tailpipe behind you. 

Your Jeep Dealer Suggests a New Filter

While inspecting your vehicle during routine checkups, the technician at your local dealership will examine the air filter carefully. If they deem it too dirty to keep using safely, they’ll recommend that you swap it out for a new one.  Have your engine air filter checked and changed today at Oxendale Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. We’re an award-winning local dealership dedicated to delivering an exceptional customer experience, whatever your vehicle-related needs may be.

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