Your vehicle's engine is highly dependent on your air filter. In order for your engine to work properly, it needs air and gasoline. The air filter sucks in the air to mix with the gasoline within the engine.
As drivers, we are hyper-focused on fuel and never put too much thought into the air that is necessary for our engines to run smoothly. This is yet another reason why checking on the quality of your air filter is important. It is what keeps dirt and debris from reaching your engine and ultimately hurting your vehicle.
If you notice that your fuel economy is lower than usual or your engine is making unusual noises, misfiring or your check engine light comes on, you might want to take a look at your air filter. Other common signs of a dirty air filter are reduced horsepower, smoke coming out of the exhaust, or smell of gasoline at the startup.
A little dirt is no big deal, but if it looks clogged then it is definitely time to change your air filter or it will disrupt the air to fuel ratio and corrupt the effectiveness of your engine.
