Your car’s air filtration system is undeniably important. Without it, you would be inhaling the pollutants, allergens and smog surrounding the car. When your air filters are ignored, you could be in for a very uncomfortable ride. There are two basic reasons why your car’s two air filters, the cabin filter and the engine air intake filter, need to be replaced regularly.

1. Debris destroy your engine

As your engine air intake filter builds up with more and more contaminants, bits of waste and impurities enter the engine. This is harmful because these abrasive materials act as shrapnel. While bug legs and small pieces of earth seem irrelevant, they can cause severe harm to your engine.

These little bits of debris tear apart the engine. As the engine is worn away, more debris accumulates and the engine corrodes. At first, this hurts your oil pressure and AC system. If the situation is not quickly resolved, the entire engine could fail.

2. Dirty filters contaminate the fuel-air mixture

For optimal performance, your car needs a specific air to fuel ratio. When hazardous substances enter the engine, they contaminate this fuel-air mix. The flow of clean air into the fuel is reduced and the engine is put under additional strain. The fuel cannot ignite as it should, and the engine loses power.

In fact, the US Department of Energy cites a 6% to 11% loss in acceleration power when a car is running with a dirty air filter.When the engine has to work harder to run, your gas mileage and fuel efficiency decrease. One day, the air filter could become so filthy, the engine might completely stop working.

It’s easy to keep your air filters clean and healthy!

A quick trip to the auto repair shop can keep your air filtration system in top condition. Just ask for an air filter check with every other oil change. When it is time for an air filter replacement (usually after 10,000-30,000 miles), the process is easy and affordable.

If it’s time for your air filters to be replaced, call Christian Brothers Automotive in Spring, Texas today. We’ll keep your engine breathing easy!