Your Chrysler’s engine needs oxygen just as much as it needs gasoline to function. As it draws in air, the air filter prevents dust, sand, and other airborne contaminants from entering. Over time, the filter naturally begins to clog up, at which point the inflow of oxygen becomes reduced, and your engine can run into problems. The following are seven signs that it’s time to visit your local Chrysler dealer for a new car air filter.
Is It Time to Replace Your Car Air Filter?
Reduced Gas Mileage
When airflow becomes restricted by an aging filter, the fuel-air mixture in your combustion chambers becomes unbalanced. This leads to less efficient usage of fuel, and you’ll soon find that a full tank of gas doesn’t get you as far as it should. So if your fuel efficiency is dropping, the first thing to check should be your engine’s air filter.
Rough Idling
When restricted airflow unbalances the fuel-air mixture, you end up with excess unburned fuel in your combustion chambers. This unburned fuel covers the spark plugs with soot, causing them to struggle, especially when you’re sitting idle.
While idling, a Chrysler’s engine should be purring softly and comfortably. If you notice it sputtering, coughing, or stalling altogether, take a look at your filter. It might need replacing.
Black Smoke
When you have excess, unburned fuel as a result of a clogged-up filter, that unburned fuel needs to escape somehow. It often does so in the form of black smoke pouring out of your exhaust. So if you ever see black smoke behind your car, the problem might be something as simple as an old air filter.
Grimy, Blackened Filter
The best way to know if you need a new filter is to check it with your own eyes. You’ll find your filter inside a large, squarish black box called the cold air collector box, which is near the front of your engine compartment. The filter inside is rectangular and pleated. Take the filter out and check in between the pleats to see if any parts of it are significantly blocked by a build-up of dirt and grime.
Blinking “Check Engine” Light
The computerized monitors in your engine will pick up problems that result from a clogged air filter. When this happens, you’ll see the “check engine” light come on. It’s best not to ignore this warning, as it might indicate a blocked air filter, or it might be pointing to an even more serious issue.
15,000 to 30,000 Miles Have Passed
It’s generally recommended that Chrysler drivers have their filters changed every 15,000 to 30,000 miles. So if you’ve reached 15,000 miles since your last filter change, it’s best to get a new one, even if you can’t yet see signs of trouble.
Driving conditions make a big difference in how often you need to replace your filter. If you’re regularly driving in heavy traffic, on dusty roads, or in a hot climate, then your filter will be working a lot harder. As a result, you’ll need a new one more often.
Annual Servicing at Your Chrysler Dealer
To ensure you never forget to change your filter, it’s a good rule of thumb to have it replaced once a year. You can simply coincide this with your yearly engine diagnostic and checkup at your local dealership.
To have your filter checked and replaced by friendly, experienced technicians, visit Tom O’Brien Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Indianapolis. We’re a popular local dealership that always puts customer satisfaction first and foremost.
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