As you take your Audi on the road day after day, it protects you and essential elements of your vehicle from much of the debris and outside conditions, keeping you comfortable and your car in good condition as you commute. Much like a cabin air filter keeps the interior of your Audi comfortable, an air filter in your engine intake is part of this protection to your Audi’s engine.
As with everything, there comes a time when an auto service is needed – in this case, a mechanic replaces your dirty air filter so that your Audi’s air filter can block larger particles from entering the engine intake and, therefore, only allowing clean air in.
How does a dirty air filter affect your Audi’s performance? Read on to find out.
How Dirty Air Filter Affects Performance
Among many other services, a mechanic also takes a look at your air filter as part of your auto service. This is because a dirty air filter can negatively affect the way that your Audi performs on the road.
Quite simply, your Audi’s engine requires proper, clean airflow in order to function properly. After a time, a dirty air filter collects debris and dust that can impede the amount of airflow to your engine, making it difficult for the engine to achieve the necessary air to fuel ratio. As a result, the motor within the engine can’t function at full capacity and overheating can occur.
A simple air filter plays a role in many of your engine’s functions. If left dirty and unreplaced for too long, the air filter can cause effects such as detrimental emissions, wasted fuel from bad fuel economy, damaged spark plugs, and buildup within the engine.
Further, a dirty air filter can subtly impact your Audi’s engine power, including torque, power and acceleration. But besides a negative effect on your Audi’s ability to accelerate, consistent neglect of the engine air filter can cause damage to your engine and, if left for too long, can lead to much more costly auto repair needs.
Spotting a Dirty Air Filter
Wear and tear on most parts of your car are highly normal – including wear and tear on your Audi’s air filter. While driving, there are a few symptoms that you can look out for to spot if your Audi is in need of an air filter change.
● Reduced fuel economy
● Misfires in the engine and difficulty starting the engine
● Abnormal noises from the engine, such as vibrations or hiccups
● A visibly dirty air filter
● Reduced horsepower and sluggish acceleration
● Illuminated check engine light
● A strong fuel smell from the exhaust pipe
Changing the Air Filter
How often should a dirty air filter be changed? This largely depends on how often you drive and driving conditions on the road, but generally speaking, a mechanic will check your air filter every time your vehicle is taken in for auto service. An air filter won’t be changed as frequently as your oil, but it is a regular maintenance service that can occur a few times per year (approximately every 3,000 miles).
Factors that can affect the condition of your air filter and frequency of air filter changes:
● Smog and pollution levels
● The make and model of your car
● Other driving habits and conditions
If you keep up with your regular maintenance, keeping up with proper air filter changes isn’t difficult. When taking your Audi in for auto service or repair, a mechanic will pay attention to the condition of your air filter and recommend a change when it’s time or give you a heads up that this change will need to be done in the near future. Having a trusted mechanic take regular care of your vehicle can leave you with the peace of mind that your vehicle’s regular service needs are attended to when they should.
High-End European Auto Service
The mechanics of a vehicle are designed to work in tandem with one another, which means that one aspect of a vehicle’s performance inevitably affects many other aspects of the vehicle. Here at AutoScope, our main driver is to help you get the most out of your vehicle through quality, detail-oriented auto service and auto repairs. This includes checking the condition of your Audi’s air filter.
Our team of mechanics at AutoScope serves the Dallas, Plano, Frisco, Flower Mound, and Irving areas with high-quality auto service for European vehicles such as Audi, Porsche, BMW and Mercedes. Schedule your appointment at AutoScope today! Contact us online here.