Engine Air Filter

Service for Your Engine Air Filter

An often overlooked part of your engine protection is the engine air filter that keeps dust and debris from entering the engine. This seemingly small component should actually be carefully maintained to maximize your engine efficiency and keep your vehicle running smoothly.

What Does the Air Filter Do?

The engine air filter is a critical part of your vehicle’s engine function. It's responsible for preventing dust and debris from entering your engine and interfering with proper combustion.

For a vehicle engine to run, it requires three ingredients: fuel, air, and a spark. The fuel is what ignites and drives the pistons. But it can't do that without a spark to ignite it and oxygen to fuel the explosion.

Just like the cabin air filter keeps the interior air clean, the engine air intake filter keeps the air entering the engine clean, providing more efficient ignition. It makes the engine more fuel efficient because more oxygen is available to feed the flame. And the fuel is cleaner to help it burn easily.

It's important to have regular air filter maintenance performed by Hi-Tech Auto Specialists to keep your engine running smoothly.

Why Is Filter Maintenance Important?

A clean air intake is important for keeping your engine clean and efficient. When an air filter is too full of debris, it doesn’t allow enough air to pass through. Imagine trying to blow air through a dense blanket. It’s much harder, right? The same applies to your engine air filter. 

A fresh, clean filter from Hi-Tech Auto Specialists allows the appropriate amount of air to reach the pistons and feed the fuel ignition that drives them.

A filter that’s too dusty may also allow some of that dust to pass through. This can gum up your engine or clog your spark plugs. If left too long, your spark plugs may misfire, or dirty pistons may become damaged.

When Should You Change Your Automotive Air Filter?

As a key component of engine protection, air filter maintenance typically coincides with the rest of your vehicle maintenance tasks such as tune-ups and oil changes. However, there are a few telltale signs you should have your filters inspected or changed at Hi-Tech Auto Specialists right away.

Decrease in Engine Efficiency

If your engine performance or fuel efficiency is suffering, it may be a sign of poor air filter efficiency. A clogged filter may not allow enough oxygen through, leading to misfires. Or the air entering the engine may contain more debris, gumming up the pistons or keeping the fuel from igniting efficiently. To keep your engine running smoothly, have a Hi-Tech Auto Specialists expert check your engine air filter at the first sign of trouble.

Unusual Engine Noises

If your engine is making weird noises such as knocking, popping, or scraping, this could also point to an air filtration system issue. As airborne contaminants sneak through a faulty or clogged filter, they can keep the pistons from gliding smoothly. 

Debris such as dust and pollen can also clog spark plugs. If they become dirty enough, they may not produce a spark anymore, causing misfires. If this happens, the maintenance experts at Hi-Tech Auto Specialists may recommend replacing the spark plugs as well as the air filter.

Difficulty Accelerating

A plugged up filter won’t allow enough oxygen through, weakening the combustion that drives the pistons. This can make it much harder for the vehicle to accelerate properly. 

If you’re noticing it’s taking you a lot longer than usual to get up to speed, it might be time to schedule an air filter replacement at Hi-Tech Auto Specialists.

Check Engine Light

Your check engine light is always a sign your should bring your vehicle to Hi-Tech Auto Specialists for a proper inspection. This can indicate your automotive air filter is clogged or malfunctioning. But it can also indicate a variety of other issues with your engine — some more serious than others. 

A thorough inspection is the best way to correct whatever is wrong and keep your engine in tip-top shape.

Give Your Engine a Breath of Fresh Air at

At Hi-Tech Auto Specialists, we strive to provide quality service at affordable prices. Our Oak Lawn & Westchester, IL shops have been keeping customers’ engines running smoothly since 1986. Call us at 708-423-4555 or 708-865-0855 to schedule your next engine air filter inspection. Or drop in at  to see what we can do for you.