Many truck owners aren’t sure when the best time to change the air filter in their truck is. There are ways to know if your truck is ready for a fresh filter. Here are five signs that it is time to switch out the air filter in your truck.
- The Filter Looks Dirty
A new filter will be a white or off-white color. As dirt accumulates in the filter, it will turn darker. If your filter looks dark, be sure to switch it to a new one. Sometimes the inner layers will have dirt that is not easy to spot. You can take help from manuals available at www.autodoc.co.uk to check if this is the case.
- Engine Warning Signs Turns On
The Check Engine Light can come on for many different reasons, and sometimes it is due to the air filter. If there isn’t enough air, truckbon can build up and trigger the warning light. Your mechanic can check what triggered the warning sign when you take the truck in for maintenance.
- Lower Horsepower
The truck will jerk when you press the gas or won’t respond as well as before if there isn’t enough air. Replacing the air filter should improve this problem.
- Black, Sooty Smoke Leaving the Exhaust Pipe
Fuel may not burn the way it needs to if there’s a lack of oxygen. If you see this, the air filter needs to be cleaned or replaced right away. Popping sounds or flames at the end of the tailpipe also warns of this problem and can be very hazardous. Take your truck to maintenance if you notice this immediately.
- The smell of Fuel When the Engine Starts
If you are smelling gas when you start up your truck, you need to replace your air filter. The fuel that didn’t get burned from its lack of air will exit through the tailpipe and leave that smell.
How to Change Your Truck’s Air Filter
The air cleaner on newer vehicles has a large air inlet duct which is also known as also called the air intake hose connected to it. Loosen the hose clamp that seals it to the box, and then undo all of the screws, clamps, or wing nuts that hold the lid of the box in place. Put the fasteners you removed somewhere safe so that they don’t roll off into oblivion. Open the lid of the box and you should find the older air filter inside. Lift out the old filter and take a look at it. If the interior of the box is fouled with dust or sand, before you clean the box, place some duct tape over the open end of the air intake hose so that the dirt can’t get in. When the cleaned filter — or the new one — is in place, put the lid back on the box and replace all the stuff that held it on.
Conclusion
Air filters help your car and engine last longer. These filters prevent problematic materials from reaching the engine and other important car parts and contribute to keeping the appropriate balance of fuel being consumed.