Air filters are one of the most overlooked parts of your vehicle. They play a significant role in the performance of your engine. Your vehicle can lose up to 20 horsepower from a dirty air filter. A dirty air filter can also affect your vehicle’s gas mileage. Air filters have to allow air to pass freely into your engine. If an air filter gets dirty, it can restrict the amount of airflow and make your engine work harder. Your engine requires an exact amount of air and gas to power your engine. If your engine is not getting enough air, it will have to use more gas to compensate. This will reduce your gas mileage as well as your engine’s performance.

Dirt and debris build up over time and clog the pores on your engine’s air filter. Generally, you should have your air filter replaced every other time you have your oil changed (about every 6,000 miles). At the very least, you should have your air filter changed once a year. However, depending on where you live and the conditions of roads on which you drive (dirt or dusty roads), you should check your air filter every time you change your oil. This regular maintenance can lead to better engine performance and gas mileage.