staff@slashgear.com (John Davis)
2024-05-06 06:45:36
www.slashgear.com
We mentioned above that your car’s internal combustion engine relies on a combination of fuel and oxygen for its power, and we gave a surface-level explanation of how the air filter works with your engine. But now, we’ll go into a little more detail to break down exactly how the air intake system functions and the role the air filter plays.
Your vehicle’s air intake system starts near its grille. A tube, air inlet, or snorkel sucks in air as you cruise down the road. That air travels through the air tube toward the filter. The filter’s job is to prevent contaminants — like leaves, dust, insects, and other pollutants — from entering the engine. After the oxygen moves through the air filter, it passes a mass airflow sensor (MAF), which monitors things like air temperature and volume and helps control the amount of fuel sent to the engine. Finally, the oxygen flows past a throttle body, which manages how much oxygen enters the engine for combustion based on driver input at the gas pedal.
The air filter may seem like a small and insignificant part of the air intake system, but it’s a critical engine component and integral to the intake process. If the filter becomes clogged with debris or soaked with water, you’ll most likely be unable to start your engine. If you remove the air filter completely, you risk severe engine damage due to debris and contaminants.