Fuel consumption, engine power
A device for filtration in a carburetor car.
The air filter in a car affects the rate of fuel combustion inside the engine and, as a result, the power of the engine. Complete combustion of a combustible mixture is possible provided that it contains about 20 times more air than fuel. The car takes air from the environment, so the air flow contains dust, insect particles, plant spores, and so on. All these harmful impurities, once inside the engine, act as abrasive particles and lead to disruption of the power unit. The purpose of the filter device is to clean the incoming air from harmful impurities of dust and dirt. Passing through it, the air is purified, then mixed with fuel and leads to complete combustion of the fuel due to the presence of a large amount of oxygen in its volume, helping to reduce fuel consumption.
This device also affects the power of the motor due to the resistance created by the incoming air. The filter element can have a different design and, depending on the number of filtration layers, provide resistance to the flow of incoming air. As resistance increases, engine power decreases, as the amount of oxygen entering the engine decreases and the fuel does not burn completely. Replacing a worn-out filtration device with a new one will help reduce fuel consumption.
An increase in power on sports cars can be achieved by installing filter devices with zero resistance. Such filters consist of a minimum of layers treated with a special adhesive to trap small particles. “Nuleviki” do not create additional loads on the engine and allow you to achieve maximum engine power.
We recommend watching a video about the effect of a car air filter:
Engine air filter, operating principle, types, purpose
Today we will learn what is called a car air filter
,
why it is needed
,
what functions
and
tasks
it performs, and also
when
it is necessary
to replace
this important
consumable element of an
internal combustion engine.
In addition, we will tell you about the basic principle of operation
of this part and
why
it was
invented
by automakers.
In conclusion, we will determine which type of air filter
does a better job of
cleaning the incoming air
into
the engine injection system
and has a
longer service life
compared
to
others.
Air filter
- is a simple, but quite important
consumable component of an
internal combustion engine, which
protects the key
components
of the engine from the penetration
of
dust
,
stones
,
dirt
,
insects
and other
debris
that can
harm the stable operation
of the main
components
of the car.
Please note that you should not neglect replacing the air filter ,
but
maintain
this important
consumable item
in accordance with the manufacturer’s regulations and recommendations.
To understand what tasks performs
and
what role it plays
for
the engine,
you need to understand how it
functions
.
We will examine this question in our story so that we have a detailed understanding of this key consumable part
of any car.
Why does a car need an air filter?
Let's note interesting statistics: on average, a vehicle absorbs from 10 to 15 cubic meters of atmospheric air
.
If the consumed air is not cleaned
the pollen
,
dirt
and other
debris
contained in it enters directly into
the engine system
.
And what does this lead to, we hope everyone understands for themselves that it does not lead to anything good. The engine
dirt into it, deteriorates
its
performance
and in the end it will simply have to undergo
premature
, expensive
repairs
.
In connection with this, a consumable device
called
an air filter
, which serves
to protect engine systems
from such troubles.
This part
not only performs
the function of protecting the engine from sources of pollution
, but also ensures
the task of reducing noise
that spreads through
the intake system
of the machine.
In addition, in gasoline engines
,
the air filter
also plays the role of
a temperature regulator of the fuel-combustible mixture
.
That is why the role of
this important
consumable element of
a vehicle engine is simply invaluable.
When in the air filter
begins to
become clogged
,
air flow resistance
increases and
the amount of air
that enters
engine system
.
In some cases or modes, this situation leads to an enrichment of the fuel-air mixture
, consequently to its
incomplete combustion
in the working areas
of the cylinders
, resulting in
an increase in fuel consumption
and
a decrease in engine power
, as well as
an increase in the concentration of toxic elements
in
the exhaust gases of
the vehicle .
Types and types of air filters
Today, filter consumables
are produced
in 3 main structural types
or
shapes
, such as:
panel
,
frameless
and
cylindrical
.
The type
or
shape of the air filter
does not greatly affect
the efficiency of the consumable part
relative to
the engine systems of
the vehicle.
The main relation to the effectiveness
of a given
part
relates to its
type
, or more precisely,
what the engine filtration element is made of
.
These features
are directly related to
the operation of air filters
.
The most common type of material
from which
modern
air filters
are made is
cardboard
.
Cardboard
is the most common and
cheapest raw material
for the production of these
consumable elements of
a vehicle engine system.
The next type of material
from which
replacement motor elements
is
synthetic fibers
.
This material is more expensive to produce than cardboard
, but slightly more
efficient than
its
competitor .
However, the operation of air filters
made of
synthetic fibers
requires more strict
adherence to replacement intervals
.
Quite often at sports
cars install
air filters made of gauze
, which includes about
5-7 layers
of this material.
In addition, the gauze is impregnated
a special
oil
, which promotes
effective filtration of sucked in atmospheric air
from the environment.
Compared _
with
cardboard filters
, in
gauze
,
the initial air resistance parameter
is much less.
The main advantage of gauze air filters
over
cardboard
and
synthetic fiber
is that after
special oil treatment
they can be reused
up
to
3-4 times
.
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When to replace the air filter
To understand when to replace the air filter
in a car, the driver
does not have to
strictly
adhere to
certain
regulations
in order to make sure that
a consumable element
needs to be
updated
, you can simply
visually inspect
this
consumable
element.
To do this, you just need to remove the air filter element from the protective box
and
inspect
it in daylight.
If upon inspection
it is
clean
,
without darkening
or
stains
, especially
oil stains
, then you can drive it further without any problems.
If the air filter is dirty
,
clogged
or
in engine oil
, then this tells us that
the consumable element
must be urgently
replaced with a new one
.
Every driver can easily distinguish a clean air filter
from
a dirty
(
clogged
) one.
Typically, the time to replace the air filter is
First of all,
it depends
on
regulations
.
On average, the replacement interval for the consumable element of the engine filtration system
is
from 15 to 30 thousand kilometers
or once a year.
Before replacing the filter element
we recommend that you look at
the technical documentation
of the vehicle, where
the intervals
and
exact date for replacing
the part will be clearly indicated.
If technical documentation
or
manual
for the car, then you can simply use
the method of visual inspection of the filter element
.
This method
will help when we remember
when the current air filter was replaced
.
Based on recommendations
Most vehicle repair and maintenance specialists
replace the air filter
along with
changing the engine oil
, which, as a rule, is done approximately every
10-15 thousand kilometers
.
We also note that if after a visual inspection of the filter element
we have no questions about its condition, then
replace the consumable part
every other time.
This point directly depends on the specific conditions
in which
is used
or
operated
.
However, in most cases, the air filter is changed annually
or every
10-15 thousand kilometers
.
Regarding diesel engines
, and especially with
a turbocharging system
,
much more
stringent requirements
cleaning
entering
the engine than for
gasoline internal combustion engines
.
Many car enthusiasts will ask the question: “What could this be connected with?” The fact is that this is primarily due to the operating features of diesel engines
.
,
for diesel
cars, and especially with
a turbine
,
the period for replacing the air filter
should be reduced
to 10 thousand kilometers or once a year
.
Replacing the air filter in advance
is the key to maintaining
the reliability
and
service life of the main components of
a vehicle’s engine, without causing problems associated with
premature repairs
.
The fact is that a clogged filter element
cannot
clear the dust
and
dirt
that comes from the road into the engine; on the contrary, they
complicate the functioning of the engine
.
Therefore, there is no need to save on replacing the air filter
, because its
cost
is not comparable to possible
engine repairs
.
In addition, we note that it is strictly forbidden to operate
the vehicle
without a filter element
, as this may subsequently lead to costly
engine repairs
.
What could be the consequences if you do not change the filter device in time?
Let's say the car's air filter is dirty, what will be the consequences? The filter device acts as a kind of barrier to the air flow; when the piston moves downward, the air mass is sucked in, and a certain amount of force is expended by the engine. If the element that filters the incoming air is clogged, its throughput is reduced, the car engine makes great efforts to overcome the resistance created by the filtering device.
New and old filter elements
The car enthusiast observes the following phenomena:
- reduction in engine power;
- increase in fuel consumption: due to insufficient amount of incoming air, the fuel does not burn completely;
- poor engine starting;
- lack of traction;
- increase in detonation.
If you drive for a long time with a damaged filter, the spark plugs will begin to fail, the operation of the flow sensors will be disrupted, the ECU will begin to incorrectly calculate the load on the power unit and, accordingly, incorrect mixture formation will occur, leading to high fuel consumption. Please note: all these negative consequences can be avoided by timely replacement of the air filter. Thus, the filter element is able to influence not only the operation of the engine, but also the car as a whole.
