How Often Does Your Air Filter Need to Be Replaced?

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The engine air filter is one of the most important filters in your Cadillac, as it allows your engine to perform efficiently. As your Cadillac dealer, we want to tell you more about this filter, how long it lasts, and some signs you need to visit us for a replacement.

From Your Cadillac Dealer: Your Air Filter and When It Needs Replacement

What the Filter Does

This filter is housed in a small box just inside the radiator grille. Air passes through the radiator grille and enters the filter. Air can contain dirt and other debris, and this material can damage sensitive engine components. The filter traps any debris in the air, and the now clean air enters your engine to be used in combustion.

When To Replace the Filter

As the filter traps dirt, it gradually becomes clogged. A clogged filter restricts airflow into your engine, and this will cause a variety of issues. On average, the filter should be changed once a year or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. The correct time for your Cadillac model is listed in your car manual.

Signs You Need a New Filter

Depending on your driving conditions and style, you may need an early filter replacement. Driving with a blocked filter reduces engine performance and can lead to long-term engine damage. These are a couple of signs you need a new filter.

Check Engine Light 

The check engine light illuminates in response to any problem that affects your engine. Sensors are connected to all important engine components, and they receive and transmit information to your computer. If a sensor detects a problem, it informs your computer, which logs the problem with an error code and then lights up the engine light.

A  lack of air in the engine affects the fuel-air mixture. Your engine requires a 14:1 air-to-fuel ratio, and restricted air supply will dramatically drop this ratio. If your engine has too much fuel, combustion becomes less efficient, and fuel is wasted. Reduced engine performance will trigger the engine light. Our technicians can fix this issue in minutes by replacing the blocked filter, and engine performance will return to normal.

Black Exhaust Smoke

Regular exhaust smoke is thin and almost invisible. A blocked filter causes your exhaust smoke to turn thick and black. Inefficient combustion caused by the lack of air prevents much of the fuel from burning, and the unburnt fuel is dumped into the catalytic converter.

The large quantity of unburnt fuel overwhelms the converter’s ability to remove toxic compounds, so it’s not converted into harmless gases. Once we replace the filter, the exhaust smoke will return to normal.

Replacing a filter is very quick and can prevent damage to your engine. Contact us today at Service Cadillac in Lafayette, LA.

Tags: 2024 Cadillac Air Filter, Air Filter, Cadillac Air filter
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