Filters

It is true that unlike the days of carbureted gasoline engines, today’s modern gasoline engines are managed by a multitude of sensors and computers that can negate the overall impact a dirty air filter will have on fuel mileage. These modern components adjust fuel delivery and other performance related activities as the operating conditions change.

According to the newest testing done by the government, fuel economy in modern vehicles is not affected by the condition of your air filter.

According to the DOE report titled: Effect of Intake Air Filter Condition on Vehicle Fuel Economy, published February 2009, and found in its entirety here http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/pdfs/Air_Filter_Effects_02_26_2009.pdf:

“Closed-loop control in modern fuel injected vehicle applications is sophisticated enough to keep a clogged air filter from affecting the vehicle fuel economy. However for older, open-loop, carbureted vehicles, a clogged air filter can affect the fuel economy. For the vehicle tested, the fuel economy with a new air filter improved as much as 14% over that with a severely clogged filter (in which the filter was so clogged that drivability was impacted). Under a more typical state of clog, the improvement with a new filter ranged from 2 to 6%.”

But, that’s just part of the story.

All of these modern improvements do not, however, mean you can ignore the air filter or air induction system. Negative consequences other than a drop in fuel economy can and will occur if the air induction system and air filter are not properly serviced. Less volumetric efficiency of the engine, higher temperatures, potential filter damage, and other engine life robbing issues are just a few of the concerns that can result from neglected air induction system servicing. Always service air filters according to the original equipment manufacturer’s and filter manufacturer’s recommendations, not only for proper engine performance, but also engine life.