What is Wrong With Your Porsche’s Engine Air Filter?
by admin September 24, 2019The air filter in your Porsche’s engine is one of the most important parts of your vehicle. The primary purpose of the air filter is to filter out dust, dirt, and other particles that might enter your engine and cause premature wear. It’s important to remember to maintain your air filter and change it regularly to ensure the maximum performance of your engine.
In this article, we will further discuss the importance of your air filter, troubleshoot what could be wrong with it, and list the necessary steps you should take to properly maintain your air filter.
Why is the air filter so important?
The air filter is directly linked to the performance of your Porsche. As an essential part of your car’s respiratory system, your air filter works to both allow air into the engine’s combustion chamber and to also clean this air. The combustion chamber is responsible for the amount of power that is created in your engine. So, if your air filter is unable to properly “clean out” the air going into the combustion chamber, the proper amount of oxygen needed won’t be available. When this happens, your Porsche won’t produce the power necessary to run properly.
Common Air Filter Problems
Three of the most common causes of air filter issues are:
Wrong size
It might seem like a simple enough problem to avoid, but with so many vehicular parts on the shelves today, it has become all too easy to buy the wrong product. For instance, you need to be careful not to purchase the wrong size air filter. If it’s too big, it won’t fit into your air filter housing and won’t be able to filter the air. If it’s too small, then the air filter will let unfiltered air inside the engine.
Clogged filter
It’s easy for the air filter in your car’s engine to become clogged with dust, dirt, pollen, and other particulates as time goes on. When this happens, air cannot properly circulate through the filter and into the engine. One of the signs of this is a drop in your Porsche’s gas mileage. If your air filter is really filthy, the check engine light might even come on.
Unwanted occupants
If you store your Porsche for the winter, it is possible that rodents might find their way inside your vehicle and either make nests in your air filter or chew it to pieces. If this happens, you will need to replace the filter before you decide to take your Porsche out for a nice spring drive.
Steps to Proper Maintenance
As with all parts of a vehicle, maintenance is key to ensuring your car’s performance, durability, and efficiency. Here are the most important steps to taking care of your engine’s air filter:
Check the air filter
Just as you consistently check the fluid levels in your vehicle, you should also take the time to look at your air filter on a regular basis. By doing this, you will be able to keep track of the speed at which its wearing out and of how dirty it’s getting at any given time.
Replace when needed
Check your owner’s manual for a guide to how often you should replace your air filter. It’s often recommended that a vehicle’s air filter be changed every 15,000 to 30,000 miles. Of course, if you tend to drive on rougher road conditions than normal, your filter may wear out prematurely and need to be replaced much sooner.
Avoid rough road conditions
It’s important to keep in mind that driving on very dusty roads or through rough road conditions can add to the amount of debris getting stuck in the air filter and will eventually result in it becoming clogged. Avoiding rough road conditions when possible will help to stretch the life of your car’s air filter.
McIlvain Motors Will Help
Here at McIlvain Motors, our team of specialists are well-equipped to inspect, diagnose, and repair all of your Porsche’s needs. Whether you have an air filter that needs to be changed or your vehicle is experiencing a different issue, our technicians understand the care that goes into maintaining a luxury vehicle like a Porsche. We are trained to offer high-quality service to many types of European automobiles.
We are conveniently located for all drivers in and around Chandler, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe, AZ. So, if you’re experiencing trouble with your Porsche, call McIlvain Motors and set up an appointment with us today.