Engine air filtration
If you own or operate diesel equipment, there are a lot of things you need to keep your eye on to not only maintain the equipment but ensure healthy working conditions as well. For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) dictates that “every motor carrier and intermodal equipment provider must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain, or cause to be systematically inspected, repaired, and maintained, all motor vehicles and intermodal equipment subject to its control.” That’s just an academic way of spotlighting the crucial importance of, among other things, routine maintenance schedules.
One area of maintenance that plays a large role in driver/operator safety, equipment performance, and environmental responsibility concerns various diesel equipment filters. These are generally used for fuel, lube, and engine air filtration.
In this blog, we’re going to explore the topic of engine air filtration. We’ll be addressing what engine air filters do, how they work, how to know when it’s time to replace them, and much more.
What Does an Engine Air Filter Do?
True enough to its name, an engine air filter is designed to protect a vehicle’s engine from contaminants like dirt, dust, or sand. These and other types of particulate matter can impact the engine’s performance and condition, preventing costly repairs or downtime.
This is an important consideration, since letting dirty (unfiltered) air reach the engine can cause it to wear out much more quickly than it should. In other words, the relatively small sum you might pay today for an engine air filter replacement (and the labor of replacing it) can save you money down the road.
Engine Filter vs. Cabin Air Filter: What’s the Difference?
Before we move on, it’s worth noting that an engine air filter and a cabin air filter (often just called an “air filter”) are not one in the same. The engine air filter, found under the hood, is there to protect your engine from contaminants. The cabin air filter, by contrast, is what filters the air that the driver or operator breathes in the cabin. Both are important!
Why Are Engine Air Filters Important?
Engine air filters are just as important as cabin air filters. As mentioned above, while cabin air filters protect the operator from breathing dirty, contaminated air, engine air filters protect the engine from similar pollutants. Keeping diesel equipment fitted with clean, functioning air filters is a relatively easy way to maximize its performance and prolong its lifespan. By lengthening the lifespan, you also stand to maximize the return on your investment and save money in the long run.
Does the Air Filter Affect Engine Performance?
When properly installed and maintained, engine air filters prolong the life of diesel equipment while helping ensure consistent operation, horsepower, and fuel economy. When an engine is running smoothly, thanks to an air filter that’s doing its job, it’s also putting out reduced emissions levels, which helps protect not only the machinery’s operator, but the general public (and the planet), as well.
How Does Changing an Air Filter Affect the Engine?
Changing a dirty, old engine air filter for a fresh, clean replacement helps ensure optimal performance and protects equipment from premature wear and tear. Following the recommended maintenance schedules for engine air filtration as well as other crucial systems also helps maximize the return on investment for what is often very expensive equipment. (We’ll cover maintenance schedules in more detail a little later.
How Do You Know If Your Engine Air Filter Is Bad?
The list of possible dirty engine air filter symptoms underscores the importance of engine air filtration, and some issues you might notice can include:
- The check engine light comes on. The “check engine” light isn’t something that’s likely to come on without reason, so it’s always wise to investigate the cause. Depending on the equipment type, it could be signaling engine deposits or impurities that are impacting performance. Over time, these deposits build up, compounding the problem. Checking the air filter is an excellent first step in identifying and remedying any air intake problems.
- The engine air filter looks dirty. It’s not too difficult to tell the difference between a clean air filter and one that needs replacing. One on hand, it’s completely normal for a functioning air filter to appear somewhat dirty—that means it is doing its job. When the filter is closer to brown or even black than white in color, though, it may be time to address it.
- The equipment’s exhaust is particularly dark—or has an odor. While an engine’s air filter is primarily designed to filter the air going into the engine (intake), the engine’s output can also reveal telltale signs of a dirty engine air filter. If the exhaust is particularly dark, or there’s an especially strong fuel smell, it’s quite possibly time to replace the filter.
- There’s a noticeable decrease in fuel efficiency/mileage. Because a dirty engine air filter restricts airflow to the engine, seeing a decrease in fuel efficiency can signal a need for a new filter. By contrast, a clean air filter helps ensure proper airflow to the engine, maintaining fuel economy.
- There’s a decrease in horsepower. When diesel equipment’s engine air is dirty, it’s not going to be as powerful as it could be. If acceleration is sluggish or unsmooth, or the machinery is slow to respond, it could be that a dirty air filter is depriving the engine of the air intake required for peak performance.
- The engine misfires. When diesel equipment doesn’t start up as easily or smoothly as expected, or idles roughly, it could be an air filtration issue. Problems like an engine struggling to start or turn over, or idling roughly, could be signs of a low fuel-to-air ratio—again, an issue that can be solved with a clean air filter.
- There are unexpected noises. Air intake issues, like those caused by a dirty engine air filter, can lead to a number of different sounds that could spell trouble for your equipment’s performance. When something sounds amiss—uneven idling, for example—it’s worth both checking the engine air filter as well as examining its spark plugs for pollution or contaminants.
What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Engine Air Filter?
When a dirty engine air filter isn’t replaced in a timely manner, the negative effects will simply build and compound over time. The filter material will become clogged, restricting air flow and making the engine incapable of proper, efficient operation. Simply ignoring a dirty filter risks increasing the amount of wear and tear on the engine, and can lead to more catastrophic equipment damage or breakdowns down the road. Among other things, this can lead to expensive repairs, missed deadlines, and more.
How Often Does an Engine Air Filter Need to Be Replaced?
For diesel equipment, the operator’s manual and recommended maintenance schedules should provide clarity around how often the air filter should be checked and/or replaced. Exactly how long do engine air filters last (or how long should they last), though? Unfortunately, it’s impossible to provide an estimate as filter life is highly dependent on the equipment and operating conditions. Check the manufacturer specifications for equipment-specific recommendations and schedules.
Many diesel equipment air filters contain what’s known as a restriction gauge. This feature, usually either mounted on the filter housing or near the housing on the air duct, enables operators to quickly monitor how well the filters are working, so they can act promptly when it’s time to replace. The higher the airflow restriction, the dirtier the filter—and the more urgently it needs to be replaced.
Fleetguard’s filtration intelligence technology—FleetguardFITTM—enables condition-based monitoring. This takes the guesswork out of knowing when it’s time to replace the filter. FleetguardFITTM leverages intelligent sensing and advanced data analytics to make monitoring the filter’s performance easy and actionable.
How Much Does an Air Filter Replacement Cost?
Depending on the equipment type and filter brand, the engine air filter replacement cost can vary quite a bit. That being said, they are relatively inexpensive to replace—and it’s often true that you get what you pay for. To put the cost in context, it’s definitely worth noting that the engine air filter cost will be a mere fraction of the costs that can come with equipment breakdowns. This ultimately translates into a lower total cost of ownership by minimizing repairs and maximizing the life of the engine.
Even innovative, top-of-the-line air filters like Fleetguard’s NanoForce air filters, which offer up to 5x longer service intervals, 30% lower expenditure, and 99.99% filtration efficiency, should be seen as a worthwhile and ultimately cost-saving solution for diesel equipment managers and operators. Not only do these high-performance filters drive down the total cost of ownership—they also provide up to 1,000-hour service intervals.
Can I Change the Engine Air Filter Myself?
Especially compared with many other routine maintenance tasks, changing an engine air filter isn’t too difficult—and the DIY route can save a little money, as well. Start by searching online for documentation or videos related to a specific piece of diesel equipment. YouTube, for example, is a great place to start searching for equipment-specific how-to videos.
Can I Just Clean the Engine Air Filter Instead?
Cleaning a dirty engine air filter can help it to temporarily offer better filtration, but it will still need to be replaced in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. In other words, cleaning the filter is just a stop-gap measure.
It’s also a measure with diminishing returns over time, though. This Fleet Equipment Magazine article cites Cummins Filtration in advising that “[c]leaning your air filter will reduce the dust holding compared to a new air filter” and “dust capacity can drop up to 25% after the first cleaning with additional capacity loss after each subsequent cleaning.” This ultimately means that simply cleaning a dirty filter is not the best solution, especially for an aging filter.
Rather than cleaning the filter once its performance starts to suffer, it makes more sense to proactively protect the air filter from excessive contaminants. This includes taking precautions like putting measures in place to control dust and other worksite pollutants and adhering closely to preventive maintenance requirements.
Rethink Engine Air Filtration with Fleetguard
A dirty engine air filter can be costly and detrimental to diesel equipment. Fleetguard’s line of diesel equipment engine air filters has been developed to last longer than the competition, extending service intervals up to 1,000 operation hours or more. Monitoring the engine air filtration system as well as other filtration systems like fuel, hydraulic, lube, and others is the best way to prevent costly repairs—and the FleetguardFITTM system makes monitoring easy.
Why Fleetguard? Fleetguard products are designed to maximize your investment by making high-quality diesel equipment filters that are built to last without busting the budget. We’re powered by a worldwide distribution network that makes finding the right solution for your needs a simple and efficient process. To learn more about our full line of offerings, visit a Fleetguard dealer in your area. Or, if you are a dealer interested in carrying Fleetguard filters for your customers, contact us to learn more.
