Air Filter Service Video

The engine air filter screens every bit of air pulled into the intake before it reaches the combustion chamber. Pleated filter media traps dust and grit before it can score cylinder walls or coat the mass airflow sensor.

This video shows where the airbox sits and what a loaded filter looks like next to a fresh one. It also shows how the pleats should face the incoming airflow when a new filter drops in.

When the filter packs up, airflow drops, and the engine computer adds fuel to compensate. Throttle response turns sluggish, acceleration from a stop feels soft, and fuel economy slides. A filter that has gone gray or black with the folds packed solid confirms it.

An inspection checks the filter against light and looks for debris inside the housing. It also verifies the airbox seal so unfiltered air is not slipping past the edges. Filter checks are part of our preventive maintenance service, which covers the fluids, filters, and belts that age with every mile.

Dust off gravel shoulders, harvest chaff, and fine volcanic soil across dry Grant County fields clog the pleats faster than the mileage interval predicts.

If your engine feels lazy or your mileage has dropped, call Affordable Automotive Services at (509) 764-0000, or visit your Moses Lake auto shop to have the filter checked, whether you are driving in from Ephrata or Quincy.