Posted on 5/30/2025
When your car starts to feel sluggish or takes longer to respond when you hit the gas, your first thought might be spark plugs, fuel injectors, or even the transmission. But sometimes, the culprit is something much simpler: a dirty air filter. Air filters are one of the most overlooked maintenance items, yet they play a major role in engine performance—especially when it comes to acceleration. If your vehicle hesitates or feels like it’s struggling to breathe when merging onto the highway or climbing hills, it may be time to check the air filter. Here’s how something as basic as a clogged air filter can affect your car’s performance—and why keeping it clean can make a big difference. What the Air Filter Does The air filter’s job is to protect your engine by keeping out dust, pollen, debris, and even small insects. Every time you press the gas pedal, air flows into the intake system, mixes with fuel, and combusts to power the engi ... read more