Is the damage to the air filter housing going to cause any problems?
The damage to the air filter housing can indeed have a negative impact on the vehicle, mainly by damaging the sealing of the intake system and allowing unfiltered air and impurities to directly enter the engine, thereby causing a series of problems.
Causes of impact
The core function of the air filter housing is to ensure the sealing of the intake passage and protect the filter element from external damage. Once the housing is damaged or dented, its sealing performance will be compromised, and external dust, sand particles, etc. may bypass the filter element and directly enter the engine. For turbocharged engines, damage to the housing may also lead to leakage of boost pressure, further reducing engine efficiency.
Specific consequences
Increased engine wear: Hard particles in the unfiltered air will scratch the cylinder walls, piston rings, etc., accelerating internal engine wear and, in severe cases, potentially requiring major engine repairs.
Decreased power and increased fuel consumption: Unfiltered air will interfere with the air-fuel ratio, resulting in reduced combustion efficiency, manifested as lack of acceleration power, difficulty climbing hills, and the ECU may compensate for the power by injecting more fuel, thereby increasing fuel consumption.
Long-term performance risks: Long-term inhalation of impurities may cause carbon deposits, engine oil contamination, excessive exhaust emissions, and even affect the vehicle's annual inspection results.
Suggested treatment
If the air filter housing is found to be damaged, it should be promptly repaired or replaced to restore the sealing of the intake system. If the vehicle is often driven in dusty environments (such as mining areas, construction sites), or if it is a turbocharged engine, it is more necessary to address the issue to avoid serious failures.
Whether the expansion of the screws on the air filter housing's screw area affects its use mainly depends on the extent of the expansion and whether it causes the housing to be firmly fixed. If the housing can still tightly fit and only the screw holes are slightly deformed or cracked, it usually has a minor impact on the vehicle's operation; however, if it causes the cover to not be tightly pressed or results in obvious gaps, it may cause problems.
Potential impacts include:
If the screw holes expand and cause the air filter cover to loosen or have poor sealing, external dust and impurities may enter the engine intake system through the gaps, and over time, this accumulation will increase engine wear, lead to insufficient combustion, increase fuel consumption, and even trigger fault codes or affect power performance in vehicles with strict emission standards such as the sixth emission standard.
Suggested treatment:
Minor cracks or deformations: If dust does not easily enter the filter element, it can be observed temporarily, but regular checks on the expansion of the cracks are necessary, as the plastic may age in high-temperature environments.
Severe loosening or obvious gaps: Repair measures should be taken, such as using special plastic glue (such as 480 glue) to bond the cracks, or using a PVC pipe to split and embed it into the hole for reinforcement; if the screws are slotted, new screws, lock nuts, or the method of heating and winding iron wire to rebuild the thread can be used to replace them.
Preventive measures: Avoid excessive tightening force when installing the screws and regularly check the fixation status of the housing to ensure that the cover is tightly pressed without shaking.
The air filter housing being damaged does not necessarily require a complete replacement of the assembly. The specific damage level determines this. Small cracks or snap rings断裂 can be repaired， but severe damage or failure of the seal must be replaced with the entire assembly， otherwise， the entry of dust into the engine will cause wear， power loss. Here are the specific judgments and operation suggestions：
First， check the damage level before deciding
Minor damage (repairable)：
If there is a small crack in the housing (length < 5cm)： Use special plastic glue to bond， sand the crack and apply glue and let it dry for 24 hours.
Snap rings or screws断裂： Use a heat gun to heat the broken area to re-shape it， or replace the snap rings (cost about 10-30 yuan).
Test method： Spray soapy water on the crack and start the engine - bubbles emerging indicate leakage that requires treatment.
Severe damage (must replace the assembly)：
The crack penetrates the housing， the edges are deformed， or the sealing groove is damaged.
Behind the filter element there is dust (indicating a seal failure).
Turbocharged vehicles: Cracks in the casing can cause leakage of the boost pressure, resulting in a direct decrease in power.
If you want to know more, keep reading the other articles on this site!
Please call us if you need such products.
Zhuo Meng Shanghai Auto Co., Ltd. is committed to selling MG&MAXUS auto parts welcome to buy.
