When I start my 98 Saturn i smell a sooty smell. Whenever I get the oil changed I ask if it is alright and they say no they will change it if they need to and they don't. Is the smell because of the air filter ? If not then what?How do i know if i need a new air filter?Your air filter is bad if you can't see sunlight through it, or if the inside of the filter is visibly dirty. A soot smell when you're starting is most likely accompanied with a puff of bluish-white smoke out the tailpipe (burning oil).
This can be caused by a plugged-up pcv valve, replace it and see if it's fixed! But the problem is more likely leaky valve guide seals, not at all unusual in an 11-year-old car. Just watch your oil level, and make sure the car is fully warmed up when you take it for inspection.How do i know if i need a new air filter?change it your talking about 5 bucks just change it so you will know.How do i know if i need a new air filter?Change it automatically after 20,000 miles to be sure. You can hold the filter up to the sun and see how much light comes through it, but they aren't that expensive to replace every 20,000 or 25,000 miles at most. You should start writing down what gets changed on your car in the back of your owner's manual so you don't end up paying for it twice. Put the mileage, date and what was serviced and by who etc.How do i know if i need a new air filter?Air filter is for cleaning air provided to Engine, nothing to do with smell.
its replaced when it gets too dusty.
open hood while engine is running , see if u can find whats the source of smell, some times it can be leakage in fuel lines or exhaust fittings
thanksHow do i know if i need a new air filter?The air filter would not cause this at all.
Although I doubt this is the problem all cars have another often overlooked filter.
It is the cabin air filter. It is located under the hood in various places depending on the car. It filters the air going through you ac /heat system for air quality inside the vehicle.
I pasted a web site that sell them, most outlets for car service sell them as well.
Good luckHow do i know if i need a new air filter?I have no idea what a saturn car is , but if a garage says they are changing your oil, they should change it! If you keep running around with dirty oil in your engine, it will start to form lots of carbon deposits around the rings, valve guides etc and will soon start burning oil (blue smoke and so on). The air filter could have some crap in it, due to the oil trying to get rid of water vapour and if the same garage, who claimed to have changed the oil, are responsible, then that will almost certainly not have been replaced!How do i know if i need a new air filter?Do your self a big favor %26amp; change the air filter.
You can do this your self %26amp; they are not very expensive.
Go down to the auto parts store %26amp; pick up an oil filed air filter for your ride.
K%26amp;N or Fram air hogs Are about the best to get.
They only cost about $40.00 bucks or so %26amp; are way better then the oem ( stock ) filtersHow do i know if i need a new air filter?you need to change the cabin air filter, you havent changed it since the car was new and it is not doing its job. the new one will be bright white and the old will be black and full of bugs, leaves, and soot. a cheap %26amp; easy fix for a handy person. i just did mine and it blew my mind at hoe dirty the old one was vs the new and my car is a 2007
