Fire or black smoke

If the problem with the air filter is serious enough, it will seriously affect the way the engine operates. In a gasoline engine, each cylinder usually has the ideal amount of air, fuel and sparks to generate combustion. For diesel engines, when there is not enough air due to clogged or dirty filters, the balance will fall off and the engine may not start at all.

If the situation is bad enough, it may cause the engine to catch fire. This situation means that some cylinders do not generate the expected power or combustion. Although many things can cause this problem, such as a broken spark plug or fuel pump, a dirty air filter is also on the list.

Signs of an engine fire could be minor stumbling blocks or even more violent shaking. Your power or tachometer rpm reading may also fluctuate significantly.

Black smoke coming out of the exhaust is another sign. This kind of smoke usually occurs when unburned fuel passes through the engine, which may be caused by the dirty air filter failing to allow enough air to enter.