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Back in the days of carbureted engines, the air filter was a big donut-looking unit that usually sat in a housing on top of the carburetor itself. Changing out the air filter involved removing the housing lid wingnut, the lid itself, and swapping out old for new.
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Automotive engineers were able to become more flexible with engine intake configurations as fuel systems moved away from carburetors and into fuel injection. Fuel injectors mix fuel and air into the engine right at the intake to the combustion chamber, eliminating the need to mix fuel and air in the intake manifold itself.
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The airflow Sensor is crucial to the operation of a modern fuel injected vehicle, and must be kept clean. A clean air filter means a clean sensor. Use care not to damage the airflow sensor or intake tubes when replacing the air filter.
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Here is an example of a flat panel air filter and air box. The air box and surrounding material also serves to dampen engine sound emanating from the intake. These baffles and materials can keep things quiet, but are sometimes a compromise between maximum flow and quiet operation.
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Performance air filters and cold air intake kits replace the factory setup and offer little in the way of sound and air restriction. This upgrade can deliver mild horsepower gains along with the growling sound of engine performance. The filters themselves can also be repeatedly cleaned and reused.
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