Lastly, the intake system’s throttle body controls the air flowing past the sensor mentioned above. The wires’ electrical resistance increases as the temperature increases, triggering a current reaction and allowing for a measurement of approximate airspeed and mass. The hot wire sensor type operates similarly but uses a collection of wires that are strong across the incoming air stream. The flap movement is measured by the meter, which estimates how much air is flowing into the engine at one time. As more air comes in, the flap is pushed back further. Vane meters use flaps that are pushed by incoming air from the filter tube. Modern automotive engines use two types of mass airflow sensors: vane meters and hot wires. The internal combustion reaction must be adequately balanced to produce the correct amount of energy for your current driving needs.
Your car’s air intake system also uses a mass flow sensor to detect how much air enters the engine. Purer oxygen also results in better engine performance since the resulting combustion reaction is more efficient. In doing so, the filters prevent contaminants from clogging up the air intake system and potentially damaging your car’s engine.
It looks very similar to commercial filters for vacuum cleaners and similar appliances.Īir filters help the system by filtering dirt and other particles from the air.
You can locate it by popping your car’s hood and finding a boxy compartment near the throttle valve assembly. It is a metallic or plastic box that contains a dedicated filtration screen and is typically located ahead of your car’s throttle valve assembly or intake manifold. The air filter is the first primary component of this system. Let’s break them down one by one, so you can better understand how this essential system works when you turn your vehicle on and engage the accelerator. There are three primary components used in functioning air intake systems.