What can a driver do to avoid excessive exhaust pollution from their vehicle?

Regularly changing the vehicle's air filters is essential for maintaining optimal engine performance and efficiency, which directly impacts exhaust emissions. Clean air filters ensure that the engine receives an adequate supply of clean air, leading to better combustion and reducing the amount of unburned fuel that can be released as pollutants in the exhaust. This maintenance practice helps in lowering the overall emissions generated by the vehicle, contributing to less exhaust pollution.

Driving with the windows down may not have a significant effect on exhaust pollution because it doesn't address the engine's fuel and air mixture. Similarly, using premium fuel might not necessarily reduce emissions unless the vehicle is specifically designed to require it, as many engines are calibrated to run efficiently on regular fuel. Limiting short trips can help in improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions overall because starting an engine consumes more fuel and generates more pollution, but it’s more of a general practice rather than a specific preventive measure for exhaust emissions like changing air filters.