When it comes to car maintenance, air filters are an important component. But are air filters car specific? The answer is yes. Air filters are not universal, they are model-specific. Different vehicles use different cabin air filters, so it's important to make sure you choose the right one for your vehicle.
You can search for the right filter for your vehicle with the premium protective filter search tool. For vehicles with similar engine models and ranges, you can use your air filters interchangeably. Cabin air filters help remove harmful contaminants, such as pollen and dust, from the air you breathe inside the car. This filter is usually located behind the glove compartment and cleans the air as it moves through the vehicle's HVAC system.
If you notice that your car has an unpleasant odor or that airflow has decreased, consider replacing the cabin filter to give the system and yourself a breath of fresh air. Long before a new car starts emitting smoke, the engine check light will come on because the air cleaner has passed its peak. The best way to ensure that the air is clean is to change the cabin air filter as often as recommended by the car manufacturer. Whether you're using the air conditioner or not, the cabin air filter keeps dust, pollen and other air pollutants out of the air you breathe while driving.
However, the compressor blades rotate at more than 200,000 rpm and, although they are strong, any abrasive grain that passes through the air filter can destroy it. Hitting the replacement filter elements against a hard surface will remove large, loose debris if you have compressed air that will help remove the finer particles. Those who drive in congested urban areas or places with poor air quality may need to replace their filters more often. Maintenance schedules for different vehicle brands differ in how often the air filter needs to be changed.
The air filter prevents insects, dust, particles, sand or debris from reaching the engine and ensures a good mixture of air and fuel to support performance. A blocked air filter will cause the engine to choke, the car will feel slow and may idle erratically and possibly set some fault codes on the ECM. An air cleaner is a very simple component of the air intake that can keep the air entering the engine clean of contaminants. Before air can enter the interior of the car, it passes through this filter and traps any contaminants inside the air to prevent them from infiltrating the air you breathe. The filters are made with papers and synthetic fibers and can remove more than 90% of pollutants from the air.
The right filter for your car is extremely important, a poorly adjusted filter will allow unfiltered air to enter the engine, which could seriously damage your engine. The good news is that the air filters on most engines are easy to access and you can check the location in your owner's manual if you need help. A dirty filter can't do its job properly and filter out contaminants, so it's important to replace your car's filter frequently. To ensure optimal performance of your vehicle's engine and keep yourself safe from harmful pollutants in your car's cabin, make sure you choose a model-specific filter for your vehicle.
