Everything You Need to Know About Cabin Air Filters - West Broad Kia

Being comfortable in your vehicle is key. You want clean, climate-controlled air circulating around you, no matter how dusty, cold, or hot it is outside. You depend on your car or truck’s cabin HVAC system to do this. How does this system get clean, temperature-controlled air to you from the outdoors, even in sandy or dusty climates?

You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.

The cabin air filter does the heavy lifting.

A cabin air filter is a large filter that is part of your vehicles’ cabin heating and cooling system. Almost always located behind the glovebox on the passenger side, this filter cleans the air as it is pulled into the cabin through the HVAC system, removing dust and other particulates.

The filter itself is a pleated screen usually made of paper-based, multifiber cotton. They also generally feature activated carbon, for superior filtering. However, filters are sometimes made of engineered material, and may also be scented.

So when do you need to change your filter?

Your dealer or mechanic will check your cabin air filter regularly around inspection time, and let you know if it’s time for a change. Many manufacturers will have a recommended period of time for changing your cabin air filter – it could be every 15,000 miles, or even up to every 30,000 miles.

This is all dependent on other factors as well. Maybe your vehicle is equipped with a high-end air filter, like some of the washable or scented air filters out there. This could allow you to go longer between changes. Your driving environment also matters. Urban areas, congested areas, and areas with poor air quality will all reduce the effective working lifespan of cabin air filters, as they will have to work harder.

In the end, combining all of these – manufacturers recommendations, environmental factors, and observation during service – should help you figure out when is best to replace your filter and avoid any potential issues.

Aside from a dealer or mechanic pointing it out while you’re in for service, there are a number of symptoms you can watch for.

The first will be reduced airflow – you may notice that even with your heating or AC cranked up to high, there’s not as much air flowing into the cabin. This could be because the cabin air filter is too clogged to allow the full flow through. A second symptom is musty or other unpleasant odors coming through, which can be caused by the dust and debris trapped in the filter.

Sound is also a signal that your cabin air filter needs to be checked. There are two different sounds to be alert for. The first is simply excessive noise when running your heating or cooling system – after all, you’re making the system work harder! Secondly, there may be a whistling sound from the cabin air intake ducts if your filter is backed up. This is also a sign that your filter needs to be checked.  Pay attention to these symptoms, and you’ll keep the air you breathe fresh!

Not changing your cabin air filter when recommended, or when you notice symptoms, can lead to some serious issues.

The primary concern is that a clogged cabin air filter will just recirculate poor-quality air, and won’t filter out contaminants. For drivers with allergies, this means more pollen and allergens coming into the cabin. Even if you don’t have allergies, a clogged air filter will be unable to block the pollutants that a clean one can, potentially causing breathing concerns.

Beyond just these health concerns, a dirty filter will cause your HVAC system to work harder. As it will be inefficient, the system will work harder to keep up – or you may turn it to a higher setting hoping to get more air circulating. This can damage the blower motor over an extended period of time.

Finally, the HVAC system simply won’t work as well. You may be uncomfortable in extreme heat or cold. The system may not do as well clearing fog or condensation from the vehicle’s windows, or melting off ice in the winter.

It’s up to you whether you want to have the cabin air filter replaced by a dealer or mechanic, or if you want to tackle it on your own. It’s not the hardest task, but depending on your vehicle it has different degrees of difficulty. Locating, removing, and replacing your cabin air filter on your own can be done in a few steps – check it out here or here! Cabin air filters are generally inexpensive to buy as well, with most basic air filters running under $20.

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Intake systems are regulated parts, and not all intake systems can be used in California on pollution-controlled vehicles. As a result, K&N® sells intakes that are legal in all 50 states, legal in 49 states (excluding California), and legal only for racing vehicles. 49-state legal intakes cannot be used on pollution-controlled vehicles in California. 50-state legal intakes are legal for use in all 50 states, including California. Racing-only intakes are only for racing vehicles, and may never be used, or registered or licensed for use, on a highway. K&N makes more 50-state legal intakes than any other aftermarket parts manufacturer.

To determine if an intake kit is CARB exempt for your vehicle, use the vehicle search bar to find available intakes for your vehicle, and then select the part number. A product detail screen will open indicating the CARB exemption status for the intake and vehicle application. For more information on CARB requirements, please visit the CARB website.

In North America, most vehicles have the model year and engine size printed on an emissions decal placed on the underside of the hood. Many vehicle manufacturers display make and model emblems on the back or side of the vehicle. If you know your make, model, year, and engine size, you can use K&N's application search to locate compatible products for your vehicle.
Your vehicle identification number (VIN) can also be a quick and easy way to find compatible K&N® parts for your vehicle. Your vehicle’s VIN is printed on a tag located on the driver's side dashboard of your vehicle, and can be read from the outside looking in through the windshield. The VIN is also located on a tag inside the driver's side door jam or on the door itself. It is also listed on your vehicle registration certificate. If you know your vehicle’s VIN, you can use K&N's vehicle search by VIN tool to find compatible products for your vehicle.
In Europe, your registration documents detail your engine size and vehicle type. However, if you do not know whether your vehicle is spi (single point injection) or mpi (multi point injection), we suggest that you consult your local dealer. Once you have found your vehicle's information, please use K&N's vehicle search bar up above to find compatible K&N® products.

SHAPE

When fitting a conventional round filter on top of your engine—such as a carburetor, central fuel injector, or throttle body fuel injector—a large diameter, short filter will provide more airflow than a small diameter, tall filter. For example, a 10-inch diameter, 2-inch tall filter will provide more airflow than a 5-inch diameter, 4-inch tall filter. Where space permits, the height of the filter should be between 1/5 and 1/4 of its diameter.
The shape of the filter is less important if the application calls for a remote mounted filter, which includes many late-model fuel-injected vehicles. Typically, these vehicles will use a flat panel filter, or a conical/cylindrical shaped filter with a rubber mounting flange designed to be mounted on the end of the inlet hose.

SIZE

Use the formula below to compute the minimum size filter required for your particular application. The usable portion of the filter—the effective filtering area—is calculated by multiplying the diameter of the filter times pi (3.), multiplying by the height of the air filter in inches, and then subtracting .75-inch. We subtract .75-inch to compensate for the rubber seals on each end of the element and the filter material near them, since very little air flows through this area.

Example: A 350 CID Chevy engine with a horsepower peak at 5,500 rpm.

If you are sizing a panel filter, multiply the width of the filter area (not the rubber seal) by its length. If you are sizing a round filter, use the following formula to determine the height of the filter.

example:

Referencing the K&N vehicle search bar shows the proper filter for this application would be an E-, which is 3.5 inches tall. Keep in mind, this is the minimum size requirement. To provide an even greater volume of air to the engine, install the largest filter that will fit in the space allotted.
Off-road conditions require additional filter surface area. A filter should be sized 1-1/2 to 2 times larger than normal for any conditions that could be considered severe. In this case, the E- used in our example should be replaced by an E- or an E-. For long distance off-road events, two double-size remote mounted filters would be recommended.

K&N offers several intake system options to cater to different aesthetic, ease of maintenance, and filter media preferences. All are protected by K&N’s famous 10-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty.

Roto-Molded High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Intake Systems: 57-Series, 63-Series
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) rotationally molded tubes help increase the volume of airflow to your engine, and provide a guaranteed increase in horsepower and torque. These systems are paired with a washable, reusable High-Flow Air Filter™ featuring oiled cotton filter media, and the oversized, conical design allows you to go up to 100,000 miles between filter services under normal highway driving conditions. A custom heat shield or air box helps protect intake air from the high temperature of your engine bay, and the entire system can typically be installed in less than 90 minutes.

*Certain 57-series and 63-series intakes are designed to function with the factory air box, and feature a panel filter paired with a custom roto-molded intake tube.

Mandrel-Bent Aluminum Intake Systems: 69-Series, 77-Series
Mandrel-bent aluminum intake tubes help provide an increase in airflow to your engine, and each 69-series and 77-series intake system offers a guaranteed increase in horsepower and torque. These systems are paired with a washable, reusable High-Flow Air Filter™ featuring oiled cotton filter media, and the oversized, conical design allows you to go up to 100,000 miles between filter services under normal highway driving conditions. A steel heat shield helps protect intake air from the high temperature of your engine bay, and the system can typically be installed in less than 90 minutes.

Blackhawk Induction™ Air Intake Systems: 71-Series Blackhawk Induction™ air intake systems feature an oil-free synthetic filter media, black powder-coated aluminum intake tube, and all-black components. The layered DRYFLOW® synthetic filtration media provides increased airflow and exceptional engine protection without requiring oil, and a steel heat shield helps protect intake air from the high temperatures of your engine bay. The system can typically be installed in less than 90 minutes.

For more cabin air filter manufacturersinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.