By trapping debris, the vents are protected from the damage that would result from large airborne particles. It ensures the systems last longer and do not need to be changed as often. The ventilation system supplies air to the heater, vent, defroster , and air conditioner.
The filter essentially consists of a material supported on a frame. This material can trap pollutants without affecting the flow of air. In some filters, the filter material is electrostatically charged to increase its effectiveness. As the air forces its way through this media, particles such as dust, pollen, smoke, exhaust fumes, or larger debris like bugs and leaves get trapped.
That way, the air that ventilates the cabin is kept clean and fresh for both the driver and passengers. That means they can remove even smoke or smog particles, protecting the people in a vehicle from pollution. Some contain a layer of activated charcoal and remove smells from the air reaching the cabin.
And if it has stopped working, to replace it. The location of these filters varies from one vehicle to another. Usually, you will find them behind the glove box or its top. Most cabin air filters are a pleated paper material. Some are a cotton and paper blend and others a cotton material encased in a cartridge. Paper air filters are usually pleated to increase the surface area. When the cabin air filter is designed to eliminate certain odors, it will have a layer of activated carbon alongside the usual filter media.
The porous carbon often charcoal containing various chemicals removes noxious smells by adsorption. Many people mistake the cabin air filter for the engine air filter, maybe owing to the fact that the devices came late in the history of cars. The confusion could also arise from the filter being hidden from view when compared to the engine air filter. These two types of automotive air filters are mostly identical in appearance.
They also function in the same way. The engine air filter cleans the air before it goes to the engine and offers protection from damage by debris and other pollutants. The cabin air filter, on the other hand, removes contaminants from the air before it reaches the cabin and protects the driver and passengers.
Both filters mostly consist of a pleated medial encased in a frame and fitted withing the ducts of an air intake system. And in very old engines, they can also cause poor gas mileage. You can also visually inspect your engine air filter. A clean filter is generally white, off-white, yellow, or red, and it may become darker as it collects more dirt. If you live in a dusty or sandy area, you may also need to replace your filter more often. Note: When inspecting your engine air filter, look for an accumulation of debris.
This build-up can overwhelm the filter. In which case, to minimize any chance of debris falling in, avoid removing the filter from the housing. Some signs your cabin air filter is due for replacement include:. Like the engine air filter, you can visually inspect your cabin air filter to gauge how dirty it is. For vehicles that one, they are often located behind the glovebox.
Delaying a replacement can lead to low fuel pressure that stops your engine in its tracks. It could be time to replace your fuel filter if you notice:.
While checking your fuel filter at home is possible for most external fuel filters, dealing with gasoline requires an abundance of caution. Filter replacement is usually pretty simple. Most air filter replacements only require removing the old filter and installing the new one. In fact, some people decide to replace their air filters at home. To save yourself the time, energy, and frustration that comes with a hard-to-reach filter, bring your vehicle into your local Firestone Complete Auto Care.
Our experts can efficiently handle the replacement and have you back on the road in no time. As for fuel filters, labor time may be more vehicle-specific. Hard-to-reach filters ultimately require extra service time. Filter out the bad stuff with Firestone Complete Auto Care. Schedule an appointment to get your filters replaced today. We answer all your fuel and air filter questions. He had the original idea of placing a non-woven piece of fabric over the air vents to prevent the excessive dirt from making its way into the passenger compartment.
This simple idea of placing a handkerchief over the top of an air vent was developed by Freudenberg into the modern cabin air filter that we know today. A cabin air filter is made out of pleated paper material, often with an activated carbon element.
The pleated design increases the available filter surface area, and therefore air filtration capacity of the filter. The activated carbon element absorbs contaminants and impurities via chemical absorption. This includes physically harmful elements, such as ozone, as well as the smell of smoke or other unpleasant odors.
It was not until that a vehicle manufacturer incorporated this concept into a production vehicle. The Mercedes-Benz SL roadster was the first vehicle to come standard with a cabin air filter from Freudenburg. Other higher-end German marques such as BMW, Audi, and VW followed suit with optional cabin air filters on various models through their line-ups.
The first mass-market car to receive a cabin air filter as standard was the Opel Astra, a European market compact car, similar to the VW Golf or Jetta. If you own an older car from the late 90s or early s, you may be surprised if you check for a filter and find the spot empty. If so, you can always add one now and experience the health benefits of a cabin air filter. Volvo has taken this concept even further with its Interior Air Quality System.
The IAQS uses sensors to actively monitor the quality of air coming into the vehicle, and will automatically close-off the outside air vent if it reads too high a level of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, or hydrocarbons.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, manufacturers such as Mercedes, and Audi , are developing in-cabin fragrance technology. These are literally systems that have replaceable scent cartridges that allow the driver to choose a fragrance to be added into the cabin air for a new individualized in-car air quality experience.
Freudenberg, as the developer and originator of the cabin air filter and supplier to many automotive OEMs, has continued to improve and innovate within the category. Through their micronAir brand, a division of Corteco , itself a division of Freudenburg, they introduced the first charcoal activated combifilter in A micron, also known as a micrometer is a unit of measurement equal to one-thousandth of a millimeter, or one thousand nanometers.
In , 30 years after the first cabin air filter was introduced, micronAir launched their Gas Shield activated carbon filters. These offer sophisticated activated carbon materials that are targeted and regionally customized for protection against extremely harmful air pollutants such as nitrogen, ammonia, ozone, aldehydes, and sulfur dioxides. These latest Gas Shield cabin air filters provide the maximum in anti-allergen, anti-viral, and anti-microbial protection.
First, you should inspect and replace your cabin air filter regularly. Secondly, if your car is more than a few years old, you may want to perform a deep clean of the evaporator and other system components. You should inspect and replace your cabin air filter annually, or about every 12, miles. Where you live and the kind of environments in which you typically drive will change this significantly.
You should change your filter more frequently if you live in an area with extremely high humidity or an excessive amount of dust particulate, like if you have a dirt driveway or spend a lot of time off-road.
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