When it comes to car air filters, one size does not fit all. Different vehicles require different cabin air filters, so it's important to make sure you choose the right one for your vehicle. You can use the premium protective filter search tool to find the right filter for your car. Capacity is also an important factor to consider when selecting a filter.
This is usually measured in grams and indicates the maximum amount of dirt the filter can hold before reaching a restriction limit. The capacity is relative to the physical size of the filter, more precisely to the area of the filter medium, which varies according to the number of folds. Generally, the filter with more pleats has a larger capacity. Most late-model vehicles come equipped with replaceable air filters, and cabin filters began appearing in cars in 2002. More than 80% of all vehicles in circulation today come with a factory-equipped cabin air filter.
Replacement air filters that are designed to fit most cars attach securely to prevent air leaks. The only exception to this rule is when a filter element is attached to a long channel, such as in the case of cold air intakes of EFI engines. Jon Wake, air filtration product manager at Parker Filtration (home of Racor), said that “a filter can start at an initial 98 percent, but in just a few thousand miles, it has risen a full percentage point and by the time it reaches 20 to 25 inches of water vacuum, the usual maximum restriction range, efficiency has reached 99.9 percent.” It's important to choose the right air filter for your car as a poorly adjusted filter can allow unfiltered air to enter the engine and cause serious damage. A dirty filter can also become clogged and limit the amount of clean air entering the cabin, making your heating or air conditioning work harder than necessary.
There are many different types of air filters for all makes and models on the road, so it can be confusing if you try to put a random filter in your car or find the specific filter type for your vehicle at a local auto parts store. To ensure optimal performance, it's recommended that you replace your cabin air filter once a year or every 12,000 miles. This will help keep your car's air quality high and prevent any damage from occurring due to clogged filters. Air is extremely important to all vehicles as it contains silica dust and other debris. If you prefer to have your cabin air filter changed by a mechanic or vehicle technician, you're in luck! 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.
