What is a Cabin Filter
What is a Cabin Filter:
ANSWER: These filters have been around for a couple of decades in European vehicles and during the past 10-15 years have also been widely adopted in domestic and Asian vehicles. Cabin air filters go by a variety of names and resemble a miniature version of a home furnace filter. The filter is designed to trap pollen and dust passing through the vehicle's ventilation system, with some additionally claiming to filter allergens, odors, pollutants, soot, carbon monoxide, etc.
Replacement filters cost between $15-$40, from basic pleated paper to fancier multi-stage, and are intended to be replaced every 12,000 to 15,000 miles. Higher-end, multi-stage replacement filters containing activated charcoal help reduce odors and toxic gases. They also generally fit better, preventing unfiltered air from sneaking around the filter.
What happens if you don't regularly renew your filter? You'll likely notice an odor, then gradually reduced ventilation airflow. If severely restricted, there's a long-shot chance of damage to the air conditioning compressor because of decreased evaporator function and the return of liquid refrigerant.
Once you see how yucky a cabin filter can become in a year's time, you'll want it out of the car for sure. An amazing quantity of sludgy, stinky stuff passes through the ventilation system, largely due to leaf and debris buildup at the air inlet near the windshield/hood intersection. Diligent cleaning of this area as well as under the rear edge of the hood can make a big difference in ventilation air quality, with or without a cabin filter.