Cabin filter for your car

[Mojoe]

Who actually replaces their cabin filters for the inside of the car? I have never done it on any car I've had. I did it today on the Subie, and was very surprised by how dirty the filter was. It's recommended every 10,000 miles, I'm currently at 16,xxx. It looked like there were marks from it being replaced once already. Making me think, I should have done this with other cars in the past.

 

Thoughts?

Edited April 12, 2015 by Mojoe

[Littleguy]

I am big on replacing cabin air filters as I am kind of obsessive about keeping my daily driver exquisitely clean inside and out (I like it to look like it could be on a show room floor). I have had great experience buying one of these bad boys and cutting it, it costs less and works better than most cabin filters and one will cover 2 or 3 cars.

 

http://www.filtrete.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/FiltreteNA/Filtrete/Products/~/Filtrete-Healthy-Living-2400?N=4315+3294529207+3294573954&rt=rud

[Mojoe]

Interesting. I have 15 home filters from an old furnace I have been trying to get rid of. I think I just found a way.

[Not Brian]

I replace mine like once per car ownership at some point. 10k miles lol.

[unfunnyryan]

I replace mine once a year. It's only $15 and takes 30 seconds to do on a honda.

[nismopc]

Interesting thread. I actually replaced mine this morning.

 

'08 Altima SE w/44k miles. Bought the car in February of this year and am pretty sure this has never been replaced. Smelled like mildew.

 

It had the Nissan logo, so OEM...

 

...installed an STP filter from Autozone for $8

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/nismopc/IMG_20150411_114025_642_zpskzh5rwne.jpg

[STEVE-O]

Never have once in any of my cars lives

[Rocky31186]

I always replace, with my allergies I try to keep the air clean..

 

A little trick, when replacing your cabin air filter spray it with a couple shots of something that smells good.. Air freshner, fabreeze, cologne, etc.. Makes the air coming out of your vents smell that much better

[cstmg8]

Yearly on my daily drivers, helps prevent the musty a/c smell.

[SRTurbo04]

Never changed mine in any cars. Never thought to do so

[ForeverMaker]

Dealerships do this as part of the "free" maintenance on many new vehicles at 10k. Otherwise yea every other year I do it.

[POS VETT]

Do I change cabin filter?

 

Do you change underwear?

[Crossle]

A couple things guys.

-Not all cars are equipped with them

-How quickly they get dirty is based on where you drive.

-I check mine at 15K and replace IF NEEDED

-On hybrid vehicles, the air that cools the battery packs goes through this filter, so if it is clogged up with debris, your hybrid battery cooling is being compromised.

-Also if there is a drain issue with the cowl especially on VW's you could find the cabin filter soaking wet and horribly dirty IF it's located in the cowl area. Otherwise down behind the glove box doesn't see that issue.......usually.

[Geeesammy]

Interesting thread. I actually replaced mine this morning.

 

'08 Altima SE w/44k miles. Bought the car in February of this year and am pretty sure this has never been replaced. Smelled like mildew.

 

It had the Nissan logo, so OEM...

 

...installed an STP filter from Autozone for $8

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/nismopc/IMG_20150411_114025_642_zpskzh5rwne.jpg

 

The Altima's all look like this after 15k. I've had to shop vac out dirt from the housings before.

[Furloaf]

Had a replacement filter for a year or two but too lazy to do it. It's a bit of a pain in the ass for that car.

[Farkas]

Take filter out, use air from compressor to blow out, re-install... done.

[2 Sweet]

I'm pretty sure I've never owned a car with a cabin air filter

[turbospec29]

I replace mine once a year. Toss a dryer sheet on the clean side and it makes the car smell great.

[Dharris89]

I replace the one on my wife's van as needed as she and my daughter have allergies. I think I did the one on my acura once in the last five years. At 150k miles it was pretty disgusting.

[Forrest Gump 9]

I've always change them out when I first buy the car, but as time go on I forgot about them. So, I need to change them out in all my car, tomorrow.

[Das Borgen]

I hate doing the cabin filter on my E36. on my E38, it's easy, but there are 2 extra small ones that are kinda tough to get to

[Richard Cranium]

This got me thinking, but then I discovered neither of my cars have a cabin air filter.

[mmrmnhrm]

I always replace, with my allergies I try to keep the air clean..

Same here... thanking the FDA for letting Flonase go OTC this year

 

-On hybrid vehicles, the air that cools the battery packs goes through this filter, so if it is clogged up with debris, your hybrid battery cooling is being compromised.

This is make/model specific... my Civic hybrid pulls whatever air is in the cabin through the battery pack, so if your windows are wide open, you're sucking the great outdoors straight through the battery pack.

[iwashmycar]

I use the carbon activated 3M filters from Lowes or HD. I can cut one up and get 4 cabin filters for my FJ that are better than any parts store ones!

[Brandon]

Every oil change (7-8k) in my wifes CRV - they get nasty fast.