There’s much more to owning a car than cleaning and fuelling it. You also need to ensure you maintain it regularly. One important part of the car that needs replacing regularly is the filters. This includes both the cabin and engine filters. However, many people are unsure of the difference between the two. If you’re unsure of the difference between these two filter types, keep reading below. We’ll not only tell you what each of the filters does but also how and when to replace them:
Engine Air Filters
As the name suggests, an engine air filter is located within your engine. It helps keep harmful contaminants and debris such as dust, dirt, and sand from entering the engine. This helps to protect the engine from thousands of pounds worth of damage.
When and How to Change an Engine Air Filter
Before changing an engine air filter, you must first work out if the filter needs replacing. The good news is that finding this information out is easier than you’d think. Your car will give you several warning signs when the filter is due to be changed, including:
- Your service engine light appears – this is usually the first sign that your filter needs replacing.
- According to buycarparts.co.uk, pollen filter can be an indicator that your engine air filter needs replacing – If they continually misfire, make sure you check them out.
- Your vehicle is unable to accelerate as it used to.
- You see black smoke coming from the exhaust.
If you spot any of these signs, then there’s a good chance your engine air filter is to blame. Thankfully, engine air filters are easy to change. You simply need to open the air filter compartment on your engine, remove the old filter, and replace it with a new one.
Cabin Air Filters
Cabin air filters clean the air that passes through the car. This includes the air that passes through the air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems. Cleaning the air that enters the car helps to make your driving experience more comfortable, healthy and safe.
When and How to Change a Cabin Air Filter
Like engine air filters, there are several things to look out for that will tell you your cabin air filter needs replacing. These include:
- Dust settling inside the vehicle.
- Reduced airflow when the climate systems are in use.
- Unpleasant odours remaining in the vehicle.
Thankfully, changing a cabin air filter is as straightforward as changing an engine air filter. However, it is much messier. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Look in your car’s user manual to see where the filter is located.
- Put on some gloves and a mask.
- Once you’ve located the filter, remove it and replace the air filter in the source.
You don’t need to be a professional mechanic to own a car; however, the more knowledge you have about your car and how to maintain it, the more money you can save. One area that many car owners have little knowledge of is air filters. They are unaware that there is more than one type of filter. This includes engine air filters and cabin air filters. Thankfully, they’re pretty simple to identify and change.
