Air filter service interval vs cabin filter

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I was looking at the owners manual to the dart and they recommend changing the cabin filter every 20k and the air filter every 30,000. Why aren't they just the same any logic to it? Also I never see anyone replace them even the customers at work even if I recommend one chances are they won't go for it.
 
The cabin filter in my cars are usually dirtier than engine air filter with the same mileage/years.

Most owners don't want to spend money for something not absolutely needed such as oil change and gas, many maintenance items are neglected: ATF, PSF, brake fluid, coolant ...
 
I wouldn't go by mileage,I'd decide by appearance.I've seen cabin filters 3 years old and hardly dirty at all.I think a lot get changed needlessly.
 
Just knock the bugs and leaves out of your cabin filter and keep on going.

I don't record when I change air/cabin filters because you inspect them change when dirty.
 
Originally Posted By: ram_man
I was looking at the owners manual to the dart and they recommend changing the cabin filter every 20k and the air filter every 30,000. Why aren't they just the same any logic to it? Also I never see anyone replace them even the customers at work even if I recommend one chances are they won't go for it.


My Scion needs the cabin filter changed about every year. If I don't, I do notice restricted airflow come winter when I really need the defroster.
 
The cabin filter isn't pleated and designed to filter as much air as the engine filter. The blower motor wouldn't be able to overcome the restriction if it were pleated like the engine filer. My Jeep recommends the same intervals.
 
Originally Posted By: BlackBeard
I just installed a k&n filter, I won't run one on my engine but man it made a difference in my ac system!


What kind of difference did it make?
 
Originally Posted By: dishdude
The cabin filter isn't pleated and designed to filter as much air as the engine filter. The blower motor wouldn't be able to overcome the restriction if it were pleated like the engine filer. My Jeep recommends the same intervals.
The one on my car is pleated.
 
Originally Posted By: ffhdriver
Originally Posted By: dishdude
The cabin filter isn't pleated and designed to filter as much air as the engine filter. The blower motor wouldn't be able to overcome the restriction if it were pleated like the engine filer. My Jeep recommends the same intervals.
The one on my car is pleated.


Please count the pleats in both and report back.
 
My cabin filter catches alot of dirt and leaves in a year. I replace once a year with a TYC replacement online for less than 10$. Worth it, to have clean air in car.
 
Cabin air filter intervals... "depends".

My bought-used Honda had less than 10K on it, I was tracking down a smell and examined it... it was full of WET tree leaf and nut debris. It took a while to vacuum all the [censored] out and had to run out and buy another filter.

Since then it's garaged and I've replaced the filter once, and probably didn't need to. On the other hand, in times and cars past, I've found a mouse nest or even a dead mouse in cabin and engine air boxes.

So, my take on it is, examine it every 10K miles or so, but only replace it if it looks like it needs it. If you have a known rodent problem, examine it more often.
 
Cabin for me once a year and usually pretty dirty whereas engine air filter can be one year to 30,000 miles depending on how it looks. My engine air filters are also a lot easier to get to than the cabins so can check more often without replacing, also clean out the engine air filter box, gets pretty dirt after a while.
 
I have a '05 Elantra that was mostly unchanged from '01-'06. I found out that they didn't actually install cabin filters in the 'slot' until sometime during the '05 run. I bought a Carquest (I think?) filter not knowing what to expect=there was just an empty slot, so it ran for about 7 years with nothing!
 
Originally Posted By: ram_man
Originally Posted By: BlackBeard
I just installed a k&n filter, I won't run one on my engine but man it made a difference in my ac system!


What kind of difference did it make?


Moves a lot more air at each fan setting, the low setting now feels like middle and high is a lot more flow than before. Really shows how much more air they move but I still don't trust their filtration for engines
 
Originally Posted By: dishdude
Originally Posted By: ffhdriver
Originally Posted By: dishdude
The cabin filter isn't pleated and designed to filter as much air as the engine filter. The blower motor wouldn't be able to overcome the restriction if it were pleated like the engine filer. My Jeep recommends the same intervals.
The one on my car is pleated.


Please count the pleats in both and report back.


Mine is also pleated. It is roughly 40% the size of my engine air filter.
 
I changed my wifes original cabin filter today ,2014 car...It was
absolutely disgusting ..I was shocked how nasty it was

Good thing they are cheap and super easy to swap out

If it were me once a year
 
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