How to Change a Cabin Air Filter

What Does a Cabin Air Filter Do?

Cabin air filters help prevent allergens, exhaust fumes, bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants from entering a vehicle’s interior. By purifying the air that flows directly into the cabin, cabin air filters can greatly impact the air quality inside of a vehicle.

Passengers benefit from cabin air filters because they help serve as a barrier of protection against harmful pollutants that may be present outside the vehicle.

Additionally, cabin air filters play a crucial role in maintaining the health of the heating and cooling system. Replacing or cleaning cabin air filters as part of a regular vehicle maintenance routine can help ensure the long-term efficiency of your A/C unit. A dirty, clogged cabin air filter can hinder performance by clogging an entire HVAC system with dust and debris.

How to Choose a Cabin Air Filter

Not all cabin air filters are created equal. When it comes to quality and performance, it doesn’t get better than K&N®. Founded in the early 1960s by desert motorcycle racers Ken Johnson and Norm McDonald, K&N has become the industry leader in filtration technology, trusted by elite NASCAR racers, and millions of everyday drivers to keep their engines healthy. Now, K&N has applied its leading-edge filtration technology to cabin air filtration to help keep your cabin air clean and fresh.

Here’s why K&N Cabin Air Filters are the best choice for any vehicle:

Washable and Reusable
Stock cabin air filters are single-use only, and must be tossed out and replaced when they become clogged with debris. K&N air filters are designed to be washed and reused for years of use. That alone can contribute to significant cost savings over time.

Additionally, reusable filters offer a clear benefit to the environment by limiting the amount of single-use waste that ends up in landfills. All it takes is a few minutes of time to quickly and easily clean your K&N cabin air filter, instead of throwing a disposable filter in the trash.

Electrostatically Charged
K&N cabin filters are electrostatically charged to help capture mold, mildew, fungi, spores, bacteria, germs, pollen, and other allergens.

Controls Odors
Stock cabin filters can smell musty once they become dirty. K&N Cabin Air Filters are specially designed to capture contaminants that cause odors.

Best-In-Class Filtration Technology
In terms of technology, K&N has perfected the balance of efficiency and airflow. Standard filters reduce airflow as a trade-off for filtering contaminants. K&N has solved this problem through thoughtful engineering and innovative technology. Your K&N cabin air filter is designed to provide a consistent flow of air through your HVAC system, which can help keep the motor running smoothly.

K&N uses premium materials that are designed to effectively capture microparticles and help improve air quality.

When to Replace a Cabin Air Filter

Most single-use cabin air filters require a replacement about every 20,000 miles (more or less, depending on factors like miles driven and environmental pollution).

K&N cabin air filters come with a Million-Mile Limited Warranty, which means these filters are designed to last for the entire lifetime of your vehicle without needing to be replaced. Washable, reusable, and extremely durable, K&N cabin air filters are made to go the extra mile.

How to Replace a Cabin Air Filter

Whether a cabin air filter is disposable or reusable, removing the filter is a simple task. The first step is locating the vehicle’s cabin air filter (not to be confused with the engine’s air filter), which can usually be identified online or in the owner’s manual. The cabin filter housing is located behind the passenger glove compartment in many vehicles. Once the compartment is located, one can remove the filter and simply replace it with a fresh filter.

Replacing a cabin air filter is a simple and easy task.

Cleaning a K&N Cabin Air Filter

K&N cabin air filters can last for years without needing to be replaced. In order to maintain their longevity and performance, it’s best to clean your K&N cabin filters on an annual basis.

Thankfully, cleaning a K&N air filter is a very simple process:

Remove the filter from the vehicle.
Spray both sides of the filter with the K&N Cabin Filter Cleaner™.
Let soak for 10 minutes.
Rinse with cool water until the water runs completely clear of dirt and debris.
Let the filter dry about 20-30 minutes (it’s okay if the filter is damp).
Spray liberally with K&N Refresher™.
Re-install the fresh cabin air filter.

For more detailed instructions, watch this video on K&N Cabin Air Filter Cleaning.

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