
20 Dec Vehicle Air Filters: What’s All The Fuss About?
Did you know that in 2021, approximately 81 million people in the United States were diagnosed with seasonal allergies? Pretty crazy, right? You may want to take some notes if you are among the many people who are ‘allergic’ to certain times of the year. It could help to perform simple vehicle air filters maintenance tasks. Changing out your dirty engine air filter and cabin air filter, twice a year in Jacksonville, FL, can significantly reduce your allergy
What Are Vehicle Air Filters?
Simply put, vehicle air filters trap airborne contaminants before they can harm you or your engine.
Combustion Engine Air Filters
Combustion engines (both gasoline and diesel, traditional and hybrid) require large volumes of air for combustion to take place. It’s crucial for the correct amount of clean air to enter the combustion chambers. If even a small particle makes it into the combustion system, catastrophic consequences can occur.
Cabin Air Filters
The cabin air filter traps harmful pollutants, pollen, molds, and dust from the air you breathe inside your vehicle. You can often find this filter behind the glovebox or under the dashboard. It cleans the air as it cycles through your vehicle’s heating and air conditioning system. These filters help reduce the symptoms of seasonal allergies for many motorists.
Types Of Engine Air Filters
Engine air filters come in various shapes, sizes, and brands. Some auto manufacturers recommend using only specific types or brands. If you want to replace a dirty air filter, follow the factory specs in your owner’s manual.
Flexible Panel (Most Common)
Flexible panel filters use a soft frame, often made of polyurethane, which allows them to flex. While this flexibility makes them easy to install and remove, they can easily be damaged if not handled carefully. A damaged frame can allow air and particulates to pass around the filter, possibly damaging engine components and lowering performance.
Rigid Panel (Use w/Gasket)
Rigid panel engine air filters use a stiff frame that maintains their shape. However, due to their stiffness, a separate gasket is required to establish a tight seal, unlike a flexible panel air filter.
Conical (Cone-Shaped)
Conical or cone-shaped air filters work well in specific older truck models. They perform much like flexible panel air filters since they utilize similar materials. Proper installation is essential with this filter type because the cone has to seat securely in the housing to ensure an air-tight seal.
Round (Old-School)
Classic Cars often use round air filters. These old-school air filters provide an even air distribution, helping the engine breathe very efficiently.
Radial Seal (Heavy-Duty & Industrial)
Radial seal air filters use an efficient and unique sealing process that blocks airborne particles from entering the engine. Heavy-duty trucks and industrial vehicles often use this air filter type since a superior seal is beneficial to handle challenging environments.
Engine Air Filter Materials
Understanding the materials used for each engine air filter type helps you decide which type is best for your needs and budget.
- Paper/Cellulose Filters: These filters contain cellulose fibers. Cellulose fibers are quite dense, providing good airflow and a solid level of filtration against dust and debris. Paper filters are generally the most affordable and common type of engine air filter.
- Foam Filters: These filters are known for their lightweight and porous structure. They have increased filtration capacity against fine particles, which is beneficial in dusty environments. Off-road vehicles, motorcycles, small engines, and other applications where exposure to dirt and dust is a concern often use foam filters.
- Synthetic/Synthetic Blend Filters: Synthetic filters have increased durability and superior filtration capacity, capturing smaller particles more efficiently than standard paper filters. High-quality synthetic filters can balance airflow and filtration efficiency and are typically more resilient to moisture, heat, and chemicals than paper filters.
Types Of Cabin Air Filters
Cabin air filters generally come in two types: Dust or Dust And Odor options. Check your owner’s manual to see which cabin air filter your vehicle model uses.
- Dust-Only cabin air filters can capture particulates as small as 0.3 microns (including exhaust soot, smoke, mold spores, pollen, and bacteria). Most cabin air filters of this type can block up to 100% of particles 3 microns or larger and 95-99% of particles 1-3 microns.
- Dust And Odor cabin air filters perform like the Dust Only filters but also have activated charcoal or baking soda for odor absorption. Some may also include a slight fragrance.
Vehicle Maintenance in Jacksonville, FL
At JJ’s Auto Care, our ASE-certified technicians can quickly and efficiently change your dirty engine filter and cabin air filters. We specialize in vehicle maintenance in Jacksonville, Fl, for all Japanese, European, and domestic vehicles.
Schedule Your Appointment
Call us at (904) 721-6646 or visit our website to schedule your air filter replacement today!