The Difference Between Car Air Filter and Cabin Air Filter

[Judy]

Differences between car cabin air filter and engine air filter: 1. Different locations: The cabin air filter is located inside the glove compartment on the passenger side, accessible by removing the cover panel; the engine air filter is housed in a box on the right side of the engine under the hood. 2. Different functions: The cabin air filter purifies outside air entering the vehicle through the AC system, protecting occupants; the engine air filter cleans air entering the engine, safeguarding the engine. 3. Different replacement intervals: The cabin air filter should be replaced every 10,000 km or 6 months (adjusted based on driving environment - shorten replacement to 3-6 months in humid or smog-heavy conditions); the engine air filter requires replacement every 15,000 km, with shorter cycles recommended during severe smog or pollen seasons.

[DelJune]

Last time during maintenance, I was tricked into replacing an extra filter before I understood the difference. The air filter manages the engine's breathing, hidden under the hood, mainly blocking dust, leaves, and other debris. If not replaced on time, the engine will lose power like a person with a cold, and fuel consumption will skyrocket. The cabin air filter is different; it's located behind the glove box on the passenger side and directly determines whether the air blowing out is clean or not. With air quality being so poor nowadays, I make sure to replace it every year before summer, or else I end up sneezing every time I turn on the AC. The mechanic said a regular car's air filter costs just a few dozen bucks, but a cabin air filter with activated carbon can run over a hundred—don’t get ripped off.

[DelGriffin]

I've changed it myself many times before I got the hang of it. The air filter is like a mask for the engine, blocking the front end of the intake pipe. Too much sand can wear out the cylinders. Once after off-roading, I took it apart and saw the filter paper was covered in lumps of yellow dirt. The cabin air filter is more like a home air purifier filter, specifically designed to filter PM2.5 and pollen. Last time my kid kept coughing in the car, and switching to an antibacterial cabin air filter made an immediate difference. I recommend northern car owners change their cabin air filters once each in winter and summer, especially if there's a musty smell when the heater is on—that's a sure sign it needs replacing.

[DeEverly]

Simply put: The air filter protects the engine, while the cabin air filter protects the passengers. One is located in the square box in the engine compartment, responsible for filtering the air entering the combustion chamber. The other is at the air intake of the car's AC system, trapping pollutants like pollen and dust. My trick for remembering replacement intervals is: Check the air filter every two oil changes, and replace the cabin air filter if there's a musty smell when the AC is on. At worst, a dirty air filter just wastes some fuel, but a filthy cabin filter could actually trigger allergies!