Inspect your cabin air filters regularly to keep your cabin environment clean and to ensure your climate control components are working efficiently. Whether it’s dust, pollen, or even industrial exhaust in the air, an air filter that is clogged with debris is only doing half a job of filtering the air. The rest of the burden will fall on your expensive HVAC components to force air through the blocked filter fibers. Replacing these simple parts of time can save you money in repairs, as well as providing you and your passengers with a clean and comfortable air to breathe while traveling.

STARIA, a comprehensive auto parts supplier with very extensive manufacturing bases for the global automotive aftermarket, provides OE-matching wear parts which keep vehicles running perfectly. As a leading supplier with advanced supply chain and manufacturing bases located in Northern and Central China, in this practical guide, STARIA will explain you how to carry out the maintenance for the various types of filters in order to protect the interior of your vehicle as well as the crucial parts of your engine by using top quality filter products.

The Core Functions of Your Cabin Air Filter

Protection Against Airborne Pollutants

The function of this component is to filter out bad substances from the outside air before they are brought into the car. While driving on urban streets or dirt roads, many tiny particles are brought into the air sucked into the car’s air intake. These particles are kept out of the air entering the car by good filters, particularly those utilizing an activated carbon composite material. Activated carbon has a large surface area which traps a wide variety of organic gases bad for you such as benzene, formaldehyde and ammonia. The filter thus protects your health and prevents dust from settling on your car’s interior including the dashboard and upholstery. It also stops a haze forming on the inside of your windscreen caused by traffic pollution.

Impact on Climate Control Efficiency

A clean air filter allows for maximum airflow through your vents. When a filter becomes clogged with dirt, the blower motor must draw more amperage to try to push the same amount of air through the vents. This excessive amount of amperage can cause premature failure of the blower motor. In addition, a clogged air filter can decrease your air conditioning system’s cooling ability during hot summer days. A clogged air filter can also cause the air to become restricted around the evaporator, potentially causing it to freeze completely.

Clear Indicators for Immediate Filter Replacement

Weakened Airflow and Lingering Odors

When a cabin air filter finally reaches the end of its service life, it is generally apparent. When the air flow is set to high, and all of the cabin vents still only produce the barest whisper of air, a severely clogged filter media is likely to blame. In addition to being severely clogged, a deteriorated filter may also be holding moisture and organic material within the filter’s pleats. When this occurs, the musty stale smell that would normally be removed by the filter can become apparent and fill the car when the climate control is turned on. An external exhaust odor can also penetrate to the cabin through a failed activated carbon cabin air filter, as these filters lose their ability to remove such odors with time.

Unusual Noises During A/C Operation

Listen for sounds behind the glove box. It sounds like a whistle or a very heavy, vibrating, humming sound. This indicates that the blower motor is starved for air, fighting through a wall of dirt. The blower motor fan creates a vacuum in the dirt. The sound is very loud and is mistaken for a failing A/C compressor. This problem is solved immediately by installing a new blower motor. A visual inspection of the cabin air filter will reveal the problem every time.

Comprehensive Filtration Maintenance for Vehicles

Cabin Filters for Interior Comfort

To keep the interior air clean and of highest quality it is necessary to monitor the cabin air filter on a regular basis. By choosing a high-quality premium cabin air filter made from premium non-woven composite material or with the addition of activated carbon it is possible to filter out even smallest particles of smoke and gases as well as industrial particles and pollution. High quality non-woven filter media has high moisture resistance and a large dust holding capacity which in turn means long filter life and cost-effective durability over time. The best and most cost-effective way to achieve fresh air in your car interior is by changing the cabin air filter on a regular basis.

Fuel Filters for Engine Longevity

You also need to protect your engine from dirty fuel. Clean fuel is the best for your engine as it can prevent clogging of the injectors and help in proper combustion. Similarly, a good fuel filter is as important as the air filter for the cabin. Replacing it will also save your engine from serious damage.

For modern cars including Hyundai and Kia models such as STARIA, Fuel Filter by FILTER are available in the market that are of premium quality and are manufactured as per the OE standards. For instance, the FILTER-FUEL31911-C9100 is designed to filter the smallest impurities from the fuel to prevent them from causing any damage to your engine. Likewise, the FILTER-FUEL31911-2G000 can also protect your fuel system from degradation. Please click on this link to learn more about our company’s production standards and our rigorous quality control measures at the About Us page.

The Straightforward Air Filter Replacement Procedure

Required Tools and Workspace Preparation

Performing an air filter replacement requires very little preparation. You do not need specialized workshop equipment for this task. In most passenger cars, the filter housing sits directly behind the glove box. Empty the glove compartment and release the tension clips on the sides to lower the box completely. A simple Phillips-head screwdriver is occasionally required for certain European models, but a standard plastic pry tool usually suffices. Always work in a well-lit area so you can easily spot the retaining tabs. Mechanics often snap cold plastic retaining clips during winter maintenance, so it is highly recommended to run the heater for five minutes to warm the cabin plastics before pulling things apart.

Old Unit Removal and New Unit Installation

To change a filter, first unclip the plastic cover of the filter housing. Pull the filter straight out of the housing slowly to ensure that no trapped leaves or dust get squeezed out of the filter and fall onto your floor mats. Take note of the airflow direction arrows molded into the sides of the filter. These indicate the proper air flow direction. Ensure that the new air filter is installed with the arrows pointing in the correct direction (usually down). Filter media that is installed upside down will collapse under air pressure and choke air flow. Once the new filter has been seated properly into the filter housing, snap the filter housing cover back into place and secure it to the glove box.

Upgrade Your Auto Parts Supply with STARIA

Broad Component Solutions and Quality Matrices

Automotive repair shops need to source the right replacement parts for their jobs. Good quality parts for air filter replacements guarantee the customers’ satisfaction and low rate of comebacks. STARIA includes a wide range of products such as filtration systems and other parts of chassis and engine management systems. All of our manufacturing centers are designed to make the most durable parts that fit perfectly. In our Solution Center you can find out more about our wholesale offers that are tailored to meet needs of large buyers and at the same time are cost efficient for stock.

Dedicated Customer Service and Contact Channels

Our global partners benefit from our wide reaching supply chain and our technical support. Whether you require rapid fulfillment of parts for a regional network of distributors or you require us to supply specific parts and their corresponding data our team is on hand to answer any questions. We have a rigorous ‘three-level inspection’ process that ensures all parts are of the highest quality, meeting OE standards prior to them leaving our factory. Details of our quotes, large volume orders and our long-term supplier agreements can be requested by contacting us through our contact channel.

FAQs

Q: What are the standard time frames for change of air filter?

A: Typically air filters should be replaced every 12,000 to 15,000 miles; however if you drive frequently on dirt roads or live in an extremely polluted urban area you should check you air filter every 10,000 miles to ensure good airflow.

Q: How can I visually check a filter for deterioration?

A: Hold your filter up to the light or place it under bright lighting. If the light cannot get through the pleats of the filter due to buildup of dust, dark soot, etc. plus debris, the filter is clogged. Any sign of mold or wet spots means you need to take the air handler apart and swap the filter ASAP.

Q: Why choose OE-matching aftermarket parts over OEM parts?

A: OE-Matching-Aftermarket-Parts offer the exact same fitment and quality materials that your vehicle manufacturer ordered. And without the huge price mark-up that you typically find at a Dealership, your regular air filter change cost will remain intact. Providing the same level of protection for your HVAC system and your passengers as your vehicle’s manufacturer intended.