Engine Air Filter vs. Cabin Air Filter

How many air filters does a car have? Your car has two primary car air filters. The engine air filter keeps your engine air clean, while the cabin air filter freshens up your car’s interior. And while many Stephenville drivers know about basic maintenance services, the car air filters can get overlooked. Learn about the engine air filter vs. cabin air filter, and find out when and why to replace them!

Comparing Cabin Air Filters

Both cabin air filters play vital roles in your car’s performance around Weatherford. Let’s compare the cabin air filter vs. engine air filter a little more in-depth:

• Engine Air Filter: The engine air filter is responsible for catching contaminants before they enter the engine. It filters out everything from sand to dirt.
• Cabin Air Filter: The cabin air filter handles the air entering your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. This includes contaminants like pollen and dust.

When to Change an Engine Air Filter

It’s a good idea to consult your owner’s manual or talk with your technician to determine when to change your engine air filter. But for most Ford owners, changing your air filter every 10,000 to 15,000 miles is a good rule of thumb. If you drive through a lot of dusty trails or heavy traffic conditions in Granbury, you may need to change your filter even faster. Look for the following red flags:

• Your vehicle has sluggish acceleration.
• The spark plugs are misfiring.
• Black smoke is coming from the exhaust
• The Service Engine light comes on.

When to Change the Cabin Air Filter?

Once again, we recommend checking your owner’s manual or talking with your technician to establish the best replacement schedule for your cabin air filter. But, most Ford owners change their cabin air filter every 20,000 miles. Some owners even change filters themselves. What are the signs that you need a replacement?

• Your air conditioning or heating system has poor airflow.
• Unpleasant odors don’t seem to fade as fast as they should.
• Dust accumulates quickly on your dashboard and other surfaces.

Schedule Your Service with Bayer Ford

We’ve gone through the key differences between the engine air filter vs. cabin air filter, but what if you still have questions? Contact us to learn more, and we’d be happy to share more service tips and tricks. You can also schedule your next service with us in Comanche or pick up replacement filters at our parts department!