Most cars have two air filters: an engine air filter and a cabin air filter. As the names suggest, your engine air filter cleans the air circulating your engine—protecting it from bugs, dirt, dust, and other potentially harmful contaminants.
Every car has four main filters: the cabin filter, oil filter, fuel filter and air filter. The function of all these filters is to enable flows and catch impurities: the dust and contaminants in the air, the impurities in the fuel or the dirt in the motor oil.
The service will also include changes to engine oil, oil filters, and air filters. During a full service, a mechanic will analyse all the vital parts of the car, along with the safety and mechanical systems.
All vehicles have four, main filters that should be replaced regularly. The air filter, cabin filter, oil filter, and fuel filter catch impurities and contaminants within the systems they are located.
Filters can be active or passive, and the four main types of filters are low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and notch/band-reject (though there are also all-pass filters). I hope you've learned a bit about how to describe filters and what they can accomplish. You can read more in these textbook resources below!
If you take your vehicle to your dealer for service, they will likely replace the air cabin filter with a manufacturer-approved version that can run from around $40 to upwards of $100. If you replace the filter yourself, it can be as affordable as $18 to $28.
Generally, you can expect your car's manufacturer to recommend you to change the fuel filters once every 20,000 to 150,000 miles. Since this is a wide range, you'll have to look at your owner's manual for the most accurate fuel filter replacement intervals for your vehicle's make and model.
The rule of thumb for how often to change cabin air filters is every 15,000 miles. Some Purchase drivers encounter scenarios where their air filter works harder such as when going off-roading or when driving in locations with dirt or gravel roads. In these cases, you'll need to change your air filter sooner.
How much does it cost to replace an air filter? Replacing your car's air filter can cost anywhere from $20-$50, depending on the type of vehicle you have and the quality of filter. A high-quality filter will ensure better airflow, engine performance, and fuel economy — so it's worth investing in a reliable one!
Neglecting your air filter can lead to several issues. Over time, it can cause reduced fuel efficiency, diminished horsepower, and even engine damage. Keeping up with this small maintenance task can save you from more significant, expensive problems.
Moving onto the fluids section of the vehicle, the oil filter and fuel filter are more comprehensively designed, but essentially do the same thing. However, the oil filter is far more important to the life of your engine than the engine air filter, and has an even bigger impact on the performance of your vehicle.
The average cost nationwide to change a vehicle's fuel filter is between $90 and $207 (including parts and labor).
If none of the previous issues are forcing you to replace your spark plugs, you can typically change them every 30,000 to 90,000 miles depending on the make and model of your car. Your owner's manual reveals the schedule of your vehicle.
Changing a fuel filter is a job that most amateur mechanics with a bit of automotive knowledge should be able to complete. However, you should be aware that while it's not an especially complicated job, it can be messy. So, we suggest wearing old clothing when carrying out these repairs.
You can expect to pay between $3 and $20 per spark plug, although some unique models can range even higher. And when you need anywhere between four and 16 spark plugs depending on what you drive, there's a chasm in what you can expect for pricing.
Mold can build up on the filter if you don't change it, which can cause bad odors and smells. Mold is also extremely unhealthy to breathe in, as it can make a person very sick. But by replacing the cabin air filter regularly, you can avoid breathing in that unhealthy mold and keep your cabin smelling fresh.
Visit your local Jiffy Lube® for a replacement cabin air filter and help improve the performance and longevity of your vehicle's ventilation system.
There are generally four types of car filters — oil, transmission, fuel, and air. However, some drivers find this confusing because there are two different air filters in most vehicles. Below, we'll explain more about how each type of filter works (and why you likely have two rather than one air filter).
HEPA Filters
With a MERV rating nearing 16, HEPA filters provide the highest protection for your home. They're able to remove even the smallest microns or airborne particles, including tobacco and bacteria. Those who live with allergies or other respiratory issues may benefit from HEPA filters the most.
These filters essentially do what their names suggest. The low pass filter allows the low frequencies to pass, or in other words: be heard, and the high pass filter allows the high-frequency parts of a song to be heard.