The length of time to replace your cabin air filter depends on the make, model, and year of your vehicle, so it's important to check your owner's manual for verification. However, in general, most cabin air filters need to be changed between 15,000 and 30,000 miles. Most vehicles manufactured after the year 2000 have a cabin air filter. Like vehicle air filters, cabin air filters should also be changed regularly as part of routine vehicle maintenance.
Hybrid electric vehicles use two sources of energy: gasoline for the internal combustion engine and a battery pack to power the electric motors. Premium cabin air filters such as PUREFLOW with four-stage filtration technology can trap 99 percent of mold, pollen, dust, harmful gases, bad odors and also inactivate viruses and bacteria. Following your vehicle's maintenance recommendations may be sufficient, but there are several situations (such as those mentioned above) where your vehicle's maintenance recommendations could be lower and leave the filter dirty or clogged for longer than it should. If your air conditioner can give off cold air right away, it won't be a big deal for you.
If the vehicle doesn't have enough air, the fuel will create a dark residue, causing the exhaust to produce thick black smoke. Other cabin air filters are located under the dashboard and may not be easily accessible, or under the hood, where fresh air enters the climate control system. For example, if you live in a dry and dusty area, such as the desert, you will get a lot more dust into your vehicle, so the cabin air filter will work harder to clean polluted air before entering your car. The engine air filter keeps the air your engine “breathes” clean and free of dirt, dust, and other particulates, all of which can affect how efficiently your car works.
While this can definitely be a factor when replacing your car's cabin air filter, it's usually not as important as the rest. However, when it comes to vehicle maintenance, most car owners today rarely think about the cabin air filter, let alone replace one. The cabin air filter is a feature found in most late-model vehicles that cleans air entering the interior through the HVAC system. Quality cabin filters offer a level of protection for drivers and passengers that exceeds the industry standard.
However, even if you don't have these warnings, you should have your air filter checked at least once a year and you may be able to do it yourself. Recommendations for when to replace a cabin air filter vary by manufacturer with some saying every 12,000 or 15,000 miles while others suggest more frequent changes depending on how much you drive and where. Fortunately, changing the filter is one of the simplest and most economical routine maintenance items to address.