Engine vs. Cabin Air Filters: What's the Difference?

Like a living human being, a car needs to 'breathe' in order to perform its functions properly. In addition, the air that your car breathes needs to be clean before it enters the engine so that dust and pollutants won't damage the sensitive internals. The cleaning job is carried out by the air filter. You may not realize it, but both you and your car are breathing filtered air. Just as you need clean air, so does your car.

Your car uses two kinds of air filters to keep contaminants out of vital systems: engine filter and cabin filter. Get to know the difference between the two and the important role that each plays.

Engine filter

An engine air filter is usually located inside a sealed box with a wide opening in the engine bay. If you don’t know where your vehicle’s air filter is, you may ask a service professional or refer to your vehicle owner’s manual. These filters can appear round, conical, square or rectangle-shaped, depending on the vehicle brand and model.

The reason that engine filters are placed in a sealed box is so that it can funnel in all the air from the opening and suck in large volumes of air from one direction. The filter is able to do its job more efficiently this way. On the contrary, if the filter were completely exposed, it would easily become clogged and dirty, which would make it work less efficiently while shortening its lifespan.

Engine air filters are required to be replaced at certain intervals to ensure they are always functioning at their best. If a dirty filter is not replaced, it can increase fuel consumption while placing unnecessary stress on the engine.

Cabin filter

Your car’s second air filter--the cabin filter--is located inside your cabin, as the name suggests. This filter is typically placed under the dashboard near the air conditioning system, and its job is to prevent dirt, dust and allergens from finding their way into your cabin. Likewise, it also stops exhaust smoke from entering the cabin where you and your passengers sit. Although it plays no role in your engine's performance, it will definitely affect the degree of comfort you get from your ride. Failing to replace an old or clogged cabin air filter can result in foul odors, sneezy passengers, and other issues that could affect health.

Keeping your filters clean

Both filters are fairly easy to access, with the engine filter usually the easier of the two. Your owner's manual should be able to walk you through the process step-by-step. As easily accessible as they are, there isn't a really good reason not to keep them clean. It can help to check your filters once a month and brush off any accumulation of dirt. This will help prolong your filters' lifespan, while also ensuring that they are operating at their peak.