As we move into hay fever season, MEYLE has issued some useful advice about the importance of changing cabin filters, as well as some practical tips to follow in the fitting process.

Modern vehicles transport around 500,000 litres of air from the outside into the car interior every hour. During this process, cabin air filters not only remove and store dirt particles, but also pollutants and germs.

Twenty five years ago, pollutants inside the vehicle were four times higher than outside. What caused this high concentration were the very simple particle filters used at that time, which used the so-called ‘coffee filter principle’. These filters were satisfactory for filtering particulate matter, but with increasing health awareness, more advanced solutions now filter particulate matter, plus other pollutants and even gasses.

MEYLE offers the ultimate protection in the form of its activated carbon and HEPA filters, but stresses that all filter do need to be changed regularly.

Here are some factors to keep in mind when replacing a filter.

• The filter needs to be changed at least every 15,000 km, or annually on low mileage cars. Cars used in urban environments, with particularly high levels of air pollution, may benefit from shorter replacement intervals.
• Check before you fit. Most changes are straightforward, but filter locations and the complexity of the replacement can vary, so it pays to look up the location and job time before starting.
• Pay attention to the direction. It may surprise you, but MEYLE have found that around one in three cabin air filters are installed in the wrong direction. This can lead to premature saturation, or in some cases complete failure of the filter. It is vital to fit the latest multi stage filters in the right direction. Many filters now feature a small arrow that indicates the direction of the air flow, which can be used as a guide.
• MEYLE stresses that technicians should never rely on how the previous filter was installed as this could be incorrect. It is best to start the engine and check by hand which direction the air is coming from. This will allow the technician to identify the direction of the air flow.
• When changing the filter, MEYLE says it is also important to clean and disinfect the evaporator of the air conditioning system. This is located behind the filter and therefore on the cleaned side of the airway. If mould and bacteria form on the evaporator they can release germs into the already filtered air.

MEYLE offers a wide range of cabin air filters covering most applications. These are available from MEYLE filter stockists. To find out more please click here.