What good is a cabin air filter

[ychuck46]

Why do you change or clean the filters in your home furnace system, since every time you open a door or window in the house it lets in dirty air? The same reason why you should change your cabin air filter in your Maverick or any other vehicle that has one (our 2012 F-150 does not. It may have been the last year that they didn't have that feature).

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[MaverickDragon]

The cabin isn't hermetically sealed, there's always some fresh air getting in. There are vents at the back of the cabin that allow some fresh air in at all times. ..
I'm not sure where they sit on a Mav, but they're there. I've driven all day with my AC recirculating and never passed out.

You are right, It isn't sealed, and there is a vent in the Maverick behind the rear seat.
It is designed to let air out, primarily so that you don't need to give the door a hockey check to get it closed, and it is closed unless there is a pressure increase from closing a door with all the windows closed, or allowing outside air into the cabin which also increases the cabin pressure.
This video shows it in action with a robotic voice..

When air is on recirc, there isn't a pressure increase to open the vent.
While some air can sneak into the cabin, having all windows closed and running recirculation for long periods will increase the CO2 levels in the car.

This video shows an example, which is likely to be similar to all vehicles including the Maverick.
While you never passed out, that doesn't mean that you were not adversely affected.

Were there multiple people in the car with you, the CO2 increase will be multiplied, since the CO2 is coming from everyone exhaling it from breathing the air in the car.

 

[F150 2.7 TT user]

Yes,i know what a cabin air filter is but what good is it?why does air need to be filtered going in cabin.soon as you open the door all the so called dirty air gets right back in!kinda dumb if you ask me.yes,im a 75 year old man ,old fart,what ever!

Near same age and wonder also. But I also drive with a window down for most of the time. The fan motor seems an odd excuse the filters I have changed are after the filter removing the filter lessens the back pressure on the fan. Sensitive noses seem logical mine is not. I started to replace the filter in my F150 and realized it does me no good so I left it out. Let the air flow!

 

[710]

Not expensive and easy to replace!

WIX WP10019

$11.55
Price

Electrostatic Particulate; w/ Microban Antimicrobial Coating
WIX® cabin air filters fight and capture airborne contaminants, while also preventing leaves, dirt, bugs and other debris from negatively impacting the operation of the HVAC system's heater, air conditioner and defroster.

Features & Benefits:

• High media efficiency with electrostatically charged fibers traps particles as small as 1 micron, including dust, pollen & soot in normal and severe driving conditions
• Enhanced with Microban® antimicrobial technology, for added protection against odor-causing bacteria and mold growth on the filter
• Illustrated manual included with each cabin air filter to simplify installation

Agreed. Same.

This filter was a no brainer for me.

i already run the Wix XP oil filter, have been for years.

 

[KO Stradivarius]

The cabin isn't hermetically sealed, there's always some fresh air getting in. There are vents at the back of the cabin that allow some fresh air in OUT at all times. On an Explorer, they're on the side all the way at the back , hidden by the bumper cover. An F150 has them on the back of the cab between it and the bed, I'm not sure where they sit on a Mav, but they're there. I've driven all day with my AC recirculating and never passed out.

You are right, It isn't sealed, and there is a vent in the Maverick behind the rear seat.
It is designed to let air out, primarily so that you don't need to give the door a hockey check to get it closed, and it is closed unless there is a pressure increase from closing a door with all the windows closed, or allowing outside air into the cabin which also increases the cabin pressure.
This video shows it in action with a robotic voice..

When air is on recirc, there isn't a pressure increase to open the vent.
While some air can sneak into the cabin, having all windows closed and running recirculation for long periods will increase the CO2 levels in the car.

This video shows an example, which is likely to be similar to all vehicles including the Maverick.
While you never passed out, that doesn't mean that you were not adversely affected.

Were there multiple people in the car with you, the CO2 increase will be multiplied, since the CO2 is coming from everyone exhaling it from breathing the air in the car.

I agree 100% with @Maverick Dragon. Those vents are called "Air Extractors" and they allow air to escape, mostly so that you can close your doors more easily, but they also let air out during HVAC operation. The Air Extractors are essentially one-way valves that have lightweight rubber flaps which are easily moved when the pressure inside dictates. They cannot really open to "allow fresh air in". They only open when cabin pressure forces them open, to allow air out. The first video explains it perfectly.

 

[Edge Haley]

The interior air vent significantly keeps the inside windshield cleaner/clearer. I had fits keeping interior windshield glass clean until I discovered changing the interior air vent significantly help keep windshield clean.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Yes,i know what a cabin air filter is but what good is it?why does air need to be filtered going in cabin.soon as you open the door all the so called dirty air gets right back in!kinda dumb if you ask me.yes,im a 75 year old man ,old fart,what ever!

It provides mice a place to nest before they get into cab. I'm 83! Mighty mint spray at home depot helps!!!

 

[Tbone289]

Why do you change or clean the filters in your home furnace system, since every time you open a door or window in the house it lets in dirty air? The same reason why you should change your cabin air filter in your Maverick or any other vehicle that has one (our 2012 F-150 does not. It may have been the last year that they didn't have that feature).

The obvious difference here is that the filters in your home furnace system filter particulates from recirculated air, and the cabin air filter filters particulates from outside air before it enters the cabin and recirculated air.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Hey, you don’t want to change it? Your business………
But, at least, take it out, turn it upside down, rap it on the sidewalk (or whatever),
put it back in (right side up), and your good to go for another
month or so, depending………..
Five minutes.

Note: if you have turned it top side down to rap it onto sidewalk be sure to turn it where the down side is on the right before you put it back in right side up!!!
Be easy on me as I am 83 and therefore "From the 1900's"!!!
:

 

[sajohnson]

Wow - That's a great price.
The same item at the local O'Reillys is $41 !
EDIT:
Unfortunately for me or anyone else living in Arizona, Rock Auto won't ship any parts to the state because of an ongoing tax dispute.
It would have been nice if they mentioned that before the order was complete...

Careful with Rock Auto. I had placed 2 orders with them, no problems. On the 3rd order they sent the wrong parts. They admitted it was their mistake but insisted that *I* pay the return shipping!

A friend did some investigating and found a list of Rock Auto executive email addresses in the Wisconsin State Journal from back when they started the business. I emailed the VP and he straightened it out.

That should not have been necessary. At a minimum a decent company would issue a 'call tag' (pick up at the customer's home or business). A smart business would offer some modest compensation, like a discount on the customer's next order. Not Rock Auto.

 

[hayduke]

OUTSTANDING !
I am not alone!
I change mine every year right after pollen season.

This Is the Way.

Smart. By the time the filter is say, 9 months old, it's probably the most efficient at capturing pollen.

 

[Nw_adventure]

Motorcraft OEM also makes a 2.5/M unit- Good for folks in the path of wildfire smoke and industrial unpleasantries -

https://www.ford.com/product/cabin-...qsOKN3yBn8St7yvcLxZgHlTQCkBmhvZVOT-V_r6gOgHf3

 

[G-man]

I’ll give you one perfectly good reason to keep your cabin air filter clean. It prevents debris from entering your A/Cs core enclosure. It doesn’t take much to clog that condensation drain, unless you like damp moldy carpet and wet feet.

 

[F150 2.7 TT user]

Near same age and wonder also. But I also drive with a window down for most of the time. The fan motor seems an odd excuse the filters I have changed are after the filter removing the filter lessens the back pressure on the fan. Sensitive noses seem logical mine is not. I started to replace the filter in my F150 and realized it does me no good so I left it out. Let the air flow!

Edge Haley, no need for the sad face. Been driving since 1966 and cabin filters 40 years of driving and they were not in any vehicle I owned. My vehicle is a F150 and I normally have the window down, negating the HVAC system. Cathy's Tremor is hers and i will change that filter.

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