100k Mile Cabin Air Filter

Gangly · July 17, 2023

In my prior 100K mile post, a few people asked me to photograph the cabin air filter when I replaced it. I'm now at around 101K miles and replaced the cabin air filter for the first time, see photos below. I am unsure what microns the filter is rated for, but I am assuming the filter is primarily a large particle filter, meaning its primary purpose is to catch deposits such as sand/dirt/soot. The back side of the filter was obviously less dark, but this image shows the greatest contrast so I wanted to use it to be fair.

Edited July 18, 2023 by Gangly

Gangly · July 17, 2023

Other side of the filter

newdude · July 17, 2023

Must have good air around you lol. We see them like that with 15,000mi in the Western NY area.

Steve-2019 · July 17, 2023

@Gangly as to why you let it go for soooo long?

Z714Mike · July 17, 2023

Thank you for sharing. #Curious.

Gangly · July 17, 2023

2 hours ago, Steve-2019 said:

@Gangly as to why you let it go for soooo long?

Being honest here, that's the first cabin air filter I have ever bothered to change out, and I usually take my vehicles to around 200K. I know it sounds bad, but I probably wouldn't have changed it at all except for the fact that several people have inquired about it. I'm gonna catch hell for this I'm sure, but considering the condition of the old filter, I'll probably go to 200K before it gets changed again, unless I start to smell something.

TxTruckMan · July 17, 2023

Well, you do get better filtration the longer you let it go! At least until it's completely clogged and no air makes it through. It would be the higher RPMs that would notice the restriction first. You have more flow margin at the lower RPMs.

MrMagloo · July 17, 2023

10 minutes ago, TxTruckMan said:

Well, you do get better filtration the longer you let it go! At least until it's completely clogged and no air makes it through. It would be the higher RPMs that would notice the restriction first. You have more flow margin at the lower RPMs.

RPM's on a cabin filter. OK.

TxTruckMan · July 17, 2023

Oh, cabin filter. My bad.

But the AC does run at different speeds. So my comments still apply!

silveradosid · July 18, 2023

a lot of trees with pollen and dirt roads, my filter was worse than that at 50k

GN2018 · July 18, 2023

I change mine every year. I buy a cheap off brand and usually get one with charcoal. Not sure it does much good, but it’s easy enough to change out so I do it.

MrMagloo · July 18, 2023

For cabin filters, I really like the K&N. Easy to clean and quite economical.

repairman54 · July 18, 2023

I change the cabin filters in my fleet yearly, just after the spring pollen season dies down. I use the basic filters also.

This year I found a mouse nest in my '16 Equinox's filter. Never had that happen before in any of my vehicles before. Had the 'nox since new also.

MTY55 · July 21, 2023

On 7/17/2023 at 1:21 PM, newdude said:

Must have good air around you lol. We see them like that with 15,000mi in the Western NY area.

Must be dustier that we think in WNY. Last October I changed out the filters in the 20 Terrain at 11000 miles and 20 Sierra with 13000 miles both were pretty dirty. Thankfully they were both easy to change.

alrockaz · August 5, 2023

With the cost and ease of replacing these, I replace mine yearly regardless of miles. A dirty cabin air filter can be a source of bacteria growth, and I really don't want to encourage that growth in my vehicles. It won't necessarily happen, but I would rather take preventative measures to make sure it doesn't happen.