Pollen Filters

What is a pollen filter?

A pollen filter, also known as a dust filter or cabin filter is used in your vehicle interior air system to remove particles, debris, pollutants and depending on the type of filter can remove odours too. Clean air coming through your vehicles vents is beneficial to the occupants as well as ensuring the interior air components work properly.

There are 4 types of pollen filter. These are:

• Particulate cabin filter

• Charcoal cabin filter

• Activated charcoal cabin filter

• Electrostatic cabin filter

How do I choose the correct pollen filter?

One way to make sure you get the correct replacement pollen filter is to obtain the part number for the part that your vehicle manufacturer recommends. You can remove the filter that you need to replace and there will be a part number on that you can search and compare. Sometimes you can upgrade your pollen filter to a carbon filter which are better at removing smelly odours and even exhaust fumes. If you are unsure if you can upgrade you may need to get some advice.

Here are some things to consider when choosing a replacement filter:

• Interior air system with or without air conditioning

• Manual or automatic air conditioning

• Shape of the filter

• Width, height and depth measurements of the filter

• Vehicle manufacture date (this is not the date the vehicle was registered but the date it was made

• Engine number sequence (up to or after as specific number/letter

• VIN (chassis number) sequence (up to or after as specific number/letter

What brand of pollen filter should I choose?

Brands such as Bosch supply parts for the original vehicle manufacturers however there are many aftermarket makers of parts that make filters that meet and even exceed the original specifications. Febi, Blue Print, Borg and Beck and Mann for example have great reputations. The brand you end up choosing is down to your budget and the parts availability.

How can I tell my pollen filter needs replacing?

Pollen filters are one of the parts that should be replaced as recommended by your vehicles service schedule. Sometimes there can be circumstances where the filter may need to be replaced before that time.

Here are some symptoms that would indicate that you need to replace your pollen filter:

• Weak air flow from the cabin air vents

• Bad smell from the air vents

• You or your passengers experience respiratory problems while in your car