by Terry Pritchard
Torque Staff Writer
Part Two of a Series.
“I love the feeling of the fresh air on my face and the wind blowing through my hair.” - Evel Knievel
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Just like fresh air is great to inhale during these spring months, so is having nice, fresh air inside your Jeep’s cabin.
However, one of the most overlooked parts in your Jeep is your cabin air filter. Maybe you didn’t even know you had one. Or maybe it was just a dusty, sandy winter and it is ready to be replaced. Regardless, this time of year is perfect to make the swap.
Now, these filters are important to keep fresh as they are great for keeping out stuff like dust, dirt and other nasty particles before they invade your cabin. One thing to note, though. Jeep did not put cabin filters in all models, so you may not have one. But the best place to check is located behind the glove box.
A good rule of thumb is to swap these out every 20,000 miles or so depending on your driving conditions. For me, I last changed mine about this time last year (give or take about 15,000 miles) so you can see from the above image just how dirty the filter can get. Of course, I do off-road a little more than the average person, but if it has been awhile (or never) since you changed your filter, then it bears checking out. Also, mine did come with two separate small filters, but you can purchase one larger one that will replace the two. And changing over is a simple enough process of removing the glove box door, pulling out the old filter and replacing it with either a factory or aftermarket version.
However, like a lot of other maintenance stuff for your Jeep, there are always other factors that could affect the filter’s lifespan. For example, as I said earlier, if you are a regular off-roader then you’ll want to check that filter more frequently as dusty trails will cause it to clog up faster than simply on-road driving. Additionally, if your regular daily drive includes dirt or poorly maintained roads from time to time, then all that dust could also factor into the filter’s age expectancy .
Whether you choose a factory Mopar replacement, or aftermarket version from Crown, Omix, or K&N, these new filters are ready to shield your vehicle’s interior from all that dust, dirt, and even pollen during these spring months — and beyond. Not only that, but these filters also help keep contaminants out of the Jeep’s HVAC system, which helps lengthen its lifespan as well.
For those looking for a longer-lasting replacement, K&N’s cabin filter is an excellent choice. This filter is designed for easy removal. When you find it dirty, simply pull out from behind the glove box, wash and replace. Other styles need to be tossed in the trash when their time is done.
Now, some Wranglers came from the factory without any filter at all, so if you can’t find one currently in your vehicle, all you need to do is add a factory or aftermarket replacement as the Jeep still has that space to add the filter behind the glove box door.
More spring projects are heading your way. March Madness is heating up and so is March Maintenance. Spring is in that very fresh air in your cabin, so we’ll keep on going with more topics to come.
