Cabin Air Filter: which is best, OEM or aftermarket & how to DIY

@KentuckyKen Thanks for the find! Did you happen to take a picture of the OEM Honda filter when you took it out? No biggie; sounds like an easy to reach filter.

I've used the Fram filters on my wife's Camry for years. Works well. For whatever reason, the Camry filter is significantly cheaper than the Honda one. Currently listed for $16.92, but I've purchased them for $5.50 each when they had special sales/coupons. The Honda filter does look more robust, with deeper pleats (Fram filter for Honda on left, Toyota on right)

 

How did you like the aftermarket filters? I have bad allergies, and so does my daughter. I have been looking for enhanced cabin filtration solutions for a while. Charcoal or HEPA, anything... however, when it is hot it is hot and I like the high airflow. There are few MERV numbers published for CAF's (at least that I found) so what was your experience? I ordered one today, will see how it does and report back (not the FRAM, was a Upower, they were out of EPAuto).

 

Thanks for posting this - this is what mine looked like when I took it out after finding a dead baby mouse on the passenger floor mat. Any leads on a mouse deterrent version?

 

I got POTAUTO MAP 1044C (Carbon Activated):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C5GYM5U

It fits perfectly and works well as far as I can tell (about the same price as the EPAuto CP 182, which is out of stock on Amazon at the moment).

 

I literally just installed the potauto filter yesterday, fits well. Same size as my '17 crv.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

Always get a HEPA filter if you suffer from allergies

 

I replaced our cabin filter today. I ordered the Clarity part number on-line = $50! What an outrageous price for what looks like $2 worth of material. I appreciate having a HEPA cabin filter. We've dealt for about 6 weeks with ash and smoke from the Northern California fires. I also have lung problems. But that price is way too expensive.

 

Ok, so the filter arrived, installed it. It was heavier than the factory. Noticed slightly reduced airflow. However, this is my initial impressions, I think this is a better filter for aromatics - I am not sure it is HEPA (not rated) but I am also not sure the OE is rated as HEPA (will need to do more research, but the OE definitely does not have charcoal/carbon in it). However, I noticed a change in cabin smell within a minute. So, I turned the car on and set to recirculate and went inside for a bit. Came back out, cabin smelled "clean". Ok, that's not a real challenge as it was on circulate so I put it on outside air and went to work. I work at the airport, was sitting in the car on the phone AC running (still hot out). Got out of the car and the best way to describe this experience is by reference. Any of you wear chemical filter masks for painting, pesticides, welding, etc? Ones that make HEPA ratings equivalent to a screen door? You are working away and then take the mask off and are practically knocked out by the fumes you were not breathing a moment ago? That is an extreme, I am not saying that is what this filter achieved or I would be buying stock in the company immediately - however, it was a similar experience. There were no odors in the cabin, I opened the door to that sweet smell of jet fuel and turbine exhaust, mixed with grass clippings and two cycle weedeater exhaust from the landscapers across the street. Ok, that was impressive actually! Wonder how long it can achieve that performance...

So, I lost airflow, may be a big deal next July-August here (Dallas), but really think this is providing better overall filtration. Will have to see if I see an allergy improvement, but it is such a confined space and time in the car that impact on allergies is very difficult to quantify.

Either way, I think I will see how long this one lasts before clogging up. But at 1/3 the price of the OE, I think I can replace them often and still come out ahead. Let's see if this filter can handle the smell of my kids shoes/socks after soccer practice and that will be the real acid test!

http://a.co/d/9Zcxlki

The filter I ordered.

Best wishes,

Cash

 

Here's why you replace your own cabin/engine air filter...amongst many other things. Ad sent to me from local Honda dealer.

Cabin & Engine Air Filter Replacement
$79.95

If you notice a stale smell in your vehicle even when the air isn't running, your cabin filter may need replacing.

Your car’s cabin air filtration system is your front-line defense against air pollution. Just think about how many hours you sit in traffic surrounded by harmful vehicle exhaust gases. The longer you drive through these unavoidable pollutants, the dirtier your cabin air filters get. Over time, this reduces air flow through your air conditioner and causes you and your family to breathe dirty, polluted air.

And no it's not the charcoal high end filter...just regular filter.

...plus complementary multi-point inspection...lol

 

I had ours at the dealer yesterday- the one item on their checklist that came up yellow as "may need attention" was the cabin air filter. They quoted $97 - I had already replaced it myself the week before.

 

So, had a funny event. The body plugs finally came in for my car that were not installed during delivery (discussed in other threads). So, took my car in for them and they did a complementary multipoint inspection. Apparently this included the air-filters for some reason. The CSR came and found me to let me know they recommended replacing the air filters because the cabin filter was dirty and they usually replace both at the same time. I politely said that the cabin filter was just replaced and was brand new and "no thanks." The CSR had the tech come out to tell me it was dirty and he was holding my filter. Look sir, see how this filter is gray and dirty, it should be white if clean...... See Kendalf's post with pictures concerning the Carbon/Charcoal impregnated filters - they are gray, when new - if they weren't that would actually be a concern.... Seems the tech had not seen that before. Just an interesting educational experience, and no, I did not laugh - just pointed this out to the tech and all was well.

Cheers,

Cash

 

Can someone post DIY instructions with pictures on how to replace cabin filter? Thanks.


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs

 

qtpie...here is a link to a youtube video which demonstrates the cabin air filter removal on 2017/18 Honda CR-V.

The process is identical for the Clarity. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask.



Good luck!

 

Those who replaced the cabin air filter yourself, did it look like this when you removed the cover?



Almost seems like it's missing a filter tray or something, as the filter simply slots in with no support beneath. I've never seen a car that had this empty space under the filter. If that's the way it's supposed to be, I wonder if the Fuel Cell version has a different air cleaner element that fills the whole space. Otherwise, I can't imagine what the purpose of having this air gap is.

 

Nice that this thread has become active again. After a week of living in Camp Fire smoke (which, however annoying and unhealthy, is nothing compared to what the residents face.), I think I want to upgrade my filter.

 

Yes it does look like that. It was exactly the same design in my 06 Honda Civic Hybrid also. Once the cover is back on the air gap is sealed off.


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs

 

@AnthonyW Thanks for confirming!

 

Ordered this filter: https://amzn.to/2DSCBNu model be-182. Excellent reviews and they have actual numbers, including 59.7% reduction in particles of 0.5 micron. Look at the pictures; the numbers are there.

I bought all kinds of filters in the past and was unimpressed with Fram with baking soda and carbon. They reduced air flow, resulted in musty smell in months and didn't filter the diesel exhaust.

Maybe not activated carbon but just carbon. With my previous car , Mercedes E class, OEM filter filtered out diesel exhaust amazingly well. So to end my rant here, let's hope this filter I ordered is unlike Fram and actually works in reducing pollutants. Reviews and numbers look very promising. They also claim longer life and the price is only $13.50