Spring has sprung, and while you're cleaning out the garage and decluttering the house, don’t forget there are other things worth refreshing – things that may not save space, but can give both you and your car a breath of fresh air. In other words, let’s talk car filters.

Your vehicle contains filters that deliver clean air to the engine, fresh air to the cabin, and contaminant-free fuel to your engine. While these might seem like an upsell, they play a critical role in how smoothly your engine runs and in how clean the air is that you breathe.

Engine Air Filter Versus Cabin Air Filter

Under the hood of most vehicles, you’ll find plastic tubing leading to an air box or two. These air boxes house the engine air filter, which provides clean air to your engine. This may sound simple, but it plays a critical role in how your vehicle runs.

An internal combustion engine relies on four essential elements to operate: air, fuel, spark, and compression. The engine requires a precise amount of air to maintain the correct air-fuel ratio, just as it was calibrated by the manufacturer. 

As dirt, leaves, and debris accumulate in the engine air filter, airflow becomes restricted. This throws off the air-fuel mixture, causing the engine to have more fuel than air ratio—a condition referred to as “rich.” Running rich can lead to poor performance, including rough idling, hesitation, bogging down, and even popping sounds from the exhaust.

Most OEM filters are not serviceable and must be replaced. However, many aftermarket options use a reusable construction that can be cleaned and serviced. After replacing or reinstalling your filter, make sure the air box is properly sealed and securely snapped back into place.

Just as the engine air filter provides fresh air to the engine, most vehicles are also equipped with a cabin air filter. This paper filter helps ensure that spring’s blossoming air, often filled with glorious pollen, dust, smog, and other airborne irritants, does not make its way into the cabin. 

While breathing clean air is great for your health, the challenge is often the cabin air filter’s location. It is commonly hidden behind or beneath the dashboard, and in some cases, it is found in the engine bay. Depending on your mechanical aptitude, it is a good idea to research your vehicle’s cabin air filter location before getting started. 

Fuel Filter

Second only to air, fuel is essential for an engine to run. Components in the fuel system, such as the pump, filters, lines, and injectors, are built with high precision and feature small orifices. This means any contaminants or restrictions in the system become a problem much more quickly.

In a typical OEM fuel system, there's a pre-pump filter located inside the fuel tank and an inline filter located outside of it. The most common one to replace is the post-pump (inline) filter. This often requires a specialized tool to release the factory quick-connect lines.

If the fuel filter starts to clog, your engine may not receive adequate fuel. This can lead to hard starts, rough idling, poor gas mileage, and perhaps most annoying, sluggish acceleration. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, it might be time to safely put your car on jack stands, locate the fuel lines coming from the tank, and find the cylindrical inline filter on the way to the engine.

Wrap Up Your Spring Cleaning With a Fresher Ride

With spring cleaning in full swing, don’t forget your car deserves a refresh too. Now is the perfect time to check and replace your vehicle’s filters—engine air, cabin, and fuel—so it's running clean and smooth. Summer adventures are just around the corner, and a well-maintained car is the first step to making the most of them.