cabin filters

timaishu

timaishu

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Hey guys.

I have a question. I had my AC fixed recently and decided to change the cabin filter. It was NASTY!

Anyways, I found I installed it upside down. :dunno:
So I took it out and it already has some dirty stuck to it. I blew out the bigger stuff with my air compressor but some little specks remain. Think I am alright to just flip it over, or should I buy a new one?
 
Probably isnt a huge deal... but they are so cheap it wouldnt be a huge deal to replace it either.

Looks like you have a 3rd gen altima judging by your avatar? On the OEM cabin filter, arrow points UP; aftermarket ones, arrow points DOWN (airflow direction).
 
Oh lord not this again, this is what confused me in the first place.

May as well ask you to. Yes it is a 3rd gen. So originally put it arrow facing up as thats what some write ups seemd to say. But some of the forum members on nissanclub said it should be arrow down. Which is it?
 
On the Nissan/OEM (from the dealer) filters, it is written 'install arrow pointing UP' or something along those lines. You would install obviously with arrow up in this case.
Random example:
C6cabinairfilter.jpg




However, on aftermarket filters (from any autoparts store), which most people buy... it says 'install with arrow in direction of AIRFLOW', which on the Altima is downward. So you would install with arrow down in this case. It is probably done this way to cover a wider variety of vehicles.
Example:
Dscn0950.jpg


So it doesnt matter what write ups say. What really matters is what filter you purchased; OEM from the dealer or aftermarket from the autoparts stores. Hope that makes sense.
 
The arrows are usually just reference as the filter should filter the same regardless of the direction of air flow as long as the filter fit properly facing either way. At least from what I know about the ones I replaced in my STI. Either way that filter sounds better off than what your were breathing through the other one.
 
I can't help you with the direction for a Nissan however I kindly disagree with just putting the used one back in. The fact it was "nasty" to use your own words means it is in fact working as intended and shows it is necessary. Besides, they are not that expensive. Living in S. California you may not need it as much as some of us who live in the northern climes. Just my $0.04 worth (yep, I'm worth the extra 2 cents :laughing:.
 
Turn on the blower and stick your hand in her to see the air flow direction. Since it has been used at this point I would just leave it and change it at the next interval.
 
timaishu said:
Hey guys.

I have a question. I had my AC fixed recently and decided to change the cabin filter. It was NASTY!

Anyways, I found I installed it upside down. :dunno:
So I took it out and it already has some dirty stuck to it. I blew out the bigger stuff with my air compressor but some little specks remain. Think I am alright to just flip it over, or should I buy a new one?
Click to expand...

always spend the extra $ and get a charcoal impregnated version.
 
cheap as ever, get new one. Dont want all that nasty stuff blowing your way. The big stuff is not the stuff that will matter, its the small particles.
 
mdb917 said:
I can't help you with the direction for a Nissan however I kindly disagree with just putting the used one back in. The fact it was "nasty" to use your own words means it is in fact working as intended and shows it is necessary. Besides, they are not that expensive. Living in S. California you may not need it as much as some of us who live in the northern climes. Just my $0.04 worth (yep, I'm worth the extra 2 cents :laughing:.
Click to expand...

cheap as ever, get new one. Dont want all that nasty stuff blowing your way. The big stuff is not the stuff that will matter, its the small particles.
Click to expand...

Read it again folks. He already changed the filter and mounted the NEW one upside down. There's no reason to go buy yet another one.
 
fr0mastaj said:
On the Nissan/OEM (from the dealer) filters, it is written 'install arrow pointing UP' or something along those lines. You would install obviously with arrow up in this case.
Random example:
C6cabinairfilter.jpg




However, on aftermarket filters (from any autoparts store), which most people buy... it says 'install with arrow in direction of AIRFLOW', which on the Altima is downward. So you would install with arrow down in this case. It is probably done this way to cover a wider variety of vehicles.
Example:
Dscn0950.jpg


So it doesnt matter what write ups say. What really matters is what filter you purchased; OEM from the dealer or aftermarket from the autoparts stores. Hope that makes sense.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Now I understand. Im the MAN
So I guess I may end up picking up another one. I dont think I need it but it will likely bother me if I dont replace it. Its really just tiny little specs.
 
killrwheels@autogeek said:
always spend the extra $ and get a charcoal impregnated version.
Click to expand...

What is the charcoal for? and how does it help when you aren't using the A/C or heater?

The filter is just to help keep dirt out of the fins of the evaporator and heater core, just like the filter in your house. It has nothing to do with what you are breathing.
 
Wow lot of misinformation in this thread...

ShaunD said:
The arrows are usually just reference as the filter should filter the same regardless of the direction of air flow as long as the filter fit properly facing either way.
Click to expand...

This is way incorrect as a general statement. Many filters have reinforcement on the downstream side to support the element, and filters frequently are made of layers of material which have different filtering properties (such as a coarse layer followed by a finer layer).

S2K said:
What is the charcoal for? and how does it help when you aren't using the A/C or heater? The filter is just to help keep dirt out of the fins of the evaporator and heater core, just like the filter in your house. It has nothing to do with what you are breathing.
Click to expand...

Um...after the air goes over the evaporator or heater core...it goes into the cabin, where you breathe it.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Wow lot of misinformation in this thread...







Um...after the air goes over the evaporator or heater core...it goes into the cabin, where you breathe it.
Click to expand...

So I guess you should never roll down the window or open the door or even breathe unless you are inside your totally sealed car with the A/C on.
 
S2K said:
So I guess you should never roll down the window or open the door or even breathe unless you are inside your totally sealed car with the A/C on.
Click to expand...

No, actually I do, however, that doesn't make "It has nothing to do with what you are breathing. " an accurate statement. And even if you don't care about what you breathe, a filter is actually a good idea because it will "help keep dirt out of the fins of the evaporator and heater core, just like the filter in your house." Or are you taking the position that filters in general are useless?
 
Setec Astronomy said:
No, actually I do, however, that doesn't make "It has nothing to do with what you are breathing. " an accurate statement. And even if you don't care about what you breathe, a filter is actually a good idea because it will "help keep dirt out of the fins of the evaporator and heater core, just like the filter in your house." Or are you taking the position that filters in general are useless?
Click to expand...

No I think filters are very useful, but I think their usefulness is to help protect components like evaporators and heater cores. I just don't think that auto manufacturers are so concerned with our health that they want us to breathe filtered air while we are in their car. We breathe unfiltered air all day long so why is the air in our car filtered for our health? If cabin filters cleaned the air so well for us to breathe then there would be no dust inside the car and no reason to clean the interior. I just really think the filters are there to protect evaporators and not the air we breathe. It just doesn't make sense to filter breathing air in an environment that isn't sealed.
 
S2K said:
No I think filters...
Click to expand...

Well, there is a term called IAQ, or Indoor Air Quality. Some people are concerned with terms like this. Those people might also be familiar with other terms, like COPD, or "asthma" or "allergies". You might be unfamiliar or unconcerned with those terms, which is fine.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Well, there is a term called IAQ, or Indoor Air Quality. Some people are concerned with terms like this. Those people might also be familiar with other terms, like COPD, or "asthma" or "allergies". You might be unfamiliar or unconcerned with those terms, which is fine.
Click to expand...

Seriously? You think cabin air filters are there to fix this? really?
 
This thread is getting really whacked out so I'm done with it.
 
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