Cabin Air Filters Help You Breathe Easy

Cabin Air Filters Help You Breathe Easy

Work trucks are often exposed to extremely dusty operating conditions. However, owners of newer trucks may have noticed that the air conditioning system seems to do a great job at keeping the dust out of the cab. There’s a good reason for the cleaner air in the cab, namely a cabin air filter. Cars have been equipped with cabin air filters for more than 10 years. These filters are now starting to appear in some medium-duty trucks, but many owners and service personnel are unaware that cabin air filters do exist for trucks.

Cabin air filters are designed to reduce pollutants and particles from entering the cab. They are incorporated into the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and protect occupants by capturing dust, pollen and other airborne contaminants.

A dirty filter that goes unchanged may cause headaches, nausea and allergies. Studies indicate that 85% of cabin air filters have never been replaced. Hino, Isuzu, Fuso, International and Sprinter are just a few of the manufactures installing them. Filters are commonly referred to as cabin air filter, inside or outside filter or just plain air filter.

Each vehicle manufacturer may use a slightly different name for them, but it is something to keep in mind during a maintenance service or complaints of poor ventilation or heating. The example below shows the components for an “Outside Air Filter” for a 2011 Isuzu NPR found in Medium-Truck.net (click thumbnail to enlarge the image).

AC units may have one filter for intake air and a second one for discharge into ducts or just one or the other. They are usually accessible from under the dash or inside the glove box (as in the photo below). Always check your owners/operating manual for service procedure information and recommended maintenance intervals.

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