DIY Step-by-Step FRAM Engine Air Filter and Cabin Air Filter Replacement

Disclaimer: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FRAMFresh #CollectiveBias

With fall just around the corner, it’s a great time to tune up the car so that it’s ready for the busy back-to-school season. And even though I don’t have a whole lot of experience with car maintenance, I know that there are a lot of little things I can do myself rather than paying a mechanic. Last year, I taught myself to change my car’s oil. This year, I knew that my car’s air filter and cabin air filter were both due to be changed. So I decided to change them myself in preparation for winter…with a little help from FRAM!

I headed to my local Canadian Tire store to find the filters I needed. I started with the basic FRAM Air Filter for my car, found in the auto parts aisle of the store. Then I grabbed one of the new FRAM Fresh Breeze Cabin Air Filters as well. This innovative filter doesn’t just clean the air passing into the car; it freshens it as well thanks to the power of Arm & Hammer baking soda! I took the two filters home and got to work.

Engine Air Filter

Changing the engine air filter is one of the easiest car maintenance tasks. In fact, it’s so simple that even a child can do it! So I asked Zackary to come help me and learn what was involved with the process. First we located the box that houses the air filter. Zack unfastened the two clips that holds it in place and I wiggled the top of the box up and out of the way.

Then it was simply a matter of taking out the old filter, replacing it with the new one and putting the top of the case back into place. Zackary refastened the clips and we were done!

Cabin Air Filter

Changing the cabin air filter can sometimes take a little more work depending on the make and model of a vehicle, but it’s still generally a process that requires minimal tools and effort. In my Ford Taurus, the cabin air filter is located on the passenger side of the vehicle, just underneath the front cowling. To access it, I first used a flat-head screwdriver to pry off the four clips that held the plastic cover in place. Then I could lift the cover out of the way to access the filter underneath.

After that, I had to decide whether I would be able to access the old filter without removing any additional parts. On the Ford Taurus, I found that it was fairly easy to slip my hand into the space that housed the filter and maneuver the old filter to remove it. It was absolutely filthy and even had bugs, crushed leaves and other organic matter caught in its ridges. I was pretty happy I was replacing it when I saw that!

Getting the new filter back into place took a little more effort, but was still fairly easily done without the need to remove the screws holding the water shield down. And once it was in place, I had the comfort of knowing that the air my family breathed in my vehicle would be clean, fresh and filtered properly for maximum health and comfort! With the job done, I just slipped the cowling back into place, replaced the clips and closed the hood.

With my cabin air filter changed, I’m looking forward to a much more comfortable winter. I noticed last year that my car’s defrost system wasn’t working very well, but it only recently occurred to me that might be because of my cabin air filter. Since this filter allows air into the vehicle interior, a blocked filter can mean the air conditioning, defrosting and heating systems don’t work as efficiently as they should. Yet a cabin air filter is something many people never think to change, and some others don’t even know exists!

A good rule is to change both air filters at the same time, since both are subjected to the same dust, dirt and allergens as you drive. If you’re feeling nervous about doing it yourself, make sure to check out the FRAM website for tips and tricks on changing your filters! And always make sure to check your vehicle’s owner manual for recommended change intervals for your car’s air filters.

Knowing that the air inside my vehicle can be up to six times dirtier than the air outside means that I’m already breathing easier knowing I have a FRAM Fresh Breeze cabin air filter in place. And changing it was such a quick and easy process even for a novice at car maintenance! Find FRAM air filters and other products at your local Canadian Tire store and change your air filters before the cold weather hits. It’s a simple job that can make a big difference in passenger comfort!