DIY guide · Easy
How to change your engine and cabin air filters
These are the simplest jobs on a car. Do them on the same visit as an oil change and you have covered most routine service.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time in the bay
- 0.25 to 0.75 hours
- Best bay
- Floor bay
- Bay cost, plus tax
- $40
This is a general guide, not a manual for your car. Your vehicle's service manual comes first, especially for torque values, fluid types and capacities. Support the car on the lift locks or jack stands before you go under it, wear eye protection, and if a step feels wrong, stop and ask us. We do not do welding, grinding or painting in the bays.
Look these up before you book
- Where the cabin filter lives (behind the glovebox on many cars)
- Part numbers for both filters
Tools
- Screwdriver or socket for the airbox clips
- Flashlight
- Shop vacuum or compressed air for the housing
Parts and fluids
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
There is an AutoZone nearby, and during business hours parts usually reach the shop in about 10 to 20 minutes. Forgot a filter or need a different size? Order it, keep working, and do not lose your slot.
The retailer's own vehicle picker confirms what fits your car. Always compare the part number with your old part.
Step by step
- Open the airboxRelease the clips or screws and lift the lid. Note which way the old filter faces.
- Clean the housingWipe or vacuum the box so dirt does not drop into the intake.
- Fit the new engine filterIt should seat flat with the seal all the way round. Close the lid and refasten all clips.
- Find the cabin filterMost are behind the glovebox, under the dash or at the base of the windshield. Check the arrow showing airflow direction.
- Swap and close upFit the new filter with the arrow in the same direction. Replace the cover.
Mistakes to avoid
- Fitting the cabin filter backwards
- Leaving an airbox clip loose
- Tapping dirt into the intake while cleaning
Stop and ask for help if
- If the old engine filter is oily, check for a problem upstream before you fit a new one.
Doing it in our bays
Use the floor bay for this, or add it to a lift visit and do it while the oil drains.
Every bay has air, power, work lights and jack stands, and the lift bays come with a short safety walkthrough. Bring your own hand tools, parts and fluids. New to lifts? Read how your first visit goes.
Questions
How often?
Check the engine filter yearly and the cabin filter every 12 months or 12,000 to 15,000 miles, or sooner on dusty roads.