Your 2013 Nissan Altima has two main air filters.
In This Article...
How frequently should a Nissan Altima have its cabin air filter changed?
According to your Nissan Altima service handbook, you should swap out the cabin and engine air filters every 15,000–30,000 miles when necessary and every 10,000–10,000 miles when driving under harsh conditions.
The function of a cabin air filter
Your car’s cabin air filter aids in ensuring that the ventilation system is adequate for the health and safety of all occupants. Without a functioning cabin air filter, the air inside a car’s cabin is more likely to contain more smelly and dangerous exhaust fumes than the air outside.
The location of the fuel filter on a 2013 Nissan Altima.
Always look for the fuel filter between the fuel tank and the engine. The fuel filter is often found within the top of the fuel tank, just where the fuel line enters the vehicle. However, on other vehicles, the fuel filter may be found somewhere else along the fuel line.
What happens if the cabin air filter isn’t changed?
If you don’t replace your cabin air filter, it will accumulate additional dirt and debris, reducing its effectiveness and that of your car’s HVAC system. The volume of air entering your passenger compartment will gradually decrease, which may cause a problem with unpleasant scents within your car. The air quality in your car will be significantly improved by performing the straightforward task of changing your cabin air filter.
AC impacted by cabin air filter?
Unbelievably, your cabin filter can have an impact on your air conditioning system, and the AC can have a significant impact on the overall power of the car. You might need to increase the AC if your filter is clogged. Your AC’s workload increases as does the engine’s. Your car’s drive train, alternator, and other vital components could operate with less energy. You might think that the car is simply not up to pace when these components that produce horsepower fail. While this is unfortunate news, there is a silver lining: If your automobile looks sluggish, it may not be a serious technical issue, but rather something as straightforward as a blocked filter, which is simple to replace.
The quality of the cabin air is crucial for everyone’s health as well as the long-term maintenance and performance of your car. It’s crucial to breathe clean, fresh air, particularly on lengthy travels and especially on chilly or wet days when you don’t want to open the windows. Make sure to have the cabin filter examined or changed on a regular basis to be on the safe side.
Do I need a cabin air filter for my automobile to operate?
Even though it might not seem like it, an air filter is more crucial than you might realize. It is possible to drive without an air filter, but doing so is not recommended because this part keeps various types of debris out of your climate control system and maintains the cabin air clean and safe to breathe. Here are some reasons why it’s crucial to keep all of the appropriate filters in your automobile at all times and to make sure they’re changed on a regular basis.
What Do They Do?
Your automobile has a number of air filters, but they all essentially perform the same function: they keep the air clean, whether it’s the air inside the cabin that you breathe or the air your engine needs to function properly. Filters do their job by preventing dirt, grime, bugs, dust, leaves, and anything else from entering your car’s systems.
What Happens if You Don’t Replace Your Air Filters Regularly?
The air that enters the automobile through the heating and air conditioning system is cleaned by the cabin air filter. It makes sense to change this filter at suggested intervals because nobody wants to breathe in contaminated air. If it’s dirty, you can experience restricted air flow, poorer heating and cooling performance, or a musty stench. If something larger is stuck, you might even hear a whistling sound coming from the vents.
More severe issues may result from an engine air filter that is unclean. Reduced fuel efficiency, strange engine noises, cylinders that aren’t firing properly, or the check engine light turning on are all possible symptoms. Your engine won’t function properly if it can’t obtain the air it requires.
How Often Should You Replace an Air Filter?
Even though the manufacturer recommends changing an air filter every so often, this may not be enough time. Filters will become more soiled more quickly if you drive in dusty locations, especially if you go off-road, and they will need to be changed more frequently than is advised.
It’s time to replace a filter if it appears to be dirty with a lot of dust and debris. Making sure your filters are functioning properly as part of routine car maintenance will help keep the air you and your engine breathe clean.
NAPA Online offers a comprehensive selection of air filter items, or you can depend on one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare facilities for routine servicing and repairs. Visit your neighborhood NAPA AUTO PARTS store to speak with a qualified professional for additional details about air filters.
How can I tell if I need to replace my air filter?
- A brand-new air filter will be off-white or white. The filter will get darker as more dirt builds up inside of it. Make sure to replace your filter with a fresh one if it appears dark. There may occasionally be dirt in the deeper levels that is difficult to see. If this is the case, a mechanic can investigate.
- Turning on the check engine light
- The air filter may be to blame occasionally for the Check Engine Light to illuminate. Lack of air might cause carbon to accumulate and turn on the warning light. When you bring the automobile in for maintenance, the mechanic can investigate what set off the warning indicator.
- reduced horsepower
- If there isn’t enough air, the automobile will jerk when you hit the gas or won’t react as effectively. The air filter should be changed to resolve this issue.
- Exhaust Pipe Emitting Black, Sooty Smoke
- If there is not enough oxygen present, fuel may not burn as it should. If you see this, you should clean or replace the air filter right away. Additionally warning of this issue, popping noises or flames at the tailpipe can be quite dangerous. If you detect this right away, take your automobile to the shop for repair.
- gas smell when the engine first starts
- You need to change your air filter if your car starts up with a gas smell. The scent is the result of the fuel that failed to burn due to a lack of air leaving it and exiting through the tailpipe.
Why is an Air Filter Important?
Your car’s engine and air filters help them last longer. These filters help maintain the proper balance of fuel consumption by preventing harmful items from getting to the engine and other crucial automotive components.
We hope that these indicators will enable you to decide whether to update your filter. For additional advice on upkeep, follow our blog!
What does it cost to change a cabin air filter?
Depending on the make and model of your car, cabin air filter prices might range from $30 to $70 on average. You might be able to get the filter changed at a licensed dealership for little or nothing if your car is still covered by warranty.
What issues might a filthy cabin filter bring about?
- increased noise caused by a blower motor under stress
- Heating, cooling, defrosting, or defogging that is ineffective or less effective
Although changing your cabin air filter may seem straightforward, it’s a rapidly expanding part of manufacturer-recommended maintenance services since it may be a quick way to make sure your car is operating as it should.
The frequency of cabin air filter changes may vary depending on a number of variables. Generally speaking, unless your owner’s handbook specifies otherwise, you should have your vehicle serviced every year or every 12,000 miles. However, based on your driving circumstances, it can be wiser to replace the filter more frequently owing to increased exposure to typical contaminants like dirt and pollen.
How much time does a cabin air filter last?
Typically, cabin air filters last for 15,000 miles, or just over a year. Even if you are aware of the recommended intervals for changing a cabin air filter, there are still situations that could lead to an early expiration.
A cabin air filter may it be washed?
There are cloth, carbon, and paper cabin air filters. Never clean paper filters; always replace them. Some fabric and carbon filters can withstand washing and are reusable. Apply water with a hose set to low pressure, sweeping from top to bottom, from clean side to dirty side. Then pour soapy water into a container, submerge, slosh around, and let sit for at least 10 minutes. Rinse it off and let it to air dry on a towel in the sun. Repeat as necessary with a fresh batch of clean, soapy water. Reinstall only when everything has dried completely to avoid developing mold. Reusable filters can only be washed so many times; if they start to look worn or develop holes, it’s time for a replacement.
Maintaining your cabin air filter is an easy method to enhance the quality of the air and boost the effectiveness of your heating and cooling systems.
To learn more about all the filters we have to offer, visit NAPA Online or depend on one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare centers. Visit your neighborhood NAPA AUTO PARTS store to speak with a qualified specialist for more details on cabin air filter maintenance.
Engine runs poorly
You undoubtedly know the sound of a well-running engine if you’ve had your car for a while or have driving experience in general.
When an engine’s systems all function properly, it idles quietly at a low RPM, accelerates quickly, and cruises the freeway with ease.
However, if an engine isn’t getting enough fuel from the fuel pump, it won’t have what it needs to produce power and function as it should, and you’ll be able to tell the difference by how it sounds and feels.
It’s possible that your car’s engine isn’t getting enough fuel or isn’t getting it at the right rate if it sputters or idles unevenly when you start it. This could harm internal engine components and make for an uncomfortable drive.
Vehicle doesn’t start
When you have an appointment and your car won’t start, it is annoying. A broken fuel pump is one of the most frequent causes of an engine that won’t start, however other potential causes include the battery and the ignition coils.
Overheating engine
Another sign of a failing fuel pump is an overheating engine. An unreliable fuel pump could overheat and provide insufficient gasoline to the engine, leading it to run hot and shut off while traveling.
In this case, after overheating and shutting down, your car can restart, only to repeat the process 30 minutes later. This situation is a typical indicator of a faulty fuel pump.
Can’t sustain speed
A sufficient quantity of fuel is necessary for reliable, smooth engine operation. And when a fuel pump malfunctions, not enough gasoline gets to the engine, preventing it from running at a steady RPM.
A faulty fuel pump may be the cause of an engine misfire or power loss when you’re moving along at a steady speed. When the fuel pump isn’t distributing the fuel that is in the tank, it may feel like the engine is running out of gas.