Does your car’s interior smell funny? Do you buy air fresheners by the dozens, but the odd smell is only masked for a brief while and then comes back? Identifying the real problem behind the mysterious odor can be difficult; especially if there are parts on your car that you weren’t aware existed—like the cabin air filter. , many car owners don’t realize that such a part exists in their vehicles, much less if it ever needs to be changed. Whether you know about it or not, a cabin air filter is an essential part of your car’s ventilation system—removing pollutants, solid contaminants like dust and soot, and absorbing odors and gases—that needs to be maintained like the rest of a vehicle’s components. Cabin air filters may also be known as passenger compartment filters, interior ventilation filters, pollen filters or dust filters. There are two different types of filters: carbon (often referred to as charcoal-activated cabin filters) and paper (particle). These filters may look similar in construction to the standard engine air filters, but some unique characteristics make them different.

The original filter is the particle filter, which is constructed with two layers of material: a polyester base layer woven to trap larger dust particles, and an electrostatic-charged layer which acts as a magnet to draw the finest dust particles out of the air.clean air zone map christchurch Innovative technology has given us the carbon filter, which not only keeps irritating particles from entering the cabin of your car, but also includes a layer of activated carbon, or charcoal, which absorbs unpleasant odors and gaseous compounds.air purifier in cape town Cabin air filters came along in the mid-1980s when air pollution became a problem. pure pod air purifierToday more than 80 percent of all new import or domestic vehicles have a cabin air filter, while 40 percent of vehicles actually on the road contain cabin air filters.

Over time, the air filter in your car becomes less efficient as it gets dirty with use. This can be the cause of the strange odor you smell (and are trying to get rid of with dozens of 99-cent air fresheners). However, it’s not just the smell that will affect you, because a dirty air filter can decrease the performance of the air conditioning and heating systems—causing an even more uncomfortable ride. Vehicle manufacturers usually recommend replacing the filter at least once a year or every 12,000 to 15,000 miles (even more if you’re driving in areas with heavy smog or dusty conditions), and the service interval can depend on the type of filter being replaced—carbon or paper—and the cabin’s filter exposure to the environment as well as the amount of miles on the vehicle. Experts say to change the filter as often as necessary to prevent the filter from clogging—or in the case of cabin air filters that also absorb odors, as often as needed to keep unpleasant odors to a minimum.

Under “normal” driving conditions for a vehicle driven primarily in a city or suburban area, the average service life of a typical cabin air filter is about a year. For a vehicle in a rural area that is driven frequently on unpaved roads, the service life of the filter may only be six months or less. It all depends on the vehicle and the driving condition the vehicle falls under. So, why change these filters? Obviously to ensure the quality of air that passengers breathe every minute they are in the car—this is especially important for people with allergies and respiratory problems. Also, the interior of the car remains cleaner with properly filtered air, and a dirty filter puts more wear on the ventilation system; since there is higher air-flow resistance, the blower must work much harder. This process will eventually reduce the heating and air conditioning performance. No matter what, it’s important to remember that the cabin air filter needs to be maintained. If you can’t figure out what that smell in your car is—we are all guilty of leaving the gym shoes in the car on a hot day—or your heating and air conditioning is not working like it should, then take the vehicle to your service center and have the filter professionally inspected and replaced, if necessary.

If the cabin air filter is not the source of your odor dilemma, there are other possible causes. If the air coming out of the vents smells like musty, it is possible mold or mildew is growing inside your A/C system’s evaporator. Fortunately, many auto service facilities offer an A/C odor service that can remove those offending smells. This service generally uses a chemical foaming agent to remove mold and mildew from the air conditioner. If your A/C isn’t smelly, keep it that way by following these tips: • Musty odors are often started by going in a drive-through carwash tunnel with your air conditioner set on “intake from the outside.” Either turn your A/C off or put it on the “re-circulate” setting. If you don’t, you’re allowing water to be splashed in through the vents around the windshield wiper area, which can cause mildew and mold. • Running your air conditioner on its maximum setting most of the time can leave odor-causing moisture inside the system.

Instead, choose a lower setting more often. On a particularly hot day, when you have to use the maximum setting, change it to a lower setting shortly before turning the car off. This will give your air conditioner a chance to dry out and prevent mold from forming. • Another quick fix includes a disinfectant spray. Spray the disinfectant directly into the vents around the windshield area on the outside of your car. Run the air conditioner on “outside air” for the first several miles and then switch to re-circulate. This inside airflow is stronger and flushes the disinfectant through the system. It is important to note that these suggestions are only temporary/preventative solutions. If the odor problem persists, visit your local lube shop for an inspection.When you turn on the air conditioner in your car, do you often have a distinct car air conditioner smell that is weird or repugnant? If this is the case, then there is definitely wrong with your car air conditioner. There are some ways to detect and find certain smells that are coming from your air conditioner.

Most of the time, these smells are a result of some damage in your car air conditioner. There are also several reasons why your car air conditioner emits a certain smell. Probably one of the reasons why there is a distinct smell in your air conditioner when you turn it on is the growth of mold in your air vents. Smells of mildew in your car may be caused by the growth of bacteria. As the car becomes older, bacteria, mold, fungi, and micro-organisms can start to grow. The growth of these bacteria is often behind the dash panel on the evaporator. This causes an unpleasant odor coming out the air conditioner unit. Also, if the air conditioner is not used as often then this can also cause the growth of bacteria. Turning on your air conditioner to maximum often may also cause bacteria growth due to the excess water that is dripping in your unit. To fix this problem, locate the drain tube in your A/C unit. Make sure that is working properly. Use an anti-bacterial treatment that will destroy bacteria that is growing behind your dash panel.

Inject the treatment solution into the air conditioner case. It is advisable to turn off the car air conditioner for awhile and let the fan run instead for a few minutes. This will help evaporate the water on the coils of your unit. If you smell gas every time you turn on your car air conditioner, then your car may have a gas leak. When you turn on your A/C unit, the gas smell is being sucked into the fresh air that the air conditioner is taking. To solve this problem, you need to repair the leak. There are several areas where you can check for a gas leak. Inspect the fuel pressure regulator of your engine to see if the leak is in this area. You can also check the fuel injector "O" rings in the engine compartment for any leaks. It is also advisable to check your exhaust pipes and muffler for any holes that can cause gas leaks. Your air filters may also be causing a weird car air conditioner smell. If not cleaned properly, the air filter can collect dirt, stagnant water, dust mites, and other harmful pollutants.

This can result in a bad smell every time you turn on your air conditioner. You can easily fix this problem by just replacing the old filter with a new one and regularly cleaning the air filter of your air conditioner unit. If the cooling system in your car smells sweet, then you should have your unit checked immediately. The sweet smell is often the cause of toxic liquid ethylene glycol or antifreeze. This smell is the result of a leak in the cooling system. The leak can come from the heater core, pipe or hose, coolant housing unit, or the radiator.You can do an anti bacterial treatment for your A/C by yourself. There are special antibacterial cleaners that you have to spray on the air filter once a month. You can also try cleaning your air conditioner at least once in a month to ensure that it produces clean and filtered air. Try products like Klima-Cleaner's. This product removes odors from the car and removes water condensation on the air conditioner system too. This can cost about $15 per bottle and can last you a long time.

Other products you can try include GardX One Shot Deodoriser, and Kleen Air-Air Conditioning Cleaner & Purifier. Both of which cost about $45-$100.A fuel injector o-ring is usually sold at car spare part stores. The dealer may try to sell you the entire fuel injection system, as a few cars will come only in sets. Take a look at the Owners Manual to find out the size of the o-ring that you require. You can then ask the dealer to show you an assortment of rings and then choose the right one from them. The average cost of an o-ring will be about $15 for a set of four. For example, the Felpro Fuel Injector O-Ring comes for $13-$15. You can do the replacement yourself or you can get a service shop to do the job for you. Service shops will charge differing amounts depending on the job that was done.Most car manufacturers will recommend that you install a new car filter every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. But you can use reusable filters too that are present on the market. For example, K&N has several great quality reusable filters that are washable and reusable.