Get fresh air inside your car

California air quality affects Tehachapi drivers wherever we are. Many decades ago, people began to become aware of how air pollution negatively affects health. But what about the air inside your vehicle?

Cabin air filters are now coming standard on most new vehicles since the 2000 model year. These filters clean the air in the passenger compartment.

They can filter particles down to three microns, so that's good enough to clean out dust, pollen and most pollutants. If you suffer from allergies, this is very good news.

You can look in your owner's manual to see if you have a cabin air filter. If you do, there will be a recommendation for replacing it when it gets dirty. If you live where there's a lot of dust, pollen or pollution, you may need to change it more often. You can also ask your Protech Auto Service service advisor.

How hard it is to change a cabin air filter depends on your vehicle. Some are quite accessible; others take some doing to get to them. They're usually in the engine compartment or under the dashboard.

Because cabin air filters are so new on the scene, some Tehachapi drivers haven't heard of them – even people who have cabin air filters. Protech Auto Service service advisors report customers complaining of an unpleasant odor in their vehicle and it turned out to be a dirty cabin air filter.

An important note for California hybrid owners: there is a special air filter that cleans the air that cools the hybrid battery pack. This filter should be inspected every time the cabin air filter is inspected and replaced if it is dirty so that the battery pack doesn't overheat.

ProTech Auto Service is dedicated to keeping your vehicle safe and at peak performance. They are located at 410 W. J St., Ste. G, Tehachapi, and their phone number is (661) 822-1100.