1 week Ago By Jack Mortimer
One of YouTube's most popular mechanics has given drivers a helpful piece of advice that can prevent drivers feeling unwell behind the wheel and save them money in the process. Scotty Kilmer has been a car mechanic for more than 55 years and regularly posts short videos to his YouTube channel to help drivers cut their motoring bills and avoid damaging their vehicle . In a popular video , Scotty shows drivers how they can access the cabin filter , reminding viewers that it needs to be cleaned regularly.
He explained: "Today I'm going to tell you about the hidden air filter fitted in your car that nobody knows about. It's called the cabin air filter. You squeeze the glove box and it comes out.
"If you look inside there’s a cover that snaps off and out comes the cabin air filter. This filters the air that goes into your air conditioning and heating system." Sometimes called the pollen filter, cabin filters can be found in almost all modern cars to remove pollutants from the air entering the interior.
The filter, which is typically accessed by pushing a button within the glovebox, is particularly useful for motorists or occupants with allergies, helping them to avoid getting distracted by coughing or sneezing whilst on the move. Without regular cleaning, drivers could experience much less power or a whistling noise from their air vents or a musty odor enters the vehicle. To clean the cabin filter, and prevent having to spend up to £75 on a replacement, Scotty recommended that drivers remove it from the dashboard and hit it on a concrete block to shake any dirt out.
He advised: "Clean it out once in a while by whacking it on concrete until all the crumbs come out of it. If it's real dirt you can go and replace it. My advice is buy it online cheaper because the auto parts store charges too much.
"And if you're really sensitive to smells like my wife, you can buy a black carbon-activated one like this that works better." Whilst carbon activated air filters are slightly more expensive than standard alternatives, they are more affective at blocking pollutants like soot, dust, and diesel smoke. Carbon activated air filters are particularly useful for drivers who spend more time in heavy traffic and could be closely following vehicles with a larger carbon footprint.
Nevertheless, compared to the standard particulate type of cabin filter, carbon activated filters need to be replaced more frequently, with most manufacturers recommending that drivers swap them every 15,000 miles..
