In the best of health

Denso’s Fatiha Laauich explains that, alongside the obvious health benefits to the occupants of the vehicle, regular cabin filter replacement is also equally important to the well-being of the vehicle’s air conditioning system.

The equilibrium between the performance of the air conditioning system of the contemporary motor vehicle and the condition of the cabin filter is directly linked, so ensuring that the cabin filter is regularly replaced is essential for the correct operation of the entire heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, which itself has a greater safety implication than the filter alone.

“Denso is the largest manufacturer of HVAC systems for the world’s vehicle manufacturers (VMs),” explains Fatiha Laauich, Assistant Project Manager, aftermarket for Denso Automotive UK, “which means we are uniquely positioned to understand the demands these systems put on the cabin filter and the importance of combining the appropriate technology to ensure the ongoing and reliable performance of the vehicle’s climate control system. Manufacturing both elements allows us to apply an even greater degree of dependability.

“As this product/system’s interdependence is still unappreciated by some workshops, motor factors need to encourage greater understanding and point out that the long term impact of both failing to replace dirty cabin filters, and the use of lower quality aftermarket versions, rather than an OE part, may pose a risk of compromising the vehicle’s HVAC system, which can often result in costly damage. An inferior quality cabin product can also shorten the life of the vehicle’s interior heater blower, for example, therefore causing a completely unnecessary and easily avoidable aggravation to the owner.

“Using the correct, precisely matched replacement filter is the only way to ensure that such a highly engineered and sensitive system can function at the high level of efficiency to which it is designed to operate. Unfortunately, however, this practice is still sometimes overlooked in favour of installing a cheaper ‘generic’ alternative, but with air conditioning systems in particular, this is very much a false economy, similar to using a universal, rather than the specific formulation of oil for a compressor, for example.

“As our aftermarket products are all manufactured to the same standards in the same facilities as the OE components we supply to the VMs, Denso cabin filters provide motor factors with the most suitable replacement for their valued workshop customers and, in addition to the aforementioned benefits to the HVAC system, these naturally provide the vehicle’s occupants with the protection from harmful pollutants they need.

“For simplicity and clarity, motor factors can easily identify the exact type of filtration technology based on our part numbers. A reference ending in ‘P’ for instance indicates that it is a Denso particle filter, whereas one ending in a ‘K’ denotes the filter has the same stringent standards inherent throughout the range, but also incorporates an activated carbon layer. This addition removes up to 25% more of the major pollutants, whilst also eliminating unpleasant odours.

“So, as well as regularity, quality and compatibility are both key when it comes to replacement cabin filters, and with Denso, motor factors can provide workshops and subsequently, the motorist, with the most effective solution that not only keeps them, but also their vehicle, in the best of health.”