There have been a number of threads about Air Intake filter service intervals; so I thought I'd pop in a piece about the Pollen Filter.

I had recently noticed the through flow of air in the cabin was not as good as it had been and, despite using the aircon, there was a hint of the windows misting up form time to time.

From experience with my Fabia, where I would get the same symptoms that would be cured by changing the pollen filter, I decided that as my car is now 18 months/26,000 miles old I would change my pollen filter. Here are a couple of pictures of the filter I removed;-

and a picture of only some of the debris I tapped out of the filter;-

Looking through my Service book, I checked the recommended interval which is 4 years/60,000 km (42,500 miles) for the Dust & Pollen filter or 2 years/60,000 km for the Pollen & Odour filter.

Looking at the state of mine after 18 months; I believe that it should be changed annually. Another example of a Manufacturer stretching service item intervals to keep costs down, I wouldn't wonder.

For those that are interested the part number required is; 1K0 819 644 B as here;-

Looks like I'll be needing a pollen filter as well as an air filter. Why on earth are they stretching out the intervals? 4 years sounds way too long.

I agree, 12 months would be fine.

20k service mine was done, but air filter was left alone.

My pollen filter was done at every service :S

Wouldn't it rely on where you park, etc.

I park in a garage at night and in an undercover carpark during the day & my past cars have never had leaf build-up in them.

SWMBO parks her company car out in the street at home & under trees at work & the plenum looks like a compost heap.

What type of tree are you parking under?

If it's just a dust & pollen filter you can knock out the loose stuff & wash them in laundry detergent - dry them in the sun & they look like new (not so good on the odour filter as it is carbon impregnated.

I do my pollen filter twice a year, it's only 10 Euros a piece, and i change it myself. I put a new one in each autumn, because it helps keep the windows clear, and a fresh one in spring to catch all the pollen in the air. Sure beats red eyes and a runny nose.

Are they easy to replace?

Fairly yes.

Wow thanks for that in-depth reply monkhai

I acquired the habit, before departure to remove accumulated leaves and other junk collected under the windshield wipers, and have no congestion problems of large trash.

Are they easy to replace?

Pretty much; yes.

Located in the front passenger footwell, behind the glovebox. Undo two finger tight plastic screws to remove the soft plastic trim sheet. Find the filter housing and slide the cover sideways (horizontally) to release the elongated hooks. remove the cover and then pull the filter downwards from the housing.

Replace in reverse order.

If it's just a dust & pollen filter you can knock out the loose stuff & wash them in laundry detergent - dry them in the sun & they look like new (not so good on the odour filter as it is carbon impregnated.

We don't get enough Sun, here in UK, to do the drying part. Also, being a paper filter, it would be likely to disintegrate when you wash it.

Or are you being :rofl: ?

I do my pollen filter twice a year, it's only 10 Euros a piece, and i change it myself. I put a new one in each autumn, because it helps keep the windows clear, and a fresh one in spring to catch all the pollen in the air. Sure beats red eyes and a runny nose.

Having seen the state of mine after 18 months; for the cost of less than £10 per filter, I'll be doing the same from now on.

Mine was manky like that after 2 years and 25000 miles. It should be an annual replacement. They are cheap enough.

I had the misting windows with the aircon on too which led me to change it.

We don't get enough Sun, here in UK, to do the drying part. Also, being a paper filter, it would be likely to disintegrate when you wash it.

Or are you being :rofl: ?

Nah, serious. Subaru filters held together alright for a wash or 2. Make a sudsy solution in a bucket & dunk the filter in & out a bit.

Some spares are silly prices down here - $70 for a pollen filter.

I was quoted $26 from the stealer for a 1.8T oil filter the other day. That's like = to 20L of milk or 10 loaves of bread or 18L of 98ron; add $4 and you can buy 5L of Castrol Edge 5w30 synth oil (to put it all in context of buying power). I just wanted to do a 7500km oil change rather than wait until 15,000km - I'm now trying to work out if fitting a Mann from the local suppliers (about $13) will cause warranty problems.

The OEM oil one I just used had a perflux logo on it.

Purflux Filtrauto

Obviously if you use aftermarket parts their could be issues, of course it the same part with the same part number from the same manufacturer was used I'd love to see them try and tell it apart when it was soaked in used oil.

Wow thanks for that in-depth reply monkhai

Sorry I was asleep at the time, but somebody has already posted how to do it any way

I change the pollen filter every six months, once in June (before summer) and once in January (New year, New filter, ahaha!)...

The service intervals for EVERYTHING is too long. To impress accountants and corporate buyers, NOT to look after the car years and 100's k later.

Yearly I rate pollen filters. You don't want mouldy stuff building up.

Greg.

There have been a number of threads about Air Intake filter service intervals; so I thought I'd pop in a piece about the Pollen Filter.

I had recently noticed the through flow of air in the cabin was not as good as it had been and, despite using the aircon, there was a hint of the windows misting up form time to time.

From experience with my Fabia, where I would get the same symptoms that would be cured by changing the pollen filter, I decided that as my car is now 18 months/26,000 miles old I would change my pollen filter. Here are a couple of pictures of the filter I removed;-

and a picture of only some of the debris I tapped out of the filter;-

Looking through my Service book, I checked the recommended interval which is 4 years/60,000 km (42,500 miles) for the Dust & Pollen filter or 2 years/60,000 km for the Pollen & Odour filter.

Looking at the state of mine after 18 months; I believe that it should be changed annually. Another example of a Manufacturer stretching service item intervals to keep costs down, I wouldn't wonder.

For those that are interested the part number required is; 1K0 819 644 B as here;-

basically from when ive checked mine its the same place and procedure at doing a vauxhall.

****

just testing!

December 2008

Owning a 2005 Fabia VRS and searched E.Bay to discover that all 4 filters Air,Pollen,Oil and canister type Fuel filter could be purchased for £39.86 including postage. Engine oil purchased at "Halfords" their own brand 5W40 Fully synthetic VW 505.1 spec for 5 litres £35.00.

Add sump plug and plastic washer a matter of £2.50, when added up = £77.36. Thats a cheap service to me.

At these prices a yearly service is easily achieved by a D.I.Y person. As to checking gearbox oil level, brake,battery and such like would be on your list of checks that a garage service would carry-out.

Edited 31 December, 200817 yr by giandougl
Date information gathered

Interesting thread!! Had the same problem with wife's Fiat Doblo, recently. After 3 1/2 years and 42Kmiles. The pollen filter was many times as dirty as Bahnstormers picture!!

The Octy will get annual ones!!