Failure to replace the car air conditioning filter for a long time can cause multiple problems. A clogged filter cannot effectively filter PM2.5, pollen, and bacteria, leading to a bacterial concentration in the car that can be 3.2 times higher than with a new filter, which is likely to induce respiratory diseases or allergic reactions, posing a higher risk to sensitive groups such as pregnant women and children. A 30%-50% reduction in air volume will decrease cooling efficiency by 22%, the compressor may experience a 40% reduction in lifespan due to overloading, and energy consumption will increase by 18%, resulting in an additional annual fuel consumption of 80-120 litres (approximately 600-900 ringgit). Such failures account for 28% of maintenance cases, and the cost of deep cleaning the evaporator is 5-8 times that of a standard replacement. In severe cases, repair costs can reach thousands of ringgit. It is best to replace the filter regularly based on usage conditions: for urban commuting vehicles, replace it every 15,000 kilometres or 6 months; in high-pollution areas, the interval should be reduced to 3 months. Opt for HEPA-grade filters (with a filtration efficiency of 99.97%) and ensure the activated carbon content is 80-120g/㎡. Check the filter condition before long-distance trips to prevent sudden failures.
