Road Trip Tips & FRAM Air Filters

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I live in Toronto, and don’t often have need for a car. My boyfriend lives a few hours out of the city and does have a car. One of our favourite ways to spend time together is taking a road trip. While usually we are just driving to his parent’s place in the country, we have driven to Boston & Cape Cod, Muskoka, Niagara, Buffalo and Ottawa together (some places more than once!). Today I will be sharing with you my top 5 tips for a great road trip, and a tutorial on how to chance out your cabin air filter.

It is important to change the cabin air filter because that filter is responsible for cleaning the air you breathe in the car and keeping it free of dust, dirt and allergens. When this filter gets clogged it can block the flow of fresh air and block the output into the cabin of the car. This is especially important as we head into another Canadian winter because it can block the defrost system and impact its ability to work efficiently.

I found both air filters in isle 8 at my local Canadian Tire. Canadian Tires don't always have the same layout. It was located near the other things for cars in the "Air Filter" isle. It was easy to find because I asked the helpful employee! :)

Today we will be changing his car’s cabin air filter together—not the engine air filter (just learned that those were different things!).  Thankfully it is not as difficult as I thought it would be!

Using the FRAM Fresh Breeze Cabin Air Filter
is easy, and affordable. It can be found at your local Canadian Tire. If you find this tutorial hard to follow along with, or need a refresher, don’t worry—every box has a tutorial included!

Before buying your filter make sure you know the make and model of your car. Filters are not one size fits all, and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. I was not sure how to tell which was which, so I went to the auto service desk and told the nice employee what the make and model of the car was, and he helped me pick out the right filter for both the car cabin and the engine. So my first tip... when in doubt, ask!

So let's talk about how to install the cabin air filter.  Start by taking the green box (the red box is for the engine air filter), and grab a seat in the passenger seat.

When you open the box you will find an easy to follow instruction sheet. I would always defer to that sheet and to your owner's manual. However here is how we did it...

Remove the filter from the plastic bag.

Open the glove box and use your phone flashlight to see where exactly you open the compartment. It should be in the back of the glove compartment.  Once you have it open just pop out the old one and pop in the new one.  I tried to get photos, but none of them turned out well as I needed two hands to get this done.  Once you pop it in just close everything and you should be good to go.

An old McDonalds toy!

This was my first time changing the filter and it took me about 15 minutes. Once you get the hang of it I can see it being much quicker!

I thought it was pretty cool that FRAM Fresh Breeze CabinAir Filters contain Arm & Hammer baking soda and carbon-- the carbon is why the filter is so dark, and the baking soda helps to naturally deodorize.

FARM recommends changing your cabin air filter every 24,000 kilometers or so.  While you’re at it you might as well change your engine air filter since if one needs a change likely they both do.  However, if your owner’s manual has different recommendations follow those instructions instead.

Now if you are wondering about the engine air filter… its job is to be the first line of defense for your engine. It improves air flow and prevents dust and dirt from damaging the engine. A clean air filter can increase acceleration, horsepower, and improve the engine’s overall performance.

I had a wonderful afternoon with my boyfriend learning a bit more about proper car maintenance. I mean once we move in together in a few months it will basically be our car! Thankfully switching the filters only took us about fifteen minutes.  We spent the rest of our time with hot chocolate and Netflix!

I also wanted to include my top 5 tips for a great road trip with your significant other:

1. Pack yummy (and healthy snacks) and lots to drink! It will save you money on the road and keep both you and your boyfriend (or girlfriend!) happy on the road.

2. Create a new playlist with both of your favourite songs so you aren't distracted flipping through music on your phone while on the road. Make sure to include each of your favourite songs and songs you both love!

3. For longer trips make sure everything on your car is up to date, including a full tank of gas, fresh air filters, full tires and an emergency kit in the back.

4. Have fun places to stop on the way such as restaurants or landmarks so you can get out, stretch your legs and enjoy the ride.

5. Pack sunglasses! Sometimes the glare can make a ride uncomfortable. A pair of sun glasses can really help both the driver and the passenger.

Learn more about changing your FRAM filters here!

What are your top tips for car maintenance and road trips?