The Garage 277

NEWS 14
CABIN AIR FILTER HELPS
IMPROVE AIR QUALITY
DENSO shows how Cabin Air Filters can safeguard
drivers from harmful pollutants
SHORT car journeys
are causing massive
pollution problems
– and it’s not just
pedestrians at risk,
according to a new study.
Emission control systems
take up to five minutes to
activate with nitrogen oxides
(NOx) increasing by up
to 32% before a diesel engine
has warmed and 422%
for petrols, according to the
Emission Analytics research.
Drivers and passengers are
exposed to these higher levels,
too, and it’s even worse if
the Cabin Air Filter (CAF) is
clogged and dirty with short
shuttle runs to the local high
street much more damaging
to your health than you might
think.
The CAF helps to improve
air quality by filtering out
harmful particles found in
exhaust fumes, cigarette
smoke and fuel vapours before
they get inside a vehicle
– as well as stopping leaves
and debris from getting into
the air conditioning system.
Without a CAF, the air inside
a car could be up to eight
times dirtier than the outside
– especially during the first
few minutes of switching the
engine on.
DENSO’s Combination
Filters are among the most
effective on the market, using
high-quality, non-woven
fabric enhanced by an added
layer of activated charcoal.
The charcoal creates an effective
‘adsorption’ process
that condenses gases on the
surface, eliminating unpleasant
and harmful fumes and
odours.
The Combination filter is
extremely precise, blocking
particles that are 1,000
smaller than a human hair
and are capable of removing
up to 25% more major
pollutants from the air than
standard Particle Filters
which don’t contain the acti-
damage.
With so much pollution in
the air, the work a regular
CAF gets through is staggering.
Over the course of
15,000km at a speed of 60
km/h, a standard CAF must
refresh an average sized
house up to 300 times a year.
To keep the filter working
in optimum condition,
DENSO advises workshops
to check air filters regularly,
and the OE supplier recommends
replacing CAFs
Bowmonk & Tapley have for decades been the most recognised and trusted
names in portable brake testers. The Bowmonk BrakeCheck is the electronic
version that carries on from that pedigree.
BrakeCheck is DVSA approved for all classes of vehicle and it
records braking efficiency and percentage of braking imbalance.
• Portable & easy to use
• No connections to vehicle required
• DVSA approved for all classes of vehicle
• Print results to optional portable wireless printer
• Download results to PC (optional software required)
• Approved for 6-weekly checks
• Approved for quarterly brake test requirements
• Records braking efficiency and percentage of braking imbalance
Bowmonk Ltd, Diamond Road, Norwich, NR6 6AW
T: +44 (0)1603 485 153 E: info@bowmonk.com
www.bowmonk.com
vated carbon media.
Just as important as the
type of CAF is the condition
of it. Older filters which are
clogged or dirty can harbour
mildews and bacteria, which
can cause allergies and discomfort
to car passengers.
Aside from poorer filtration,
a blocked filter can also make
window defogging more difficult
as particles will remain
airborne for longer and there
will be less air flow from fan
outlets. A poorer quality CAF
also poses the risk of compromising
a vehicle’s HVAC
system completely by causing
an increase in the pressure
drop, resulting in costly
at least once a year or after
10,000-15,000kms.
Over 40 million people living
in the top 115 cities in the
EU are currently exposed to
air which exceeds the WHO
quality guideline values for
at least one major pollutant.
The health implications of
this are severe; children living
near roads with heavyduty
vehicle traffic are twice
as likely to develop respiratory
diseases and lung cancer.
DENSO is looking to help
address this global issue by
making environment and
wellbeing a top priority as
part of its long-term 2030
strategy.
14 News.indd 1 31/05/2018 11:13