A K&N Cabin Air Filter Will Help Freightliner Drivers Breathe Easier

When considering driver comfort, the air they breathe should be as much a priority as other factors

Although driver turnover is not the problem it was a few years ago, smart fleets know it’s important to keep their drivers happy. Listed among job features that keep CDL holders happy with their current fleet is comfort. It’s certainly understandable with driving limits up to 11 hours per day that a comfortable driver’s seat is a reasonable expectation. And with an eight-hour bunk time requirement, drivers prefer sleeper berths that are wide, comfortable, and wired with all the amenities.

One item that has a big impact on driver comfort is the quality of the air they breathe. Air entering the cab that’s not been filtered significantly influences occurrences of irritated eyes, nose, and throat, as well as respiratory illnesses, allergy, and asthma symptoms. Unfiltered air can carry allergens, dust, mold, mildew, fungus, spores, bacteria, and particulate matter into the cab for the driver to inhale.

The solution has been for truck manufacturers to install replaceable cabin air filters in the HVAC system of the vehicles they sell. The filter is designed to capture these tiny irritants while feeding fresh air to the driver.

As with any air filter, the efficiency of the cabin air filter is dependent upon two factors: first is the filters capacity to capture and hold the irritants and second that the filter is serviced properly.

A cabin air filter removes particles that can potentially harm the driver

The K&N VF8001 cabin air filter that replaces Freightliner part numbers 22446600 and 22446600 and Alliance part numbers ABPN83328345 and N8328345 meets or exceeds the filtration and dust holding capacity of the original equipment filter, especially over the long haul.

The K&N VF8001 is constructed of a thermally-bonded non-woven synthetic media pleated between two layers of protective powdercoated wire screen. The media is sandwiched between a precision-engineered molded polyurethane frame that’s an exact fit for your Freightliner.

Many OEM filters utilize paper as the media, which “surface loads” quickly, clogging the filter’s pores on the outside and not allowing air through. Non-woven synthetic media is pre-treated with a special formula so the fibers actually grab and hold dirt and dust particles as they enter the filter.

In order to operate efficiently, a cabin air filter needs to be replaced or rejuvenated per the manufacturer’s recommendations. If not, the filter will become clogged. The repercussions of not servicing the cabin air filter can be severe. The HVAC system has to work significantly harder to draw air through the dirty filter (think of a pinched straw) which can shorten the life of the system’s components. And with a common paper filter that clogs quickly, you’ll find a fairly short interval.

Everything needed to install a new K&N VF8001 in an applicable Freightliner is included in the box

With a K&N VF8001 cabin air filter the service interval jumps to 12 months or 12,000 miles, and importantly, the filter isn’t discarded and replaced with a newly-purchased item. K&N cabin air filters are designed to be cleaned and reused for many cycles. In fact, they carry a K&N 10-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty.

At intervals of about 12 months or 12,000 miles, using a K&N 99-6000 cabin air filter cleaning kit, you or your techs can easily renew and re-oil the cabin intake filter, which brings it back to virtually new condition and ready to protect the rig’s cabin and its driver.

To find additional K&N upgrades for cars, trucks, ATVs, scooters, motorcycles, watercraft, motorhomes, or almost anything that combusts fuel internally, use the K&N search by vehicle tool. Find an authorized K&N dealer nearby using the K&N dealer search.