When should you replace your pollen filter?
Volvos equipped with IAQS (Interior Air Quality System) originally came with a 1.5 inch thick activated charcoal impregnated pollen filter.
You can use either the 1.5 inch thick or 1 inch thick filter. The pollen filter housing (located in the passenger side footwell) has narrow and a wide slots to accept either filter. Narrow 1 inch thick filters go in the narrow slot opening, which is the opening closest to the front of the vehicle. The 1.5 inch thick filters go in the slot opening closest to the seat. The charcoal filters provide the best filtering and longest life. Some models may have small plastic tabs preventing the filter from being installed in the thicker slot, but the tabs are easily removed with pliers. So the choice is yours, thick or thin, charcoal or plain!
Volvo recommends replacing the cabin filter every 15,000 miles.
MVS Forum Member davvver asks:
How often should the pollen filter be changed on a ’98 V70 NA?
Is the regular filter or carbon filter better? ❓
MVS Forum Member ecberr replied:
alldatadiy.com says every 15,000 miles. I changed mine last week (99 V70 glt), and almost threw up. It had been 75,000 miles since the last replacement. Something, I will change more often, its inexpensive and takes about 2 minutes
MVS Forum Member jblackburn added:
North Carolina pine pollen is fun in the spring without a cabin air filter. Every time you turn on the air, you get a face full of it
MVS Forum Member erikv11 says:
If its dirty, the air flow will be restricted. But the dirt (pollen, dust etc) will still not get through the filter. So good idea to change it but don’t worry too much about breathing what is stuck on the other side of the filter.
Last Updated on August 19, 2020
