Month: February 2021

How to Change Cabin Air Filter and Engine Air Filter for 2020 Subaru Outback

Here are pictures documenting the change/replacement of the cabin and engine air filters of my 2020 Subaru Outback Onyx XT.

Project duration: 10 minutes under good conditions

Tools needed: Hands, maybe a flashlight.

Cabin Air Filter

Open your glove compartment.

There’s a tab on the right hand side when you open it. Just tug on it higher up and it comes right off.

On either side of the glove box, are hinges as shown in the upper picture. Push hard on either side to pop them out. It might be hard to do if your car is newer or when it’s cold. Mine qualified under both conditions and I had a heck of a time.

Aaaand, it finally came out!

Here’s a closeup of one of those hinges. Subaru gave it extra felt. Kinda nice.

And here you have the cabin air filter box.

I couldn’t figure out how to remove this piece and managed to break off one of the clasps on the side of the cabin air filter box like an idiot. 🙁 All you have to do is squeeze those two things on the bottom at the same time and it comes right off.

Here’s the old one.

I don’t think the filter has been changed since I first bought the car Nov of 2019, so it’s been over a year (it is mid-Feb 2021 right now). That’s a genuine Subaru cabin air filter.

This is the new filter installed. **N.B. From various online videos, I hear that Subaru’s air flow is from top to down, but Subaru is apparently one of the few (if not the only) car manufacturers for which the OEM cabin air filter arrow doesn’t correspond with air flow direction. If you’re using aftermarket, then make sure you follow the air flow.**

OK, then you just put it back together. Cover on the filter box, line up the bottom hinges of the glove box and simply push up until it snaps in, then make sure you replace the little clasp on the right side and BOOM, you’re done!

Engine Air Filter

Open the hood

On the left side of the engine bay, find this and unhook the metal clasps.

If you wiggle it apart, you’ll see the old engine air filter.

Just pull it out.

I used a genuine Subaru engine air filter. The new one is on the left and the old one on the right.

You just slide it in there, foam-side facing the back of the car, close up the clasps, and you’re done!

Yay!

Most Useful Tools/Items in My Life

Here is an on-going list of extremely useful, and effectively essential, things that are, and continue to be, an integral part in my life. If I had kids, I’d make sure they all owned at least one of these. In no particular order.

  1. Headlamp – Rechargeable batteries, multiple beam choices, bright light, water resistant. Possibly the single most useful tool I own. From dog walking, to beach walking, to fixing various things, to trimming dog claws, to general illumination, a wearable, hands-free headlight takes my number 1 spot.
  2. YakTrax – Arguably one of the best gifts ever given to me, walking dogs and general moving around in icy conditions without fear of falling is a big weight off my shoulders especially as I get older. Dogs have 4 legs, I only have 2. Broken and injured limbs have no place in my life.
  3. Stepladder – A few years back, we bought a foldable Cosco step stool ladder with polypropylene steps and a tray at the top. Despite having other heavy duty metal ladders of various functions (convertable, telescoping, etc), this is always my go-to ladder. It’s the perfect height for tasks around the house and it’s the most stable with grippy feet and wide steps. Love this thing.
  4. Toaster Oven – It can do it all. A nice, large sized oven does everything from toasting to baking, to dehydrating without having to turn the big one on. Pretty much essential in my life.
  5. Letter Opener – I never knew that many people don’t use these. A long piece of metal to not only open mail cleanly, but also functions as a package opener, wrapping paper cutter, rough hole maker, and for various other chores that need a sturdy, pointy piece of metal. As a bonus, can be used as a defensive weapon.
  6. Wet/Dry Vacuum – Wow. How much more useful can a tool get? Spilled liquids? Easy. Spilled solids? Done. Small area? There’s an accessory for it. Large area? Yup. Large pieces of debris? *SHHUUNNK* Up the hose it goes. I’ve gotten to the point where I’d rather use a wet/dry vac to clean my bathroom instead of sweeping or wiping the dust. And it does a great job of it too. Stairs, floors, rugs, cars, whatever the surface, there it is. Seriously. If you don’t have a nice one, get one.