Jeep Cherokee Forum

Jeep Cherokee 1984-2001: Air Intake Reviews and How-to

Replace your air filter with an aftermarket part for greater performance.

By Jennifer Heuertz - October 12, 2015

This article applies to the Jeep Cherokee XJ (1984-2001)

One of the cheapest and easiest do-it-yourself maintenance procedures for your vehicle is an air filter replacement. It's usually right there on top of the engine compartment—easily accessible as well as easy to swap in and out. It's also a simple way to keep your car running at optimal levels. Regularly changing the air filter can prevent all kinds of problems from poor performance to engine corrosion. This is a great first project for someone who wants to start doing their own vehicle maintenance.

Table of Contents

How to Replace Your Air Filter

Materials Needed

  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Ratchet and socket set with a range of sizes
  • Plastic trim removal tool
  • New air filter

Step 1 – Locate the air filter assembly

The air filter is located under the hood inside a large, plastic housing.

  • Figure 1. The large black box in the lower right corner of the photo is the air filter housing.
  • Figure 2. On vehicles with cold air intake, the filter will look more like this.

Step 2 – Remove the air filter housing cover

Remove the fasteners from around the perimeter of the cover. They may be screws or clips. Lift the cover to access the filter. Use the plastic trim tool to pry open a stuck cover.

Step 3 – Remove the filter

Pull the filter from the housing.

Figure 3. Lift off the cover and remove the filter.

Step 4 – Install the new filter

Install the new filter and replace the housing cover. Tighten up the fasteners and you're good to go!

  • Figure 4. There are several different styles of filter for different models and engines.
  • Figure 5. The replacement filter for a cold air intake will look more like this.

Featured Videos: Jeep Cherokee Air Intake Videos

  • How to Replace Air Filter

  • How to Install Cold Air Intake

Air Filter Review

Did you know that for every gallon of gasoline your engine uses, it needs 10,000 gallons of clean air? You can imagine, then, what happens to your engine when the air coming in isn't clean. Lack of oxygen in the engine can create a too-rich air-to-fuel ratio, restricting combustion and fouling up the spark plugs. Ignoring your air filter is basically a recipe for disaster. It's a cheap and easy way to keep your car running great. Let's take a look at some of the filters available for the Jeep Cherokee.
K&N
Spectre
AEM Universal
Airaid
Airaid Cold Air
Price
 $56 $25 $55 $55 $72
Dry/Oiled

Oiled

Oiled

 Dry Both Available Dry
Reusable
 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Air Flow
 N/A N/A N/A N/A 820 CFM
Filtration Rate
 N/A N/A Up to 99.52% N/A Up to 99.99%
Scheduled Maintenance
 Up to 50,000 miles N/A N/A N/A N/A
Warranty
 Million-mile Limited N/A Limited Lifetime Limited Lifetime Limited Lifetime
Best Quality: K&N or Airaid

Best Value: Spectre

K&N

Price – $56

Dry/Oiled – Oiled

Reusable – Yes

Air Flow – N/A

Filtration Rate – N/A

Scheduled Maintenance – Up to 50,000 miles

Warranty – Million-mile Limited

K&N is one of the most popular and prevalent brands of filter available. It's reliable and comes with a great warranty. This will probably be the last air filter you ever have to buy. Recommended to those who want to up their engine performance.

Spectre

Price – $25

Dry/Oiled – Oiled

Reusable – Yes

Air Flow – N/A

Filtration Rate – N/A

Scheduled Maintenance – N/A

Warranty – N/A

Spectre is a great budget-friendly option if you're just looking to replace a stock filter. It probably won't last the lifetime of the vehicle, though. Recommended for those who just need to replace a dirty or torn filter.

AEM Universal

Price – $55

Dry/Oiled – Dry

Reusable – Yes

Air Flow – N/A

Filtration Rate – 99.52%

Scheduled Maintenance – N/A

Warranty – Limited Lifetime

AEM filters are a good choice in dry filters. They're reusable and come with a limited lifetime warranty. You'll even see a bit of performance boost. Recommended for any application.

Airaid

Price – $55

Dry/Oiled – Both Available

Reusable – Yes

Air Flow – N/A

Filtration Rate – N/A

Scheduled Maintenance – N/A

Warranty – Limited Lifetime

Airaid is another popular brand that seems to out-rank K&N in the review department. They have simple installation and provide a boost to engine performance. They're available both oiled and dry. With the limited lifetime warranty, these filters should last the life of your vehicle. Recommended for those who want more performance.

Airaid Cold Air

Price – $72

Dry/Oiled – Dry

Reusable – Yes

Air Flow – 820 CFM

Filtration Rate – 99.99%

Scheduled Maintenance - N/A

Warranty – Limited Lifetime

Upgrading to cold air intake can increase the performance of your engine, and if that's what you're looking for, Airaid is the brand to choose. Airaid is highly recommended by customers and has the highest filtration rate available. Recommended for those who want to convert to a cold air intake system.

(Related Article: How to Make and Install Cold Air Intake - CherokeeForum.com)

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