OEM Mitsubishi Air Cleaners

The Air Box Versus the Air Filter

The air filter is the replaceable element. The air cleaner is everything around it: the housing, the lid, the clips, and the ducts that connect it to the engine. These plastic parts can crack from age, heat, or a slip during filter changes, and broken clips are common on vehicles where the lid gets opened often.

Air Cleaner Parts in This Category

• Air cleaner housings, the lower box that holds the filter
• Housing lids and covers with their clips or fasteners
• Intake ducts and hoses between the air box and throttle body
• Resonators that reduce intake noise
• Grommets, brackets, and clamps that mount and seal the assembly

Why the Seal Matters

Your engine measures incoming air to set fuel delivery. If air slips past a gap, it bypasses the filter, lets in dust that wears the engine, and, on systems with a mass airflow sensor, can enter unmeasured and cause lean running. Genuine Mitsubishi air cleaner assemblies are designed with the filter seal, sensor mounting location, and airflow path your engine was calibrated for. Aftermarket housings and open-element intakes can change those readings.

How to Choose the Right Part

Inspect before ordering

Look for cracks in the housing, missing or broken clips, and splits in the rubber duct, especially at its folds. A whistle or hiss under acceleration is a common sign of a leak.

Replace only what's broken

Often a lid, a duct, or a clip is enough, so you don't need the whole assembly. If your filter is due, add a genuine air filter to the order.

Check related parts

If you see lean codes after fixing a leak, have the airflow sensors and throttle body parts checked.

Fitment Guidance by Engine

Air cleaner assemblies are engine-specific. The same model can use a different air box for each engine offered, such as the Outlander's four-cylinder and V6 versions in earlier generations, and turbocharged engines route air through additional ducting to the turbocharger. Confirm your engine with your VIN. For performance-focused upgrades, browse our air intake systems, and replace hardened hoses and clamps while you're working on the intake.

Air Cleaner Takeaways

• The air cleaner is the housing and ducting, not just the filter.
• Cracks and broken clips let dirt and unmeasured air into the engine.
• Replace only the damaged piece when possible.
• Air boxes are engine-specific; confirm by VIN.

Mitsubishi Air Cleaner Questions Owners Ask

Can a cracked air box cause a check engine light?

Yes. A leak after the airflow sensor can let in unmeasured air and trigger lean codes.

Can I tape a cracked air cleaner housing?

Tape is a temporary fix at best. Heat and vibration break it down, so replace the damaged part.

How often should I inspect my air cleaner assembly?

Check it every time you change the air filter, looking at clips, seals, and ducts.