2019–2024 Nissan Altima
By Ray Delgado ✓ Certified Mechanic · Published Sep 21, 2026 · Updated Oct 22, 2026
Save $45 by doing it yourself! Shop cost: $65
Quick answer: Engine Air Filter Replacement on a 2019–2024 Nissan Altima is rated Easy and takes about 10–15 minutes. You'll need 1 tool for this job, and parts cost about $20. This guide walks you through the full job step by step, including the mistakes to avoid.
| Part Name | Part Number | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine air filter | — | $20.00 |
About prices: shown prices are typical retail averages and change frequently; cheaper alternatives may be available. Confirm the current price before buying.
💡 Pro tip: Order all parts at once to save on shipping
Follow these steps carefully
Park on level ground, engine off and cool. Most 2019–2024 Altimas (L34) carry the 2.5-liter PR25DD four-cylinder; 2019–2023 models could also have the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo — both use the same clip-latch air-cleaner box, so this covers the whole range.
The air-cleaner cover is held by latch clips around its edge. Unlatch them — they flip open by hand — and move the air-cleaner cover upward, exactly as Nissan's owner's manual describes. If a clip is stiff, ease it with a flat screwdriver instead of forcing it; a broken clip means the cover will never seal right again.
Lift the old air-cleaner filter out of the housing. Note which way it sat — pleats up or down, how the gasket lined the box — because the new one goes back in identically. Hold it up to the light: if the pleats are dark and you cannot see light through them, this job was overdue.
Nissan's manual specifically instructs you to wipe the inside of the air-cleaner housing and the cover with a damp cloth. Clear out the leaves, grit, and dead insects from the bottom of the box, and keep everything out of the intake opening while you work — anything that falls in heads straight for the engine.
I stuff a clean shop rag into the intake opening while I'm wiping. Dropped a leaf down there once, and fishing it out was no fun.
Nissan notes two element types in the manual: a viscous paper type, which must never be cleaned and reused, and a dry paper type, which may be cleaned and reused. Either way, you are installing a fresh one — seat it exactly as the old one sat, gasket flat and even all the way around, with no forcing.
Set the cover back onto the housing, confirm it sits squarely, and latch every clip. Run a finger around the entire seam: no gaps, no pinched gasket edge, no corner riding up.
Start the engine, let it idle, and listen at the airbox for any whistling that would mean a leaking lid. Nissan's manual carries a warning you do not see in most owner's manuals: the air cleaner does not just filter air, it also stops flame if the engine backfires — so never drive with it removed, and be careful working around the engine with it off. Replace the filter at the interval in your maintenance schedule and note the date and mileage.
Most manuals never mention the backfire part. I don't run an engine with the airbox open, period — it takes one pop-back to ruin your day.
Test your repair before closing everything up. If something doesn't work right, double-check your steps.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
2019–2024
2019–2024
2019–2024
2019–2024
2019–2024
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