Engine air filter

Summary

Source: owner's manual / last verified 2026-10-16 (2018 GMC Terrain owner's manual, engine air cleaner (opens in a new tab)).

Safety

• Do not drive with the air cleaner off.
• An engine backfire can push flame out of an open intake.

Symptoms

• Operating the engine with the air cleaner off can burn you if the engine backfires. The cleaner also stops dirt.
• If the filter is off, dirt can get into the engine.

Diagnosis

1. 1.5L L4 gas (LYX), all-wheel drive, 1.5L L4 gas (LYX), front-wheel drive, 2.0L L4 gas (LTG), all-wheel drive, 2.0L L4 gas (LTG), front-wheel drive, 1.6L L4 diesel (LH7): GM 23279657, ACDelco A3226C.
2. The book says to have the filter in place when driving. No housing-bolt torque is printed.

Tools

• Clean rag

  Wipe the housing area before the cover goes back on. The book warns that dirt in the intake can damage the engine.

Specifications

Steps

1. 01Buy the element for this engine

   1.5L L4 gas (LYX), all-wheel drive, 1.5L L4 gas (LYX), front-wheel drive, 2.0L L4 gas (LTG), all-wheel drive, 2.0L L4 gas (LTG), front-wheel drive, 1.6L L4 diesel (LH7): GM 23279657, ACDelco A3226C.

2. 02Do not run the engine while it is off

   The warning in the air-cleaner section says you or others could be burned, and dirt can enter the engine.

3. 03Put the cover back before you start it

   No cover torque is printed. Latch it the way the housing is built, and do not start the engine with the filter out.

Common mistakes

• Using the gas filter number on the diesel, on a Cruze that lists both.
• Starting the engine to 'hear it' with the filter removed.

Parts and tools

Outbound links only. BaySheet does not sell parts. Confirm fitment on the retailer page. Amazon links are searches for a real part name plus this vehicle. Tool rows do not get a product search. The search is not a part number.

• Part

  GM 23279657

  Engine air cleaner for 1.5L L4 gas (LYX), all-wheel drive, 1.5L L4 gas (LYX), front-wheel drive, 2.0L L4 gas (LTG), all-wheel drive, 2.0L L4 gas (LTG), front-wheel drive, 1.6L L4 diesel (LH7). ACDelco A3226C.

  2018 Terrain maintenance parts (opens in a new tab)Search Amazon.com (affiliate link) (opens in a new tab)As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

• Tool

  Clean rag

  Wipe the housing area before the cover goes back on. The book warns that dirt in the intake can damage the engine.

  McMaster-Carr shop towels (opens in a new tab)

Questions

Sources

• 2018 GMC Terrain owner's manual, engine air cleaner (opens in a new tab). General Motors. Published 2017-09-15. Read 2026-10-16.

Checklist and email notes

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Other repairs on this 2018 Terrain

All GMC Terrain repairs

This repair on other vehicles

These guides cover the same kind of work. Their numbers belong to those vehicles, not to this one.