Editorial Standards and Fact-Checking Policy | AutoFilterLab

AutoFilterLab holds every published article to a documented standard of factual accuracy: every specific claim, mileage interval, part number, micron rating, torque specification, and chemical property must trace to a primary source before publication. This page explains our editorial process, sourcing standards, fact-checking procedures, correction policy, and content update schedule.

Our Editorial Mission

AutoFilterLab's purpose is to be the most accurate, specific, and practically useful automotive filter reference available. Generic advice is not acceptable on this site. "Check your owner's manual" is a hedge, not an answer. Our standard is: every claim on AutoFilterLab should be specific enough to act on, verifiable enough to cite, and current enough to be correct today.

That standard creates obligations. We document them here.

Who Writes and Reviews Our Content

AutoFilterLab content is produced by a three-person expert team:

James Carter Holt, Mechanical Engineer (Lead Editor) — reviews all articles for engineering accuracy. Holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a focus in fluid dynamics and filtration systems. Licensed Professional Engineer. SAE International member. Reviews every article before publication.

Rachel Monroe, DIY Mechanic Specialist — authors all how-to guides, location articles, and installation walkthroughs. Verifies procedures on actual vehicles. 20+ years of hands-on filter maintenance experience across hundreds of vehicle makes and models.

Dean A. Whitfield, Filter Industry Researcher — responsible for cross-reference accuracy, OEM fitment data, and brand specification research. Background in automotive aftermarket fitment databases and parts catalog management.

Every article published on AutoFilterLab carries the name of its primary author. Articles reviewed for technical accuracy by a second team member carry both names. We do not publish anonymous or AI-only content without expert review.

Our Sourcing Standards

Primary Sources (Required)

Every specific factual claim on AutoFilterLab must trace to one of the following primary source types:

• OEM service documentation — vehicle manufacturer service manuals, owner's manuals, or official parts catalogs. For interval recommendations, we cite the OEM's maintenance schedule for the specific model.
• Manufacturer specification sheets — filter brand technical documentation including media efficiency data, micron ratings, bypass valve pressure specifications, and dimensional data.
• SAE published standards — SAE J726 (air filter test method), SAE J806 (engine air cleaner test), ISO 16890 (HVAC filter efficiency standard), and other applicable standards.
• Peer-reviewed technical publications — engineering research on filtration efficiency, particle capture, and oil contamination published in SAE Transactions, automotive engineering journals, or equivalent peer-reviewed sources.
• Government and regulatory documentation — EPA guidelines, CARB standards, FTC regulations cited where applicable (affiliate disclosure, emission compliance).

Secondary Sources (Supporting)

We may reference the following for supporting context, but never as the sole basis for a technical claim:

• Manufacturer marketing materials (must be cross-verified against specification sheets)
• Industry publications and trade press
• Verified user community data (where representative and corroborated)

What We Do Not Accept as Sources

• Unverified claims from manufacturer marketing without corresponding technical documentation
• User forum posts or anecdotal repair reports without corroboration
• AI-generated content used as a factual source
• Price comparisons or availability claims without verification at time of publication

The Fact-Checking Process

Pre-Publication Review

Before any article is published:

1. Author self-review — the author identifies every specific claim and confirms it has a documented source
2. Technical accuracy review — the lead editor reviews the article for engineering accuracy; specific technical claims are spot-checked against primary sources
3. Fitment and cross-reference verification — for any article containing part numbers or vehicle fitment data, the researcher verifies all data against at least two independent fitment sources
4. Disclosure check — the editor confirms affiliate links are disclosed, author attribution is accurate, and the article does not make unsupported comparative claims about competing products

Claims That Require Explicit Source Documentation

The following claim types require a documented primary source before publication and may not rely solely on the author's expertise:

• Specific mileage replacement intervals
• Filter efficiency ratings (micron percentage, ISO/SAE ratings)
• Part numbers and their vehicle fitment applicability
• Torque specifications
• Chemical or material properties (media composition, valve materials)
• Health and safety claims (PM2.5 filtration data, mold risk thresholds)
• Legal or regulatory claims (warranty law, emissions compliance)

Our Correction Policy

AutoFilterLab takes factual accuracy seriously and operates a transparent correction process.

How to Report an Error

If you believe any information on AutoFilterLab is factually incorrect, email [email protected] with:

• The URL of the article
• The specific claim you believe is incorrect
• Your source documentation

How We Handle Reported Errors

1. Acknowledgment: We confirm receipt of all correction submissions within 24 hours
2. Review: the relevant author and lead editor review the claim and the submitted source documentation
3. Determination: within 48 hours, we determine whether a correction is warranted
4. Action: if a correction is confirmed, we update the article immediately and note the correction at the bottom of the page with the date, the original text, the corrected text, and the source used

Correction Notation Format

Corrections are noted at the bottom of the affected article as follows:

Correction: The previous version of this article stated [original claim]. This has been corrected to [corrected claim]. Source: [source citation]. We thank [submitter name or "a reader"] for bringing this to our attention.

Corrections vs. Updates

A correction means the original information was wrong. An update means the information was accurate when published but has since changed (e.g., a product has been discontinued, an OEM spec has changed). Both are documented, but with different notations.

Content Update Schedule

All content on AutoFilterLab is on a documented refresh schedule to prevent factual decay:

Each article displays a "Last Reviewed" date. When an article is reviewed and confirmed accurate without changes, the "Last Reviewed" date is updated even though the content is unchanged this confirms the information is current, not just old.

Independence Policy

AutoFilterLab's editorial team operates independently of commercial interests. Specifically:

• No paid product placements — we do not accept payment from filter manufacturers in exchange for editorial coverage, favorable reviews, or product rankings
• No gifted products for review — all products reviewed on AutoFilterLab are purchased through standard retail channels or borrowed from existing owners; we do not accept free products from manufacturers
• No editorial influence from affiliate partners — our affiliate program participation does not influence which products we recommend or how we assess them
• No undisclosed relationships — all commercial relationships (affiliate programs, potential direct brand partnerships) are disclosed in accordance with FTC guidelines on our Affiliate Disclosure page

Scope and Out-of-Scope Commitments

AutoFilterLab covers automotive filtration only. We do not publish content on general engine repair, tire guides, brake guides, suspension, car buying, or home HVAC systems. Maintaining topic focus is not only a business strategy — it is also an accuracy commitment. We do not publish in areas where our team lacks the expertise to verify claims at the standard described above.

Contact

To report a factual error: 
For editorial inquiries: 
To submit an expert contribution: 

contact at [email protected] 

Editorial Standards policy last reviewed and updated: April 28, 2026.