The engine air filter in a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox sits inside a rectangular plastic housing on the passenger side of the engine bay. You access it by releasing the clips or screws on the lid and lifting the cover to replace the filter.
This arrangement covers both the 2.4-liter inline-4 and the 3.6-liter V6 engines offered that year. The air box is mounted toward the front of the engine compartment on the passenger side, with a sizable intake duct feeding air from the grille area to the throttle body, and a sensor mounted on the intake tube.
Locating the air filter housing
To help you spot it quickly under the hood, look for a sizable black plastic box near the passenger-side fender, connected to a wide intake hose that points toward the center of the engine bay.
- Rectangular black plastic air box with a removable lid
- Located on the passenger side of the engine bay near the front
- Edges secured by clips or screws to hold the lid in place
- A wide intake hose runs from the box toward the throttle body
- A mass air flow sensor is usually mounted on the intake tube between the box and throttle body
With those features in mind, you’ll be able to identify the air filter housing quickly during routine checks or replacements.
How to replace the air filter
Follow these steps to replace the air filter in a 2017 Equinox.
- Park the vehicle on a level surface, engine off and cool, and set the parking brake.
- Open the hood and locate the air filter housing on the passenger side of the engine bay.
- Unclip or unscrew the lid of the air box to loosen the cover.
- Lift the lid and remove the old filter from the housing; take note of the filter’s orientation.
- Inspect the inside of the air box for debris and wipe it clean if needed.
- Insert a new air filter with the correct orientation (filters typically have an arrow indicating airflow toward the throttle body).
- Reposition the lid, resecure the clips or screws, and ensure the seal is tight before closing the hood.
Typical replacement intervals are about every 12,000–25,000 miles depending on driving conditions and air quality; check your owner's manual for the recommended interval and replace sooner if you notice reduced performance or abnormal engine noise.
Summary
The 2017 Chevy Equinox stores its air filter in a passenger-side rectangular air box in the engine bay. Replacing it involves locating the box, releasing the lid, swapping in a new filter with proper orientation, and resecuring the lid. This approach applies to the common 2.4L I4 and the 3.6L V6 configurations that year, with only minor variations in the exact hood layout.