Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

[efusco]

See This Thread over at PriusOnline. Besides, it's a good time to vacuum it out as the weather's warming up to make sure your AC is not running any harder than necessary so you can really see that nice summer Fuel Economy Boost.

Coastaletech sells the replacement filters for $19 + S&H, that's about as cheap as I could find them. If someone knows how/where to get them cheaper please share.

Also, John1701a has a very nice write up on how to find and replace. Probably more detail than most need, but if you're not very handy it may help.

I checked mine today after seeing that thead. Had a few leaves and some other junk in there so I pulled out the shop vac and cleaned it up before sticking it back in. I figure it'll wait another 5k miles.

Also, I always forget who, someone here has a nice Hepa filter he just cuts up to fit the spot and it works out to be much cheaper than getting the 'official' filter from Toyota. I haven't done that yet, but perhaps I should.

[seasalsa]

I bought mine on eBay 2 for $11.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cabin-air-f...062498059QQrdZ1

[Muleears]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ May 5 2006, 10:22 AM) [snapback]250187[/snapback]</div>

See This Thread over at PriusOnline. Besides, it's a good time to vacuum it out as the weather's warming up to make sure your AC is not running any harder than necessary so you can really see that nice summer Fuel Economy Boost.

Coastaletech sells the replacement filters for $19 + S&H, that's about as cheap as I could find them. If someone knows how/where to get them cheaper please share.

Also, John1701a has a very nice write up on how to find and replace. Probably more detail than most need, but if you're not very handy it may help.

I checked mine today after seeing that thead. Had a few leaves and some other junk in there so I pulled out the shop vac and cleaned it up before sticking it back in. I figure it'll wait another 5k miles.

Also, I always forget who, someone here has a nice Hepa filter he just cuts up to fit the spot and it works out to be much cheaper than getting the 'official' filter from Toyota. I haven't done that yet, but perhaps I should.
[/b]

A stupid question from a newbie. Does the classic have the AC filter, if so is it in the same place?

[tochatihu]

The "washable electrostatic" filters sold for whole house HVAC are not HEPA, but they seem comparable in effectiveness to the Toyota original. Purchase at hardware store of your choice (about $20), liberate the treated foam material from its frame, and cut into as many 21.5 cm squares as possible. Rinse and dry it at your interval of choice.

I don't expect that one of these squares is a lifetime supply because the magic electrostatic treatment must eventually wear off. But you will be extending your replacement intervals very far.

Also, there is a Canadian source for actual HEPA car filters, but I will need some help remembering the name.

[ghostofjk]

This may sound a little odd, but I'd suggest to the powers that be that a sticky be posted atop the Maintenance Forum reminding people to do this. Not only is it easy to forget if you're DIY person, but I've already had the experience that the dealer also overlooks it when doing one of the bigger maintenance services.

And yes, Muleears, it's in the same place on the Classic Prius. And it's not a stupid question.

[Tideland Prius]

Canadian Tire sells MicronAir particular filters for Cdn$20++

[tmorrowus]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ May 5 2006, 09:22 AM) [snapback]250187[/snapback]</div>

Coastaletech sells the replacement filters for $19 + S&H, that's about as cheap as I could find them. If someone knows how/where to get them cheaper please share.
[/b]

I paid $19.38 (no shipping) from my dealer's parts desk, after the 10% parts discount that most dealers will give if you ask or have coupons.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ May 5 2006, 09:42 AM) [snapback]250201[/snapback]</div>

I bought mine on eBay 2 for $11.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cabin-air-f...062498059QQrdZ1
[/b]

When I got my Cabin filter from the dealer it came in a red cardboard box with "toyota original parts" all over it. Since I don't see that box in the ebay photo I'd be concerned that it may not be as high quality as the original part.

[efusco]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tmorrowus @ May 6 2006, 02:58 PM) [snapback]250804[/snapback]</div>

When I got my Cabin filter from the dealer it came in a red cardboard box with "toyota original parts" all over it. Since I don't see that box in the ebay photo I'd be concerned that it may not be as high quality as the original part. [/b]

I agree that that does not look like it's and OEM part on the Ebay item, but I also have to say that I seriously doubt it makes a lick of difference. I do want the larger portion of the pollen, leaves, mouse poop, etc. filtered before it hits the cabin, but I'm skeptical of the effectiveness of a HEPA filter in the environmental conditions of a car. To be honest I have a feeling a coffee filter cut to shape might be just about as effective though the pleats probably help increase the surface area to improve air flow and to catch the bad junk as it goes through.

[tmorrowus]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ May 6 2006, 03:28 PM) [snapback]250812[/snapback]</div>

I agree that that does not look like it's and OEM part on the Ebay item, but I also have to say that I seriously doubt it makes a lick of difference. I do want the larger portion of the pollen, leaves, mouse poop, etc. filtered before it hits the cabin, but I'm skeptical of the effectiveness of a HEPA filter in the environmental conditions of a car. To be honest I have a feeling a coffee filter cut to shape might be just about as effective though the pleats probably help increase the surface area to improve air flow and to catch the bad junk as it goes through.
[/b]

efusco I'm sure you know all this, but...

You can't tell a good filter by just looking at it... there are two main parameters that are important: What is the smallest particle size that it filters out, and how much does it impede airflow. Optimizing both of those parameters is not easy, and I would trust Toyota to have done the R&D to get it right. After all, if the filters impede the airflow, they will get burned out fan motors that they have to replace under warranty (or have to overdesign the fan motors at great expense to compensate for a poor filter). If the filters don't filter small particles they won't qualify for HEPA designation. But aftermarket filter manufacturers don't have any of those requirements, they just have to look like they are the same size. I notice the ebay page doesn't use the word HEPA.

A bad filter will "work" but will either increase the load on your HVAC system (reducing it's effectiveness at extreme temperatures), or will fail to filter as well. It seems to me that paying an extra $10 every few years for the OEM part is worthwhile.

[Wildkow]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ May 5 2006, 07:22 AM) [snapback]250187[/snapback]</div>

See This Thread over at PriusOnline. Besides, it's a good time to vacuum it out as the weather's warming up to make sure your AC is not running any harder than necessary so you can really see that nice summer Fuel Economy Boost.

Coastaletech sells the replacement filters for $19 + S&H, that's about as cheap as I could find them. If someone knows how/where to get them cheaper please share.

Also, John1701a has a very nice write up on how to find and replace. Probably more detail than most need, but if you're not very handy it may help.

I checked mine today after seeing that thead. Had a few leaves and some other junk in there so I pulled out the shop vac and cleaned it up before sticking it back in. I figure it'll wait another 5k miles.

Also, I always forget who, someone here has a nice Hepa filter he just cuts up to fit the spot and it works out to be much cheaper than getting the 'official' filter from Toyota. I haven't done that yet, but perhaps I should.
[/b]

Good reminder as I live in the San Joaquin Valley and we are always in competition with LA and Riverside for poorest air quality in the nation. I did a search of priuschat for HEPA and this is what I came up with.

http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=1...=0&#entry182839

Wildkow