What's the point in having the pollen filter run for just 3 mins?

Covered before, and there was no specific "answer" but I found an explanation on a Lexus dealer salesman training site that went further: The 3 minute Micro Dust and Pollen Filter basically closes off all outside air in recirculate mode for that time, while the traditional recirculate still lets in a modest amount of air (20% or thereabouts). All air runs through the same intake filter (replaceable, behind glove box) but the Micro button just adds a little extra recirculation for a bad situation. I expect that shutting off all outside air raises red flags about carbon monoxide entry.

 

it works for dead skunks!

 

My understanding is that all air goes through the in-cabin air filter. When the Plasmacluster button is engaged for the 3 minutes, all outside air is shut off an an ionizer is engaged to rapidly remove any contaminants which are smaller than the of the in-cabin air filter can remove.

 

Dead skunks don't need it, they can't breathe! And how many dead skunks drive a Prius anyway?

 

You'd be surprised. ;-)

 

depends on what I ate.

 

I have a model III and have used this feature a number of times. Diesel truck fumes, roadkill, etc. ...the smells are gone very quickly, so in my experience it works as advertised

 

What plasmacluster button?

 

Since your driving a IV model, it should have the plasmacluster I believe. It has an Ionizer in the far left vent near the drivers door. It provides Ionization while the A/C is running.

It's automatic if you have the A/C operating.....

 

Ahhh I get it now...I thought you guys were talking about an encounter with hot nurses in a blood mobile...

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the plasmacluster is not the same thing as the pollen filter, which has a button next to the "mode" button I believe. I have it on my pkg III, I would think a pkg II would also have it.

 

Correct. Plasmacluster isn't the same thing and is on 100% of the time. In fact, some forum members didn't like the fact you can't turn it off.

 

Hi 32K...

Isn't the Ionizer only on when the Air Conditioning is in operation?? It seems that what is detailed in the Manual???

Just curious....

 

Plasmacluster™* (if equipped) [FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Plasmacluster will operate in conjunction with the air conditioning fan motor when it is turned on. [/FONT][/FONT]

A little ambiguous--hard to tell just from this whether it's just with A/C compressor or anytime the fan is on, but since the whole Chapter 3.1 in the manual is "Air Conditioning System" it probably means whenever the fan is on.

 

the ionizer control is on the plasma cluster and if the plasma cluster was called a mono color LCD cluster, more people would probably understand exactly what the plasmacluster is.

as far as "A/C" as we know, its also used to warm up the air. the A/C removed moisture by condensation which helps clear windows in the winter and helps passengers feel more comfortable in summer. it is temperature controlled.

the ionizer uses electrostatic charge to attract dust particles and remove them from the air passing thru its grid. it runs for a relatively short cycle simply because of

1) laws of diminishing returns. when there is a lot of dust particles, it works well but the longer it runs, the less effective it is as it will never remove all of the dust. iow, its very good at significantly removing a good portion of the dust.

2) it uses power and like everything else on the Pri, its benefit is weighed against the overall efficiency of the vehicle and the benefit of the passengers. and its longevity is seriously reduced should it run continuously and its probably on a timer to prevent someone from turning it on and forgetting about it allowing the unit to burn itself out

i have used it many times and it does work well and there has been times when i have cycled it as many as 4-5 times in a relatively short period of time. i dont see any harm in that.

 

Yes, I meant they don't like the fact, for whatever reason, you can't operate it separately from the fan/air conditioning system.

 

no, can also be used with defrost.... or heat... or whatever.

the "A/C" only conditions the air by removing moisture. what temperature you set it at is up to you