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So I cleaned my original cabin air filter....

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by ajbdiaz, Nov 13, 2009.

  1. ajbdiaz

    ajbdiaz youtube.com/wyldeslash2003

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    I bought new one to replace it, but I decided to try and clean the original one. It worked so far, but i need your guy's opinions.

    1. I filled a bucket with warm water in the bathtub
    2. I poured in about a quarter cup of dishwashing soap
    3. I swished the water about to get it soapy
    4. I let the filter soak for an hour. why an hour? i was doing errands. you can just check the filter ever 10 minute if you want.
    5. rinse the filter with warm water until there is no more soap coming off it.
    6. let it dry in the sun.

    when i came back the filter was perfectly clean looking... but i still repeated the process to make sure... the water was very black, so the soap and long soak did a great job...

    the second time it looked a little cleaner than before, in my opinion.

    the filter seems to be in tact and still tough feeling and seems to be perfect.

    do you all think it is good enough to put back in the car?
     
    #1 ajbdiaz, Nov 13, 2009
  2. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

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    Yes
    And when you first start it notice how much easier your prii runs...
     
    #2 ursle, Nov 13, 2009
  3. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Good procedure for cleaning, think I'll do mine now.
    might be a good idea to knock the filter on a hard surface first and vacuum off loose material before a soak. also run water through the filter from clean side to dirty. Precede this with a spray of surface cleaner to allow dirt to stick to the water.

    One small problem with soaking is some dirt will transfer from the dirty side to the clean via the water, the second wash would have helped this as long as you used fresh soap solution.
     
    #3 patsparks, Nov 13, 2009
  4. uart

    uart Senior Member

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    How does the cabin air filter effect how the prius runs?
     
    #4 uart, Nov 13, 2009
  5. ajbdiaz

    ajbdiaz youtube.com/wyldeslash2003

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    yup, i repeated it again, i thought the same thing you did...

    but my original wasn't super duper dirty, so there wasn't a need to do any vacuuming,
     
    #5 ajbdiaz, Nov 13, 2009
  6. ajbdiaz

    ajbdiaz youtube.com/wyldeslash2003

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    UPDATE!!!

    i compared the new one to the washed old one and there is a major difference.

    the new one is stiff and hard to see through, while the old one is floppy and very see through. i dont think it will catch smaller particles.

    i dont think it is worth your time....

    but it was worth a try.....
     
    #6 ajbdiaz, Nov 14, 2009
  7. northwichita

    northwichita .

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    Instead of one big cleaning I do a lot of small ones with an air compressor air chuck about every two months, I have my window down delivering mail on dusty roads. I have a spare one which I haven't had to use yet, so just blowing one out with air seems to work.
    I wasn't sure what the composition was , the answer in this thread.
    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...hooting/66748-cabin-air-filter-questions.html
     
    #7 northwichita, Nov 14, 2009
  8. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

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    A clogged filter impedes airflow, a severely clogged filter severely impedes airflow. Unless you've got your climate control system turned off the cabin filter is always moving air, a clean filter moves air more efficiently
     
    #8 ursle, Nov 14, 2009
  9. ajbdiaz

    ajbdiaz youtube.com/wyldeslash2003

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    it smells better too...my car has that new car smell again...i didnt think that would happen by changing my CAF
     
    #9 ajbdiaz, Nov 15, 2009
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