In-cabin Air Filter

[superchow]

The manual for my 07 Honda Civic recommends the change of the in-cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Well, during a servise around 20,000 I was short on cash at that time and decided to change it myself. I didn't get around to doing it until a couple weeks ago (28,000) and was not prepared for the sight that greeted me. (See below) The filter had even some pieces of leaves and dead bugs in it.

The ventilation and A/C was working a lot better after that quick change, which let me to the following train of thought: Easier breathing for the A/C, means more cooling for less intense "setting", means lower A/C setting and lower gas consumption.

Ideas, comments, suggestions?

[Red]

Makes you feel good about breathing doesn't it?

[MetroMPG]

Well considering it's just screening the air coming in from outside, I'd probably just leave the filter out altogether instead of forking over the money for Honda parts! I haven't often inhaled a bug while driving. (Though I have on occasion been greeted by a confetti shower of mulched leaf upon turning on the blower in the fall.)

[azraelswrd]

When I bought my car it didn't even come with a cabin air filter. I got one when I went in for my 15,000 mile service package which included it. But since I don't use the A/C anymore I probably won't replace it until the next service package or whatever my manual recommends.

I think you could have also cleaned the CAF yourself if you had access to some compressed air, which might have saved on replacement costs. (I'm going by what my repair manual suggests)

[Will]

Do these handle the occasional dead skunk smell by the road?

Seriously, it's weird that we filter our car air, filter our house air, use bacteria killing gel on our hands, sanitize everything. I wounder if all this "extra" stuff does not diminish our immune system's capacity to fight off invaders. You know what they say, "Use it or lose it"

[azraelswrd]

Nothing stops dead skunk...

You're right Will. By having machines protect/shield our bodies from microorganisms, our body may not develop the right immuno response to deal with something that would otherwise be addressed. Another side-effect is the overuse of anti-bacterial agents in promoting the development and growth of stronger organisms that develop mutations and defenses that the anti-bacterial agents select for (and cannot act against).

That's why getting an infection in a hospital is really bad -- chances are that the bug is more resilient than its distant cousin because it has been selected to survive in such a "sterile" environment and more likely to be resistant to conventional countermeasures.

I prefer that other saying -- what does not kill you, will make you stronger. By allowing our bodies to be exposed to germs/microbes, the memory cells in the IR will "remember" them for future attacks and act appropriately. Now, I'm not saying we all shoot ourselves up with the thousands of known diseases, but letting our natural defenses work is better in the long run.

Another downside of excessive antiseptic/disinfectant usage -- they can kill symbiotic or mutualistic microorganisms and allow opportunistic pathogens to take residence. Not good.

But on the flip side, sometimes its necessary to stop our body from overreacting in allergies or autoimmune diseases. Otherwise, our own bodies will do more harm than good without realizing it.

[superchow]

Hey, when it comes to getting your hands dirty, I'm usually the first to jump up in joy. But, the fact is my wife gets horrible allergies, mostly grass pollen, so when travelling long distances it eases her sniffeling.

Kind of off on a tangent, but useful nonetheless: Ever been hot in the driver's seat but your passenger not? Wanted to see what other's tricks were to cool off without disturbing the comfort of your fellow travelers. My favorite trick is to tilt the sunroof and open the passenger side rear window just a crack. Turns out that my wife can't even feel a breeze, while my left side and neck sigh in relief. And if she's feeling hot too, I open both passenger side windows, and the air blowing through the car doesn't make her hair tickle her face.

Anything to avoid A/C use I guess. Fresh air just can't be beat.

Oh, and yeah - nothing stops dead skunk. Unless you recirculate the air - but by the time you push that button the damage will have been done.

[cfg83]

Hello -

I barely use A/C so my issue is usually is what's coming through the open window. When I'm on the freeway, I usually wear these :

BreathePure™ Nasal Air Filter

As seen in the above chart, BreathePure NAF removes 97% of the particles 7 microns and larger. This includes particles associated with pollen, sneezes, and dust mites, as well as a majority of particles from fungi and spores, human hair, household dust, and pet dander.

I think this does help a bit because my route includes "Diesel Alley", the 710 freeway to/from Long Beach Harbor.

At least it claims to put a dent in the PM10 particulate. I tried a facemask but that was too hot.

CarloSW2

[Yaristock]

The Yaris didn't come with one either and at the time they cost 30$USD. So a thread was started on DIY Air Cabin Filter(ours has a door to seal the compartment). Simply buy one you would use in your house in a good size cut and tape the rough end.I was able to make six for the price of one. With comparable filtering capabilities.

[azraelswrd]

Hmmmm, those nose plugs seem pretty handy. I have horrible allergy fits too (comes and goes, some days its pollen and others its dust...) and I never even knew they made those things. Interesting.

What's up with these cars not including a CAF? I thought when I got my xA it was just Scion being cheap but apparently they're not the only ones. Sheesh!