Cabin air filter

Ionized filters use an active static electricity charge, usually to attract dust particles and/or pollen.

Ionizing filters are also used in some of those silly home air filters that are sold at places like Brookstone (and now everywhere else too!). These have come under a bit of scrutiny because of the ozone emissions they produce are thought to be harmful to the health (esp for those with asthma). In all honesty, I would just go with the normal filter, but that's just my 2c.

 

The Plasmacluster ionizer in the IV and V is seperate from the cabin air filter, the cabin air filter is the same in all four Prius versions. The Plasmacluster thing is supposedly located in the drivers side dash air vent and operates when the AC is on. I have no idea if it does any good or not, fortunately I am not alergic to dust and pollen.

 

I put a link to sharp's (the owner of the plasmacluster trademark) product page in this post:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...cussion/79574-plasma-cluster.html#post1112223

The whole thing still seems like snake-oil to me...

 

The cabin air filter fits behind the lower glove box, there are instructions for replacing it in the Owner's Manual.

The only other air filter I know of is the engine (ICE) air filter under the hood.

Both are easy to change and available at any Toyota dealer and most auto parts stores.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...ement-engine-air-filter-cabin-air-filter.html

 

The regular air filter protects the ICE from dust, the cabin air filter protects the A/C evaporator from dust, after the switch to R-134a refrigerant many auto makers used thinner metal to make the evaporator core and they started leaking due to dust and pollen buildup causing corrosion, Chrysler LH series cars are famous for this.

Even in your home the filter on the equipment is there only to protect the equipment, it isn't there for your health. If you have an 80% furnace with no A/C a cheap spun fiberglass one is fine, if you have a 90% furnace and/or A/C a pleated media filter 2" thick or more is better, but avoid the ones listed as allergen filters such as the 3M Filtrete line unless you measure the static pressure of the system as they are too restrictive and are lovingly known as crack-o-matic for what they can do to furnace heat exchangers.

 

Thanks for this information!
No one had ever said anything about this and I have had several occasions where the air would just run slowly and condensation would start building and leaking from the ducts (wierd)
It makes perfect sense....

 

The ionizer is also used to eliminate odors and as such is great when passing a skunk and similar odors , and is also good when following someone with a stinky catalytic converter , etc.etc !

 

Just use the carbon imprenated filters, they take out odors, too.