Does the cabin air filter really filters out anything?

Many cars (including BMWs) have a system that automatically turns on the cabin air recirculation feature when it senses pollution in the outside air. The Prius doesn't have this system, so if you get behind an old smoker, you need to manually turn on the cabin air recirculation.

 

It's a dust and pollen filter. Fumes will make it through.

 

X2.............

 

Unfortunately mice and/or pack rats will make it through too!

 

It won't remove those nasty smells of manure. The plasmacutter in the IV and V are supposed to help reduce odors, but the jury is still out on that one.

The filter does remove a lot of dust and other stuff like hair and crap from the air. Every time ive changed out in-cabin filters in my old cars, they've always been saturated with junk.

 

Get the AN version from Japan from Sigma auto
the one in the car is a peice of s**t

 

It is a particle filter but if you have it engaged before you approach the odorous offender it should not infiltrate the cabin since the filter works in re-circulate mode. Additionally since it is re-circulating it will continually reduce allergens like pollen and mold spores to very low levels.

 

In one of my previous cars, 2003 Hyundai Elantra, it would get soot like particles built up near the vents. It drove me nuts.

My current car is a 2005 Saab 9-3 and I never had any problem since it had a cabin filter.

I am waiting for my 2010 prius to get delivered (any day now) and I can assure you that having the filter does filter out a ton of crap that my elantra never did. It was quite disgusting!

 

you made me take a look at my wife's 08 hycam. after 34,000 miles, it filtered out a ton of grayish black stuff and tree debris. thanks!

 

My Prius at 11K miles already had a junked cabin filter

 

If you want to filter out smells and other VOCs, you need an activated carbon filter. They dont work 100% on the first pass, but in re-circ mode, smells do go away pretty quick. I had a honeywell charcoal prefilter that I cut into a filter-sized rectangle, and then put it under the standard air-filter.

 

My cabin filter was coated with leaves and it was completely black, not sure if it was washable

 

When I tried cleaning my cabin filter with compressed air, I could get all of the larger debris but not the smaller black particles. The local parts store did not have a replacement for the 2010 Prius so I tried washing mine even though the manual says not to do so.

The washing cleaned off the black particles but at first I thought I had ruined the paper filter. After leaving it in the sun to dry, it dried nicely and seems to be working fine. I plan to pull it this weekend, check and change it out now that the parts store is now carrying the replacement.