Effect of wildfire smoke on air filters?

[Klutch9]

This past week, and especially today, our air is very hazy because of the Canadian wildfires. This is the third year in a row where we'll have a prolonged period of poor air quality and visible haze from the fires. It got me thinking what effect this smoke has on the air (and cabin) filters. I wouldn't put it in the same category as a dusty road, or being very near an active fire, but I wonder how much this stuff loads up the filters. Given that the smoke has had to travel quite a ways to get to me in SE Michigan, I'd imagine these particles are pretty small at this range. Maybe not? Hoping all of our Canadian BITOGers are safe.

 

[6.7 CTD]

I had read about this prior to your question. I noted elevated potassium on a UAO without the suspected presence of coolant. I can’t say for certain, but I am curious if this is what led to the elevated potassium levels after last summer. And here we are again.

Here’s what I read:
Potassium is also an indicator of airborne particulate ingression from fly ash or smoke. The fly ash or smoke need not be visible, nor nearby, the only criteria is that the asset is located within the fallout zone. Forest fire smoke frequently migrates hundreds and hundreds of miles and will last for nearly as long as the original fire burned. This form of particulate is small enough to pass through even high-quality particulate breathers.

Based on this, I would assume other particulates may be able to enter as well.

 

[Klutch9]

I had read about this prior to your question. I noted elevated potassium on a uoa without the suspected presence of coolant. I can’t say for certain, but I am curious if this is what lead to the elevated potassium levels after last summer.

Here’s what I read:
Potassium is also an indicator of airborne particulate ingression from fly ash or smoke. The fly ash or smoke need not be visible, nor nearby, the only criteria is that the asset is located within the fallout zone. Forest fire smoke frequently migrates hundreds and hundreds of miles and will last for nearly as long as the original fire burned. This form of particulate is small enough to pass through even high-quality particulate breathers.

I had a feeling the smoke particles were too small to be caught by a filter.

 

[Rand]

if you use one of those hepa cabin air filters that reduce airflow about 50% they will remove some of the particles but not the gases or odors.

 

[incognito_2u]

This past week, and especially today, our air is very hazy because of the Canadian wildfires. This is the third year in a row where we'll have a prolonged period of poor air quality and visible haze from the fires. It got me thinking what effect this smoke has on the air (and cabin) filters. I wouldn't put it in the same category as a dusty road, or being very near an active fire, but I wonder how much this stuff loads up the filters. Given that the smoke has had to travel quite a ways to get to me in SE Michigan, I'd imagine these particles are pretty small at this range. Maybe not? Hoping all of our Canadian BITOGers are safe.

I was wondering the same thing! Where I live on Long Island, NY it has been extremely bad these past few days! Haze and darkness even at noon! We’ve closed all the windows and have been running the AC in recirculating mode. Still, the stink from those fires are still smelt in the house. In 4 months, I am going to be replacing the Cabin Air filters in 2 of my vehicles. I wonder what they will look like.

 

[twX]

The PM10 air quality will tell you how much particulate there is in the air that's <10 micron, which will make up most of the smoke. With a PM10 of 100 ug/m^3, which is pretty smokey, it would take around 5,000 to 10,000 miles of driving for an engine air filter to be exposed to 1 gram of smoke, which isn't much.

The typical concentration of road dust in an engine's air intake is quite a bit higher, at around 700 ug/m^3, and that's on paved roads.

 

[Klutch9]

I was wondering the same thing! Where I live on Long Island, NY it has been extremely bad these past few days! Haze and darkness even at noon! We’ve closed all the windows and have been running the AC in recirculating mode. Still, the stink from those fires are still smelt in the house. In 4 months, I am going to be replacing the Cabin Air filters in 2 of my vehicles. I wonder what they will look like.

I never smell the smoke, but I do see the haze.

 

[6.7 CTD]

The PM10 air quality will tell you how much particulate there is in the air that's <10 micron, which will make up most of the smoke. With a PM10 of 100 ug/m^3, which is pretty smokey, it would take around 5,000 to 10,000 miles of driving for an engine air filter to be exposed to 1 gram of smoke, which isn't much.

The typical concentration of road dust in an engine's air intake is quite a bit higher, at around 700 ug/m^3, and that's on paved roads.

What about in these conditions?

 

[scoot]

This past week, and especially today, our air is very hazy because of the Canadian wildfires. This is the third year in a row where we'll have a prolonged period of poor air quality and visible haze from the fires. It got me thinking what effect this smoke has on the air (and cabin) filters. I wouldn't put it in the same category as a dusty road, or being very near an active fire, but I wonder how much this stuff loads up the filters. Given that the smoke has had to travel quite a ways to get to me in SE Michigan, I'd imagine these particles are pretty small at this range. Maybe not? Hoping all of our Canadian BITOGers are safe.

Yeah these yearly Canadian wild fires are getting old . Do they fight them at all or just let them burn out ? Last 3 days in Michigan have been hazy . Not very green of them .

 

[gmt800lover]

Yeah these yearly Canadian wild fires are getting old . Do they fight them at all or just let them burn out ? Last 3 days in Michigan have been hazy . Not very green of them .

Yes they fight them.

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

Smoke particles are 0.1 to 0.3 micron. Way too small to be caught by a typical air filter. They will circulate in the oil and cause no damage.

 

[TomYoung]

Yeah these yearly Canadian wild fires are getting old . Do they fight them at all or just let them burn out ? Last 3 days in Michigan have been hazy . Not very green of them .

The fires are a natural event. Canada is a quite green country and a tremendous neighbor and ally, so completely reject your comments.

 

[Snagglefoot]

When closer to the source of the fire the particulate matter is for sure coating the filters. The best way to assess that is to take a look at your own filters to see if you are being affected.

 

[97prizm]

This past week, and especially today, our air is very hazy because of the Canadian wildfires. This is the third year in a row where we'll have a prolonged period of poor air quality and visible haze from the fires. It got me thinking what effect this smoke has on the air (and cabin) filters. I wouldn't put it in the same category as a dusty road, or being very near an active fire, but I wonder how much this stuff loads up the filters. Given that the smoke has had to travel quite a ways to get to me in SE Michigan, I'd imagine these particles are pretty small at this range. Maybe not? Hoping all of our Canadian BITOGers are safe.

I had a fire close to me in the next county over a few years ago. Granted I had ash falling from the sky but..... I'd definitely change the filter. If you have prolonged smoke and haze at your residence I'd suggest a 3M Filtrete 1900 filter or an electrostatic pre-filter. I don't know if there are cabin filters with various degrees of filtration options for vehicles.

 

[Kestas]

I'm guessing the smoke particles are too small to do any damage to the engine. I'm not sure what it would do to the air filter.

 

[oil pan 4]

This past week, and especially today, our air is very hazy because of the Canadian wildfires. This is the third year in a row where we'll have a prolonged period of poor air quality and visible haze from the fires. It got me thinking what effect this smoke has on the air (and cabin) filters. I wouldn't put it in the same category as a dusty road, or being very near an active fire, but I wonder how much this stuff loads up the filters. Given that the smoke has had to travel quite a ways to get to me in SE Michigan, I'd imagine these particles are pretty small at this range. Maybe not? Hoping all of our Canadian BITOGers are safe.

Almost none unless you're close enough to be in the ash cloud. But most of the ash will fall within several miles of the fire.
Even then put it on recirculation, minimize fresh air ingress.