Pollen filter - Do they really work?

[djmc]

My car has no pollen filter and I'm thinking of buying one, but is it really worth the money? Do they really work?

I'm looking at a Mann filter, but you have the regular one for cabin airfiltration and there is the Charcoal Cabin
Filter.

Any comments welcome.

 

[moribundman]

Yes, cabin air filter work and I wouldn't buy a car without one. Those filters get just as filthy as engine air filters, so change them at least every two years. If you value your lungs you should use a cabin air filter, which will prevent dust, soot and pollen from getting in through the ventilation system. Your dash and interior will also remain much cleaner. An activate charcoal filter is an upgrade over a plain paper filter and will not only eliminate particles, but will also absorb most odors (diesel, skunk etc).

 

[cmhj]

They're a world of difference.

 

[road_rascal]

The pollen (cabin) filter in my van gets full of crud faster than the engine air filter. This filter is easy to get at so I end up taking it out and banging the leaves, bugs, and other junk off of it about every 4 months and replaced every 2 years.

 

[Strakes]

My real world but un-scientific observation: My wife, who is allergic to practically every kind of pollen out there, says she can tell a huge difference during pollen season. So if you have dust and pollen allergies, a pollen filter is very helpful.

 

[hillclimber]

I just buy the plain filter for my VW. I don't know that the charcaol gives you any better filtration, just -- allegedly -- reduces odors, if I'm not mistaken.

I would think that without the filter leaves and stuff would readily fall into the blower, creating lots of noise.

 

[WOOCHOW]

sorry for the question, but if your car doesn't presently have a cabin filter, how would you add one?

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

Man, I really like mine. No dust in the car at all. I really REALLY liked it the first time I changed the old one out seeing all the crud it was clogged with. It went from stark white to nearly black in 8 months, and very, very clogged, every pleat was jammed. I got good airflow back when the new ones went in..

I have no idea how you'd retro-fit one but if I had a car without a cabin filter, darned if I wouldn't be trying to do a retro, I tell ya!

 

[wgtoys]

Absolutely something you want to have. They also help keep the internals of the HVAC system much cleaner. Volvo offered a retrofit kits to add these to the early 850s. Perhaps other companies have retrofit kits as well.

On a new vehicle I absolutely wouldn't buy a car that didn't include the feature.

Carbon impregnated versions help a little with odors, so if you often commute drive in smelly places (Coalinga, CA anyone ?) then they are a good idea. If smells aren't an issue for your then the carbon isn't needed.

 

[rszappa1]

Do they work...Look at one after about 12k on it...Yes they work....

 

[DINO_NO]

When they said air filter, they meant frame with no media.
joking, do you think their just pulling your leg when they say "air filter"

 

[ewetho]

Great thing for you car.

 

[GatorJ]

Install one, change it in a year and you will never question the wisdom of having installed it in the first place.

 

[nyr197]

My tC comes with an empty tray, no filter. A popular solution has been to cut a filter to size from those 3M Filtrete furnace filters.
Works well, traps a lot of dirt, less dust on my dash.

 

[MonumentOiler]

Buy the OEM filter once for the frame and then fill it with your choice of media in later installations.

3M HEPA Rated material is cheap when it comes from a 24x20 furnace filter.

Just keeping the dirt off of your AC Evaporator is worth the price.

 

[06VtecV6]

I just swapped out my dust/pollen filter behind the glove yesterday at AAP and used the stock AAP pollen filter which happened to be Purolator. PAid 15 bucks OTD. Is there anything special I need to do for the current cabin #@$%!/smells to go in the new filter and let it absorb like leave the windows open while driving for a while to let the wind stir up and go into the new filter? Does the windows have to be open or closed for the filter to work or does it just go through the vents before it gets trapped? Also, is there any other cabin air filters or similar elsewhere in my car BESIDES this pollen filter behind the glove? I heard there was a seperate cabin air filter as well. I am not talking about the engine air filter under the hood. Where are any additional cabin filters located besides the one behind the glovebox? This is for 2006 Accord.

 

[HeySteve]

Amazingly well. I don't have allergy problems, but my wife no longer has problems in the car. Look at one of these filters after one year's use, and you'll see for yourself. Every once in a while, I feel the need to turn off the climate control and open the windows and the sunroof. Man, the world stinks!

The main advantage of activated charcoal filters is catching unburned hydrocarbons (like vehicle exhaust), but they also seem to work well on thinks like skunks. You'll be happy you have one!

 

[Pete C.]

Quote:

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I just swapped out my dust/pollen filter behind the glove yesterday at AAP and used the stock AAP pollen filter which happened to be Purolator. PAid 15 bucks OTD. Is there anything special I need to do for the current cabin #@$%!/smells to go in the new filter and let it absorb like leave the windows open while driving for a while to let the wind stir up and go into the new filter? Does the windows have to be open or closed for the filter to work or does it just go through the vents before it gets trapped? Also, is there any other cabin air filters or similar elsewhere in my car BESIDES this pollen filter behind the glove? I heard there was a seperate cabin air filter as well. I am not talking about the engine air filter under the hood. Where are any additional cabin filters located besides the one behind the glovebox? This is for 2006 Accord.

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[Pete C.]

Quote:

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I just swapped out my dust/pollen filter behind the glove yesterday at AAP and used the stock AAP pollen filter which happened to be Purolator. PAid 15 bucks OTD. Is there anything special I need to do for the current cabin #@$%!/smells to go in the new filter and let it absorb like leave the windows open while driving for a while to let the wind stir up and go into the new filter? Does the windows have to be open or closed for the filter to work or does it just go through the vents before it gets trapped? Also, is there any other cabin air filters or similar elsewhere in my car BESIDES this pollen filter behind the glove? I heard there was a seperate cabin air filter as well. I am not talking about the engine air filter under the hood. Where are any additional cabin filters located besides the one behind the glovebox? This is for 2006 Accord.

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Don't know what happened to my last reply but here goes again....

Most cabin air filters only filter the fresh(?) air coming into the cabin, not the air already in the cabin. Although some high end systems may also filter the inside air when the HVAC is in the recirculate mode.

If you have a stink in the cabin, and there is no wet dog or dead something (old GF, MIL etc.)in the car, you need to get the condensate pan and evaporator coil cleaned and disenfected. This is most likley where your stink is coming from, minus the aformentioned dog or other mold breeding grounds (wet carpets etc) in the cabin/trunk.

Check the owners manual or the dealership about the location of any additional filter locations, if any.

 

[milehighassassin]

I have noticed with my VW there are two types of cabin filters available, a regular one and then and odor absorbing charcoal style. The Charcoal costs more but filters much better.