YCY

I replaced the stock cabin filter in my '08 TSX with a carbon-coated cabin filter from Micronair. The filter appears to breakthrough pretty quick - about 2,500 miles driving in the Los Angeles area freeway. I just replaced with a brand new unit and I can smell the exhaust fumes when following an old car or going uphill on the freeway - it appears the filter can't handle high concentration.

Anyone with similar experience with carbon-coated cabin filters? Anyone with better experience with a different brand? I'm not able to get much infomation from the internet.

Thanks!

Easy one 7

I would like infro on how to change,My cabin filter the location and just what it takes to do the job.

davidspalding

Check my DIY thread ...

https://acurazine.com/forums/1g-tsx-2004-2008-124/cabin-air-filter-replacement-diy-part-s-%2Apics%2A-675564/

... I updated it this spring when I got an ATP HA5 activated carbon filter ... I really can't tell a difference, though I'm sure it's a little more effective.

YCY I don't understand what you mean by "breakthrough pretty quick." I don't expect an activated carbon filter to "block" fumes or bad smells, though. It's meant to trap particulate matter (pollen, dust, dirt), not "scrub" the air.

YCY

davidspalding: The stock cabin traps particulate matter like you mentioned. A carbon-coated filter has a layer of carbon to adsorb organic chemical such as exhaust fumes - they are designed to take out exhaust fumes/smells. When I said "breakthrough pretty quick," I meant I can smell the exhaust fumes through the filter pretty quick. Check out the Micronair website or Bosch website for additional details on carbon filters. Unfortunately, Bosch does not offer the carbon-coated type of cabin filters for the TSX.

Any input from anyone else?

davidspalding

Well a manufacturer is certain to tell you how wonderfully their filter with activated carbon will "block odors" or stop "100% of all fumes"...

http://www.boschautoparts.com/Produc...s/Charcoal.htm
http://www.micronair.com/en/products...ombifilter.php

... But some of the reading I found indicates that activated carbon can stop some, but not all organics, including fumes and odors. I have to hit the RECIRCULATION button on the highway at times when I'm behind a garbage truck or someone with terrible-smelling exhaust. That could be the amount of carbon in my present ATP filter, or the fact that carbon won't stop all kinds of smelly airborne contaminants.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_filtering
http://science.howstuffworks.com/question209.htm
http://science.howstuffworks.com/gas-mask2.htm