Did you use the HEPA setting very much? We’ve only used it twice in 3 yrs. Not sure if it would need to be changed.. We live in a pretty rural area and just don't run into situations that need it.
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HEPA Filter Replacement
- Thread starter seaweed
- Start date
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- Tags
- biodefence hepa filter
ucmndd
Well-Known Member
All of the cabin air is drawn through the filter whether you use the bio defense setting or not.
I remember my learning last year that the HEPA filter is used all the time. It was a several page discussion on this forum.
hybridbear
Active Member
I learned the same thing. I asked the Tesla Mobile Service tech when he did our cabin air filter & HEPA filter In summer 2021. He said all HVAC air goes through both filters.
hybridbear
Active Member
It would seem so. After 5 years and around 70k miles our filters were somewhat dirty, but not that dirty.
ucmndd
Well-Known Member
Based on my poking around with both of them yesterday, I can’t see any way where the big HEPA filter wouldn’t be the first thing to encounter outside air.
Mine wasn’t filthy or anything, but it did have a good amount of leaves and stuff accumulated at the bottom.
ucmndd
Well-Known Member
My cabin filter was pretty clean, though not pristine. I imagine it does most of its work on recirculation.
trayloader
Member
How did Your pry out the filter from the frame? Did this last Year and it´s a major PITA due to the glue tesla used. Did You fully re-seal it, otherwise side air kills the HEPA filtration effect. Thanks
ucmndd
Well-Known Member
I cut it free with a box cutter. Mine was… not particularly glued in there by any stretch and it came free pretty easily. I put the new one in with a bead of silicone around the edge.
grayguy
Member
It would be great to see if these filters are tested, which is an expensive process. Given how variable the performance is of residential HVAC filters, it would be good to know these filters perform well.FYI, I replaced my HEPA filter today for a second time at 5.5 years and 140,000 miles. This time I elected to go with a replacement from PureFlow Air:
2017 Tesla S Cabin Air Filter HEPA PC99505HX
HEPA cabin air filters brought to you by PureFlow ensure only the cleanest air gets filtered into your car (keeping it bacteria-free). Buy 2017 Tesla S HEPA Cabin Air Filter PC99505HX at PureFlow now.pureflowair.com
At $65 it’s less than 1/3 the price of the full assembly from Tesla and much less wasteful. Installation following their YouTube video was a breeze.
No connection with the company, just a good experience. I also ordered their cabin filter and replaced it at the same time. About the same level of difficulty and time commitment for both.
ucmndd
Well-Known Member
The cabin filter is cheap. The HEPA is like $230. Personally I’d rather replace more frequently with more economical options.
grayguy
Member
My only experience with HVAC systems is in residential systems, but I know that the filter chosen can decrease/increase the life of the system based on the resistance of the filter. If there's twice the resistance with a filter not tested for the system of the car, that could end up being a very expensive filter when I am told that I prematurely need a new system. Maybe an unnecessary worry, but it would be good to see test results against the OEM filter.
ucmndd
Well-Known Member
This is generally the underlying reason why I'd prefer to change a cheaper filter more often. I question whether ANY filter can maintain sufficient airflow over 3-4 years and that's what Tesla's replacement interval is last I checked.
grayguy
Member
We know Tesla engineers have tested the OEM filter to last 4 years under whatever conditions they are assuming are normal driving conditions, and to do that under rigid HEPA filtration standards. We do not know if a third-party filter has tested the filter, what the resistance is, or what the filtering micron level is - unless that company provides that information.
I do like the idea of just switching out a filter and not an entire housing - which seems super wasteful. I also like the price difference, of course.
beatle
Active Member
If you're running a hospital or some kind of clean room for building satellites, you probably care about those things. I don't think Tesla performed too many tests on the filter. They just asked the manufacturer for a filter with a particular spec. My 25 year old vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter on it.
I'd say 3-4 years out of the factory filter seems plausible. Though it is in use practically any time the car is running, you're really only talking about ~300 hours a year. You could blow through 300 hours of use in the summer alone with your home HVAC, not counting any air circulation cycles while the AC isn't running. Bigger modern filters are generally replaced annually.
BTW, I had my filter replaced by Tesla right before the new year. It is still $220, but labor was $39. I asked to keep the old filter. I will probably cut out the old paper and put in a 3rd party filter next time, then just swap it out.
I'd say 3-4 years out of the factory filter seems plausible. Though it is in use practically any time the car is running, you're really only talking about ~300 hours a year. You could blow through 300 hours of use in the summer alone with your home HVAC, not counting any air circulation cycles while the AC isn't running. Bigger modern filters are generally replaced annually.
BTW, I had my filter replaced by Tesla right before the new year. It is still $220, but labor was $39. I asked to keep the old filter. I will probably cut out the old paper and put in a 3rd party filter next time, then just swap it out.
ucmndd
Well-Known Member
Good point about drive time... I do ~35k miles/year so "3-4 years" of filter time for me is a heck of a lot more than most others.
ucmndd
Well-Known Member
I mean, I get what you're saying, but I also think you're attributing a bit too much sophistication to the Tesla company that I know.
