Occhis
Member
According to the OP the filters already have no ability to filter the air, so I see no downside as they are useless now anyway. Or he can not try anything and spend $300. BTW, there is a no-scent version of this product.
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OEM HEPA filters done after 1~ year?
- Thread starter Umar96
- Start date
There's no need to spend $300 when the filters are $90 and easy to replace by anyone who has ever used a screwdriver. 
Model Y Do It Yourself | Tesla
Learn how to replace your vehicle's cabin air filters.
service.tesla.com
Midnightsun
Active Member
Someone explain what the additional cabin filter does. I realize the hepa filter is a very fine filter and removes very small particles however the cabin filter is not hepa and therefor has less filtration or allows larger particle through compared to a hepa so what purpose does it serve if the fine filtration is done prior?
Some people cannot even fill washer fluid or are to lazy to do so.There's no need to spend $300 when the filters are $90 and easy to replace by anyone who has ever used a screwdriver.
Model Y Do It Yourself | Tesla
Learn how to replace your vehicle's cabin air filters.service.tesla.com
The HEPA filters filter only "fresh" air coming from outside the vehicle.
The non-HEPA filters filter air that has already been filtered by the HEPA filters and recirculated air coming from inside the vehicle.
The HEPA filters are not used in recirculation mode, but the non-HEPA filters are still beneficial to filter out larger particles such as dust, pollen, and dander.
Last edited:
Occhis
Member
Correct me if I’m mistaken, but as I understand it, the outside air is funneled through the HEPA filter in bio-defense mode only. Otherwise, outside air flows directly into the cabin filters.
Okay - you are mistaken.
Outside air always flows through the HEPA filters. All BDM does is select outside air and maximum fan speed to pressurize the cabin as much as possible. You can accomplish the same thing as BDM by manually selecting outside air and maximum fan speed.
Outside air always flows through the HEPA filters. All BDM does is select outside air and maximum fan speed to pressurize the cabin as much as possible. You can accomplish the same thing as BDM by manually selecting outside air and maximum fan speed.
Occhis
Member
That’s not exactly what this explanation describes. The positive pressure is only part of the equation.
www.notateslaapp.com
Tesla Bioweapon Defense Mode: What It Is and How It Works
Tesla's Bioweapon Defense Mode, an advanced air filtration system providing optimal cabin air quality by eliminating pollutants, allergens, and pathogens in Mod
www.notateslaapp.com
Okay - you are mistaken.
Outside air always flows through the HEPA filters. All BDM does is select outside air and maximum fan speed to pressurize the cabin as much as possible. You can accomplish the same thing as BDM by manually selecting outside air and maximum fan speed.
Correct. Outside/fresh air always goes through the HEPA filter. BDM sets the system in fresh mode and sets the fan speed to (iirc) 8/10.
Occhis
Member
Just FYI replacing the HEPA filters in the frunk fixed my smelly AC issue. For a few months I have been dealing with a smelly AC on start up especially during the summer time or when it rains. I replaced the cabin filter and cleaned the evaporator coil but the smell didn't go away. I checked the HEPA filters in the frunk and the top filters were extremely dirty with leaves and other material. The inner filters in the frunk looked ok but I went ahead and replaced both top and bottom filters in the frunk. I used the BASENOR HEPA filters and they are working fine so far with no smells anymore.
Also my Model Y is a year old... just wondering if theres anyway to prevent leaves and other things from getting into the frunk HEPA filter?
How old were the filters? Mine looked like new after a year and a half. I do park in a garage, so that may be part of it.
Car is a year old and has always been garaged. So not sure how the frunk HEPA filters got so dirty.
After almost a year and 17,000 miles, I recently noticed the HVAC blower seemed to be running faster and louder than it has in the past on a mild day when the system was using 100% fresh air.
I noticed that when I manually selected recirculated air, the blower speed and noise dropped significantly and the volume of air coming out of the vents was much higher.
This means that my HEPA filters have become loaded and are restricting air flow.
I also noticed that I recently began smelling outside odors such as skunk and smoke inside the cabin on occasion for the first time.
This means that the activated carbon in the filters has also reached the end of its effective life.
Given that Tesla recommends replacing the HEPA filters every 3 years and the cabin filters every 2 years, I was surprised they only lasted a year and 17,000 miles. However, I do use Camp Mode about an hour each day, so my filters have seen the equivalent of about 34,000 miles of use (or more when you consider the length of time that "evaporator drying mode" runs after exiting the vehicle during which time air is flowing through all of the filters).
$90+tax for HEPA filters and $34+tax for cabin filters is a bit much, but I suppose it is worth 37¢/day for clean, odorless air.
I noticed that when I manually selected recirculated air, the blower speed and noise dropped significantly and the volume of air coming out of the vents was much higher.
This means that my HEPA filters have become loaded and are restricting air flow.
I also noticed that I recently began smelling outside odors such as skunk and smoke inside the cabin on occasion for the first time.
This means that the activated carbon in the filters has also reached the end of its effective life.
Given that Tesla recommends replacing the HEPA filters every 3 years and the cabin filters every 2 years, I was surprised they only lasted a year and 17,000 miles. However, I do use Camp Mode about an hour each day, so my filters have seen the equivalent of about 34,000 miles of use (or more when you consider the length of time that "evaporator drying mode" runs after exiting the vehicle during which time air is flowing through all of the filters).
$90+tax for HEPA filters and $34+tax for cabin filters is a bit much, but I suppose it is worth 37¢/day for clean, odorless air.
I've long thought that changing filters based on time and/or distance traveled was a very poor method because there are too many other variables that determine filter life.
A better method would be a run timer that prompts for a filter change. This method could be further improved by considering time spent at a particular blower speed as well.
The best method would be to measure (or calculate using a software model) the health of the filter.
Apparently, Tesla finally did just that in 2024.14.8.
A better method would be a run timer that prompts for a filter change. This method could be further improved by considering time spent at a particular blower speed as well.
The best method would be to measure (or calculate using a software model) the health of the filter.
Apparently, Tesla finally did just that in 2024.14.8.
As usual, Tesla’s offer is best
$90 for four filters is a great deal
Btw, in the service menu there is a cabin filter health indicator score
Cabin and hepa filter change frequency is a YMMV with everyone driving and air quality conditions varying
I’ve had no issues with 19 months ownership and use, think I will do the cabins soon
And the hepa in rhe fall
Think my future plan will be
every other year buy the 2x Tesla cabin filters
every other opposite year buys rhe Tesla hepa and cabin group of filters
It’s $90 for four filtersAfter almost a year and 17,000 miles, I recently noticed the HVAC blower seemed to be running faster and louder than it has in the past on a mild day when the system was using 100% fresh air.
I noticed that when I manually selected recirculated air, the blower speed and noise dropped significantly and the volume of air coming out of the vents was much higher.
This means that my HEPA filters have become loaded and are restricting air flow.
I also noticed that I recently began smelling outside odors such as skunk and smoke inside the cabin on occasion for the first time.
This means that the activated carbon in the filters has also reached the end of its effective life.
Given that Tesla recommends replacing the HEPA filters every 3 years and the cabin filters every 2 years, I was surprised they only lasted a year and 17,000 miles. However, I do use Camp Mode about an hour each day, so my filters have seen the equivalent of about 34,000 miles of use (or more when you consider the length of time that "evaporator drying mode" runs after exiting the vehicle during which time air is flowing through all of the filters).
$90+tax for HEPA filters and $34+tax for cabin filters is a bit much, but I suppose it is worth 37¢/day for clean, odorless air.
2 hepa, 2 cabin
Good deal
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