Save you car's air system. Turn off AC/fan on playa.

drumtech · Post by **drumtech** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:57 pm

TIP: For those who value the cars they are bringing to the playa:
If it isn't too hot and it doesn't make you crazy, turn off your car's AC and fan and all air circulation as soon as you leave the paved road. Do not run it at all while your car is on the playa. This will save you from having to replace your car's air filter upon returning, and seeing playa dust kicked out of the car's vents for months (and years?) to come.

For you with rentals, blast the AC as much as you want.

fenwick · Post by **fenwick** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:17 pm

Coincidently - I schedule changing the RV's air filter in Reno on the return trip from the Playa to California.

Same goes for any RVers- once leaving the paved road- close every vent and window as any sitting in line is destined for dust to work its way into your ride.

We stop amongst the last chance taco stands as we work our way thru Gerlech. As everybody stretches and gets some good food - I tape garbage bags to block any air from entering the RV living space.

This includes the AC and ceiling and side vents including the bathroom.

Last year - someone forgot to close the windows as they left for their daily venture. Seems the dust storm followed by the triple or double rainbow specificly blew pounds of dust into the RV.

Once I leave the house - any windows are shut tight - less wind resistence that way. I purposely choose a bumpy road in northern California - which is easy since they are plentiful and rock the RV as much as possible to isolate rattles as much as possible. Rather have a quiet ride for the next 7 hours then wonder what that new rattling sound is....

thirt33n · Post by **thirt33n** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:43 pm

i would advise everyone who cares about their vehicle to change their air filter asap after reaching the interstate.

your engine sucks in air through the filter whether or not you use your inside climate control units. (AC)

filters are not very expensive. change them. it's easy.

blow out your engine with an air compressor as well.
shit, get the fucker steam cleaned if you love it.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:04 pm

I think he's referring to the AC filters.
Not all cars have them.

thirt33n · Post by **thirt33n** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:22 pm

oh.
m'kay.
...they'll still get dustified too though huh?

Kinetik V · Post by **Kinetik V** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:26 pm

I've heard this advice about not running your A/C on the playa, yadda, yadda, yadda for years now.

Yawn!

For the past 6 years I've run my A/C units on the playa including through the dust storms. On the vehicles that had cabin air filters I made it my yearly ritual to change them after the event...I'd stop in Winnemucca and pick up the cabin filter, and if I had a paper air filter I'd change that or I'd clean the K&N and get on my merry way. On vehicles without cabin air filters I let the blast of doing 80 mph on I-80 clean out the bulk of the dust from the air ducts and enjoyed the lingering smell of playa dust in the morning when I got up to go to work. Also when I get home I change the engine oil and that's it. (On my Honda generator it's an oil change and cleaning the air filter...nothing else...and it runs non-stop through everything too!) No other special steps needed, no worrying about things getting messed up...the playa dust has never caused any vehicle I've had to experience problems post event.

The only special maintenance I've ever had to do involved detailing the vehicle after the event...when I finally got tired of seeing the playa dust in the doorjams...which is usually about January. It can be difficult to clean chemically fused / heat baked on playa dust off the car in freezing conditions....

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:27 pm

Yes, the ac filters will clog up. That's what they're for.
I think I'd rather seal all that up and open the windows.

I don't think most cars will do well at slow speeds running ac on the playa.
If so and I had a filtered ac, I might.
But most trips are too short anyway out there.
I would still seal everything up when parked, if it's a dusty year.
Some ac systems are worse about cleaning out than others.

steveboy · Post by **steveboy** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:42 pm

For RVs: Buy home AC filters and duct-tape them over your RV's own AC filters and any other such intake filters you have EXCEPT the fridge (it will make the fridge too inefficient and your food won't stay cold). This saved our ass last year.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:50 pm

Prefiltering is a great idea.
Try to get something deep pleated.
It works as long as you keep changing them.
Prefiltering is the secret to using hepa type filters in the home on the ac or for a room.
You can get good industrial style filters for about $8-10 24 by 24.

steveboy · Post by **steveboy** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:54 pm

Yah, deep pleats is a good idea, and I should've mentioned changing them -- they get unbelievably caked, and right away you realize what you just kept from entering your air vents.

Lowes or Home Depot usually has them pretty cheap and in multipacks. I cut up the same filters to protect my laptop from playa dust out there. Worked amazingly.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:29 pm

All newer production cars bring in outside air in recirc, unless modified.
Closing the intakes still needs to be done to keep dust out of that area.
On some cars, that intake is elsewhere.

For a short time air may work out okay, but if you drive enough out there, your ac had better be better than average.

My feeling is that the inside of the car will get dust inside anyway, but the interior can be reached.
The ac ducts are more problematic to clean.