CHARCOAL CABIN FILTER : 87139-YZZ10

[Tatsh]

The difference isn't between the time. Both versions would need to be replaced when they get clogged with dust/dirt/leaves and whatnot. The charcoal version filters out odor as well, that should be the only difference between the two.

[sbergman27]

Originally Posted by Tatsh

The charcoal version filters out odor as well,

Typically, activated carbon filters are of more interest to the marketing department of the company selling them than to anyone else. There usually just isn't enough of it to actually make a difference. Ditto with Fram's baking soda filters.

One might be able to make a filter-box with enough charcoal to be effective. A good source of activated charcoal is pet supply stores, in the fish section. Crunch it up to increase the surface area and pack it loosely in some sort of box of the right dimensions. Put a layer of 3M Filtrete(tm) on the top and bottom. (And see the thread(s) on this board regarding making your own cabin filter for more guidance.)

Then again, I could be wrong. If anyone cares to buy one of these, I might suggest a "highway skunk test" with the intake set to pull outside air. If it did seem to help at all, repeated tests over time would be interesting. Testing might be facilitated by anyone who happens to have a pet skunk whom they might be willing to loan out for the purpose.

-Steve