White dust from aircon vents

[stuno1]

My wife’s car has started blowing white dust from the aircon vents. Research had led me to believe it is the aluminium fins on the evaporator corroding so the dust is actually aluminium powder. Toyota want 1800 to replace the evaporator as it’s a dash off job! The car is only with 4K.

Has anyone had this and is there anything I can add to the aircon system to stop/reduce this?

Stu

[vdn]

Not heard of this; 4K miles? Tell Toyota to get it sorted!

[A1VDY]

The pollen filter is likely falling to pieces. Check the filter first.

[civicduty]

vdn said:

Not heard of this; 4K miles? Tell Toyota to get it sorted!

Is only worth 4 thousand pounds is what the OP was suggesting.

[lord trumpton]

Has she got a 'habit' she's not telling you about?

[stuno1]

Cheers folks yes it’s only worth 4K. I’ll change the pollen filter and see if that helps

[Dont like rolls]

Aluminium dust cannot get past the cabin filter (the point of a filter is to filter), don't believe Dr Internet as he/she often talks total bks.

Edited by Dont like rolls on Saturday 18th January 07:49

[stuno1]

Dont like rolls said:

Aluminium dust cannot get part the cabin filter (the point of a filter is to filter), don't believe Dr Internet as he/she often talks total bks.

This is good to hear! The two aircon specialists i spoke to looked at me like i was a muppet and basically said if the evaporator was corroding the aircon would leak. I have ordered a filter so fingers crossed.

[AmosMoses]

Your HVAC system might be coked up, take it to Westbrook’s in Surrey. Daniella is brilliant at sniffing out these issues.

[98elise]

stuno1 said:

Dont like rolls said:

Aluminium dust cannot get part the cabin filter (the point of a filter is to filter), don't believe Dr Internet as he/she often talks total bks.

This is good to hear! The two aircon specialists i spoke to looked at me like i was a muppet and basically said if the evaporator was corroding the aircon would leak. I have ordered a filter so fingers crossed.

Things can corrode before they leak.

[Dont like rolls]

98elise said:

Things can corrode before they leak.

And how does it get past the cabin --filter--?

[ShampooEfficient]

AmosMoses said:

Your HVAC system might be coked up, take it to Westbrook’s in Surrey. Daniella is brilliant at sniffing out these issues.

[anonymous-user]

Dont like rolls said:

98elise said:

Things can corrode before they leak.

And how does it get past the cabin --filter--?

The cabin filter is always before the evaporator and matrix, so if this is coming from either of those then the cabin filter won't do you any good.

[EddieFelson]

stuno1 said:

This is good to hear! The two aircon specialists i spoke to looked at me like i was a muppet and basically said if the evaporator was corroding the aircon would leak. I have ordered a filter so fingers crossed.

It’s surface corrosion on the fins. BMW had same issues on a run of E90s. Googling BMW E90 white dust brings up a lot of threads. Sounds like the same type of issue.

[Dont like rolls]

stickleback123 said:

Dont like rolls said:

98elise said:

Things can corrode before they leak.

And how does it get past the cabin --filter--?

The cabin filter is always before the evaporator and matrix, so if this is coming from either of those then the cabin filter won't do you any good.

Well I never.....I will go now and jump in a bath of beans as punishment.

[stuno1]

EddieFelson said:

It’s surface corrosion on the fins. BMW had same issues on a run of E90s. Googling BMW E90 white dust brings up a lot of threads. Sounds like the same type of issue.

They are the ones I read and similar on toyota forum. Was hoping it was not the case. Is there anything I can put in the system to stem the corrosion?

[Demelitia]

stuno1 said:

EddieFelson said:

It’s surface corrosion on the fins. BMW had same issues on a run of E90s. Googling BMW E90 white dust brings up a lot of threads. Sounds like the same type of issue.

They are the ones I read and similar on toyota forum. Was hoping it was not the case. Is there anything I can put in the system to stem the corrosion?

Probably not if it’s surface corrosion. If it’s not leaking already the fluid in it won’t have any effect on the outside surface.

[Paul_M3]

stuno1 said:

They are the ones I read and similar on toyota forum. Was hoping it was not the case. Is there anything I can put in the system to stem the corrosion?

It’s not anything “in the system” that is causing a problem unfortunately. It’s the fins that are in the normal airflow from outside.

Have you tried a quote from a independent garage? It may be a lot cheaper.

[stuno1]

Paul_M3 said:

It’s not anything “in the system” that is causing a problem unfortunately. It’s the fins that are in the normal airflow from outside.

Have you tried a quote from a independent garage? It may be a lot cheaper.

Balls. Even if it’s 1k it’s not worth it on this car. I’ll just put up with it.

[Tim330]

EddieFelson said:

stuno1 said:

This is good to hear! The two aircon specialists i spoke to looked at me like i was a muppet and basically said if the evaporator was corroding the aircon would leak. I have ordered a filter so fingers crossed.

It’s surface corrosion on the fins. BMW had same issues on a run of E90s. Googling BMW E90 white dust brings up a lot of threads. Sounds like the same type of issue.

I had it on my last car, an e92. It needed a new evaporator and then the white dust issue was sorted.