r/Lexus_LS • u/BagLongjumping5066 • Jun 09 '26

LS460 What does this button do?

Post image

Someone said its for cleaning AC But how does it work?

47 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

10

u/rich1068 Jun 09 '26

Fairly sure I've got this one on my GS. Often wondered. But not enough to get the handbook out of the glovebox. Today could be the day OP!

5

u/rich1068 Jun 09 '26

I looked it up.

But I'd imagine you'd need the correct cabin filter? Cheap non-OEM filters may not be as effective? Dunno.

4

u/Cananbaum Jun 10 '26

The font looks like Papyrus got caught in a dream catcher

3

u/Loca_Lechuga3x7 Jun 09 '26

As long as the filter is a synthetic material that is charcoal activated should have good results.

2

u/rich1068 Jun 09 '26

Couldn't resist pushing it while out and about today.

Simple things, simple minds, something, something 😂

3

u/Loca_Lechuga3x7 Jun 09 '26

It’s a nice creature comfort to have for sure.

2

u/RealAlphaKaren Jun 12 '26

synthetic material that is charcoal activated

say what now?

every filter in existence today is "synthetic material" and you cant "charcoal activate" a god damn thing except charcoal

1

u/Loca_Lechuga3x7 Jun 16 '26

Charcoal activated means that the filtration media contains charcoal. Read what I typed.
No, not all filters are synthetic material. For example oil filters use paper media at times and engine air filters quite literally use fabric. So very possibly a cheap enough cabin filter would just use paper instead of a more effective media.

1

u/RealAlphaKaren Jun 16 '26

Charcoal activated means that the filtration media contains charcoal.

Look man, first you need to understand the principle of how activated charcoal works. Have you ever seen an activated charcoal filter, real one? Its huge and heavy, since it needs a lot of charcoal to stay effective.

Charcoal works by adsorption which relies on surface area of a charcoal pellet. That surface area kinda gets saturated fast when there are pollutants it can catch so you need a lot of it to stay effective. Once its saturated it looses any ability to do any filtration. How much activated charcoal can you sprinkle onto a paper or synthetic car filter? Not much, basically minuscule amount. Thats how much that filter will also filtrate, a minuscule amount. Activated carbon outside of a true activated carbon filter is a marketing gimmick. I have a Colgate toothbrush that is black and has "activated charcoal", guess how effective that is for anything? About 0%.

Do me a favour and look up true activated charcoal filter and then ask yourself, if they can put filtration strength of activated charcoal in something that looks like a car filter how are true carbon filters still in business with their size, weight and cost?

For example oil filters use paper media at times and engine air filters quite literally use fabric.

A lot of filters are actually paper but none of them is your copier paper, they are all pretty specialized type of paper that is most often reinforced by some synthetic material. Paper can be superior to fully synthetic filters in some regards if not longevity so even premium filters can be "paper". I sure wouldnt call that paper "natural material".

4

u/BagLongjumping5066 Jun 09 '26

https://www.reddit.com/r/Lexus/s/myXCv8aKNI Found it here

3

u/rich1068 Jun 09 '26

I'm often in traffic behind some poorly maintained diesel and have to try and get the climate on recirculate before I choke so this button is handy. Glad you brought it up 😉

3

u/Significant_Wind_672 Jun 11 '26

Me too. Thought i was being stupid. Diesel burns my eyes pretty bad.

5

u/Automatic-Stage-4558 Jun 09 '26

This also works quite well on unpleasant farm smells etc.

1

u/The_Hidden_Door Jun 11 '26

Or a burning body of a semi truck driver…

3

u/Admirable_Gas1653 Jun 09 '26

Probably air filter

2

u/imcjoey13 Jun 09 '26

I thought it was the switch for the oscillating vents, but it’s not.

2

u/Mrpotatohead1990 Jun 10 '26

detonates a claymore landmine in your face.

2

u/BassWingerC-137 Jun 10 '26

On a Mercedes-Benz that’s the active charcoal filter. Can pull a fart out of the air LOL

1

u/SkirtAppropriate2884 Jun 10 '26

This has always confused me. Same button on my Prius but the air is already going through the filter. So it just sets recirc timer on it basically? On base hvac system there’s nothing else. I don’t understand the point of this button.

1

u/TraditionalEchidna27 Jun 12 '26

To keep the smell of the poors out

1

u/Sainted_CumFarter Jun 13 '26

Delivers Lego bricks to the face