This design flaw makes Tesla’s Model 3 smell bad (PART 2)

I got tired of replacing cabin air filters and set out to figure out why Tesla's Model 3 has required changes so much more frequently than any other car. Using these affiliate links helps me make more videos like this in the future!
Part 1: • This design flaw makes...
3D Printers:
• Cheap but they have a reputation for being finicky.($219): amzn.to/48qXHgk
• Small nice reliable machine ($429): www.prusa3d.com/product/origi...
• Large nicer reliable machine ($799): www.prusa3d.com/product/origi...
Filters:
• XTechnor Filter: amzn.to/3RW0uIT
• Wix Filter: amzn.to/41zr5i5 (Or on ebay: ebay.us/EuH3wu)
Plastic Clip:
• Find someone in your neighborhood with a 3D printer here, a reasonable price to print this is about $10 and you can probably pick it up today: world.prusa3d.com/#a_aid=Adam...
• eBay listing: ebay.us/iWn0iV
• 3D model and design files: www.printables.com/model/6892...
0:00 Intro
0:30 Anemometers
1:29 Airflow tests
4:41 Evaporator experiments
8:20 The drain hole
9:44 Reproducing an odor
10:45 HVAC Module
13:39 Tesla's drying method
14:36 Identifying the problem
16:33 Solutions Tesla can do
18:11 Foam Filter
20:14 Plastic Clip
23:12 Outro

[@iSant0S]

Why don’t you use duct tape to cover all of the bottom of the filter

[@adamdport]

I couldn't find tape that would stick well and not deteriorate. Also don't want to have something for water to collect in should it find its way into the intake. I considered a water repellant (neverwet etc) but they usually require reapplication every 6 months or so which is the very maintenance I set out to avoid. I considered some sort of sealant (polyurethane etc) as well but those usually have an odor, have a long dry time, and would need to be reapplied with every filter change. The plastic clip made the most sense to me. Thanks for the comment!

[@JustPeaceLoveAndKindness]

Metallic HVAC tape should do the trick. EZ to find at hardware stores or Home Depot/Lowe's. Try to tape it on with a slight ~ 2 mm upward fold on the both intake and evaporator sides.@@adamdport

[@JustPeaceLoveAndKindness]

Actually, just shape the tape into a 2 mm lip and adhere one into the filter holder on both the intake and evaporator sides. Then, you can use regular filters without any further modifications.

[@ClayBellBrews]

I think the main issue would be moisture stopping the adhesion then dust too would be an issue.

[@Tim_Gravy]

I dipped mine in flexseal clear, very cheap to do, works. Just the bottom portion tho up to the fins, let dry for at least 24 hours so the smell and it adheres 100%

[@LeeLikesFrenchFries]

I am beyond impressed with the effort you took to investigate this issue. Getting the module itself was truly a "hold my beer" moment. 😂 I hope this amount helps towards your costs to get this video made.

[@adamdport]

I don't know what to say, you are beyond generous. You've covered the hvac module, the anemometer, both brands of filters, and still plenty left over for part 3. Just need to get my hands on a Y in western NY! I'll definitely feature some French fries on your behalf, thank you Lee!

[@Beakerzor]

THANK YOU!!!

[@mmark300]

Wow! I was excited to get $2 for one of my videos the other day 😂

[@noyb9284]

God bless you brother! And Adam, keep grinding!!!!!

[@zq9813]

Wow Thank you for supporting the community!

[@EricCalabros]

The amount of effort behind these series is insane.

[@ironborg6405]

Agreed. Very thorough!

[@KingLutherQ]

This can actually be fixed by software: by pass the drying procedure that makes it worse.

[@dand6005]

When I saw him unbox that HVAC Module, I literally laughed out loud! 😂 Awesome dedication!!!

[@klantic2]

@@dand6005 I did as well!

[@garyyencich4511]

Adam should be on the Tesla payroll for all the time he’s put in on their behalf.

[@tommyzemich5412]

When you unwrapped that module, it was an instant like from me. 🤣

[@MarkReisch]

SAME!

[@ram-s-77]

I usually don’t comment on videos, but I’m here just to say “Well Done”. Efforts you are putting for this series is astonishing.

[@nexu2010]

Issue was there before tesla added a drying feature. There are other videos on YT showing exactly why.

[@adamdport]

@@nexu2010 can you post a link?

[@thomasdanielssen4683]

I totally agree

[@stevewoodyt]

I usually don’t subscribe but after two videos I did. This guys stuff is great. Informative and no usual KZbinr talking to loud and begging for likes.

[@chriswise1232]

I hope this video gets a ton of views. The amount of effort put into it is certainly recognized.

[@adamdport]

I appreciate you calling it out! Lots of work but also lots of fun, pretty rewarding when you finally figure it out.

[@AshAshAshAshAshAshAshAshAshAsh]

I’m here and I’m not a Tesla fanboy. Originally I wanted to see how Tesla failed but stayed around and came back for the science and research

[@Anakena3]

You’re really incredible ! Never seen such attention to detail, curiosity, and never giving up to find the solution ! Love it

[@adamdport]

Thank you!

[@-GBD-]

Are you a teacher? Keep up the great work! Tesla should give you some credits for this awesome deep dive into this issue!

[@Miketime969]

Some problems will drive you mad , my plaid stinks , same issue

[@EngineeringExplained]

These two videos have been awesome, thanks for putting in the effort and sensibly approaching and addressing the problem!

[@adamdport]

You're welcome!

[@noyb9284]

Folks, telling Adam thanks is great & all; however, SUBSCRIBING, LIKING & SHARING is the way to grow his channel so do that to show gratitude for what he's doing for us all.

[@__aceofspades]

I dont even have a Tesla, but I found your first video interesting. My jaw dropped when you unboxed the HVAC module to help you figure out the problem. If you keep this kind of content quality up, youll be a full time youtuber next year...

[@BrianK04]

I love the logical thought process and thorough testing methodology. As an engineer this video was a delight to watch.

[@noyb9284]

Folks, telling Adam thanks is great & all; however, SUBSCRIBING, LIKING & SHARING is the way to grow his channel so do that to show gratitude for what he's doing for us all.

[@ricric9521]

There's logic to it but the thought process is limited. He needs more time in the problem-defining step. What's actually happening? What do other legacy car makers that have been around for much longer do to handle the issue? There's no examination of examples of what does work in other cars and compare.

[@MattClipper]

I’ve had my 2018 Model 3 for over 5 years now, and I live in Phoenix, AZ. I got the funk smell in my car with the OEM filters, but I’ve been using “HEPA” replacement filters with the open cell foam around them for about the last 4 years. I haven’t had the funk smell since I started using them. The reduced airflow has not been noticeable to me, and as you can imagine, it gets very hot here in the summer (the A/C still works fine). I think your hypothesis about the open cell foam not retaining moisture at the bottom of the filter is valid based on my experience.

[@johnlabernik4599]

What filter are you using specifically?

[@Frankillz]

I want to know too 😂

[@rodildequiroz4421]

Same here.

[@jagnum1fan]

I had this issue fairly consistently in 2021. I started buying the XTechnor Tesla Model 3 Model Y Air Filter HEPA 2 Pack with Activated Carbon Cabin Air Filter Replacement, with the foam around it on Amazon and I haven't had an issue since.

[@hewe]

⁠@@jagnum1fanvery interesting! I just changed the OEM filter with the Xtechnor ones and did an evaporator clean- hopefully the funky smell is gone and won’t come back for a while!

[@mfman2]

Tesla should pay this man as a quality control consultant and troubleshooter.

[@antoinepageau8336]

This videos series should be used as a tool for anyone considering to study engineering. If you like this video, you’ll love engineering. Great job!

[@megamikey114]

as a former mechanical engineer, very true!

[@M1A1SteakSauce]

I just did the gasket install with new filters a couple weeks ago. This video was bittersweet for me as I thought I solved the issue and now I see I should probably change to those other filters that don’t absorb the water. Haha. Seriously though, the dedication to this issue from you is remarkable. Can’t thank you enough for putting in this effort to solve one of the most nagging problems with these cars.

[@frankng1212]

Do you think the gasket change made any difference?

[@M1A1SteakSauce]

@@frankng1212 Honestly, it’s too soon to really say as it usually takes some time and I just put them in 2 weeks ago. I’m going to monitor it and if that smell does start to come back, I’ll be switching to the filters he recommended in the video.

[@DannerBanks]

Same here, but honestly, I feel like the gasket can't hurt. If I get the smell again, I will get the filters that don't absorb water and be confident that the problem is well and truly solved.

[@VoyageATX]

I run a local EV repair shop where we run odor removal services for Model 3/ Model Y, this series is INCREDIBLY informative! Thank you!

[@hobblyjig]

I am one of the desert dwellers with odor problems. I’d love to add some data to your findings. I live in Boise Idaho where the summers get to triple digits and winters can hit single digits. I only ever have odor issues in the summer. The “fix” I have implemented is in the early summer when the smell starts I buy new filters and buy the condenser cleaner and do a full clean out before putting new filters in. I tried just replacing the filters. And that worked, but the smell came back within weeks. If I do the full clean, let everything dry, then put in new filters the smell stays gone for most if not all of the rest of the summer. I’ve been doing this since 2019 with 3 different Model 3s and one Model Y. As soon as cooler weather hits and the AC isn’t being used the smell goes away. The smell is the worst when getting in the car on a hot day and starting the AC. After the AC runs for 5 mins the smell is mostly gone. But it’s really bad for those first few mins. I really feel like the AC and the resultant water condensation is the problem for me. In the summer after running the AC really hard there will be a puddle under the car if it sits parked for a while. I imagine that puddle is most of the condensation, but that some of it wasn’t able to escape the car and is causing the odor. Tesla didn’t used to run the fan to try to dry anything out and I still had the problem back then. It’s gotten a little better after they started running the fan to the to dry things out. Only a little. I really hope you keep digging into where the odor is coming from for different people in different places.

[@sierraQuester]

Thank you so much for digging into this! I've been studying this problem for months and was just about to do a similar teardown-style investigation. Your work confirmed what I had already figured out through prior tests and observations. 1) It was primarily the filter that stank, not the evaporator. 2) Rain water was somehow getting into the filter. 3) Humid days would also trigger the problem. Our car is in a fairly airtight garage so Tesla's "solution" would suck that trapped, humid air into the filter and the car would smell horrible a few hours after driving it. FYI, I did try the XTechnor filter and while it did seem to last longer (6mo instead of 3mo) it would still get smelly, presumably because of organic matter inside the filter rotting, as you said in the first video. So that is not a complete solution but I think if it is combined with the gasket or removing the duct, would solve the issue. Your work saved me a lot of time so here is my thanks. I am printing that clip now and ordering a gasket. Might try a few other things, too. 😄

[@adamdport]

Really appreciate it, I'm so glad you found it helpful!

[@Nomercy7788]

Kudos for this guy. Buy an entire assembly to solve an engineering mystery 😅

[@telerye]

it’s one of my favorite things on TechConnections videos when there’s a tear down “… by the magic of buying two of them…”

[@noyb9284]

Folks, telling Adam thanks is great & all; however, SUBSCRIBING, LIKING & SHARING is the way to grow his channel so do that to show gratitude for what he's doing for us all.

[@timothydog76]

I installed aftermarket cabin filters almost exactly a year ago that have the foam lining around the outside and I can say with certainty that the bad smells are gone. Usually about a month into a rainy season it would come back but nothing so far. My Model 3 is 6 years old and I’ve changed the filters with OEM ones 4-5 times. Each time the smell would come back in months. Here we are a year later and nothing! Great videos and kudos for all the experimenting.

[@BigZeus]

Just bought a 22 M3 and youtube recommended me this video more than once so I finally clicked it lol, printing it now and will install tomorrow, thank you!

[@tenka__]

If that little orange plastic piece is 3d printed then it could be worth including a slot for a magnet to be installed inside it, that way it would be easier to fish out using a magnetized pole (like the ones they use to get keys out of drains).

[@chrismcsweyn1320]

Great idea that I will be adding to the one that I print.

[@gotamd]

I installed the gasket after your earlier video (and also did a filter change and cleaned the condenser) hoping it would solve the problem. As this video shows, it unfortunately did not. I live in SoCal and it's generally not super wet around here, however we do get a lot of cool, humid days in the winter since I'm close to the ocean. The smell came back as soon as that weather started happening. I think your theory that one of the causes of the mold and musty odor is, ironically, Tesla's software attempting to dry the system out. Hopefully they can change that drying cycle process to correct the problem. It's crazy that this issue has gone unresolved for so long.

[@lanzer22]

Regarding the aftermarket frunk gasket, you can install the gasket only on the passenger side, so water closest to the intake vent will get blocked off, while air from the driver side can still freely feed into the cavity. Might be worth measuring to see if it’s worth trying

[@Ahmadbc23]

First time I've ever donated to a channel. Amazing effort and impressive skills to get to root cause. Thank you!

[@adamdport]

You're welcome!

[@angusrainbow8853]

I wish you had walked through the air flow path of the AC system you purchased. I used to be a HVAC engineer for Mitsubishi and remember many days sending cars through the water ingress booth with cameras in the intake system. Basically you always suck in water into the HVAC system when the duct size is small. The trick is to slow the airflow down to allow the droplets to fall out of suspension usually in a large cross area. The cars I worked on had a large box post fan with an oversized outlet to stop mud wasps laying larvae in the outlet. The filter was at the top of this box. My BMW does the same thing but with a large cross section filter before the fan below the air intake. I think the main problem with the Tesla design is it never slows the air down before the filter. This will always be a problem. Secondly the filter is very close to the evaporator which is very cold any like to pull heat from the filter causing it to limit post operation evaporation. Final thought is that there could be capillary action of condensed water migrating from the evaporator to the filter. This could explain the moisture profile and the benefit you noted from adding the clip. You could just paint the lower edge of the filter in a rubberised bathroom water proofing paint to confirm the capillary action.

[@adamdport]

The video's already close to half an hour, hard to decide what to show and what to cut! The intake I showed, it's that metal screen, very small, 11:01. It expands to the size of the stacked air filters, 18:11. So it seems like tesla IS increasing duct size as it passes through, but unfortunately if water does "fall out of suspension" as you say it's just going to fall onto the filters. That being said, MOST of the filter seems dry, it's just moist above that drain hole, so I'm not sure about your other ideas? Really appreciate you sharing your expertise!

[@angusrainbow8853]

If you can add moisture to the filter without external direct water ingress I.e. rain it can only come from humility condensing on the evaporator and migrating to the filter (seems weird as this would be against the air flow direction hence the capillary action hypothesis) or the evaporator chilling the filter once the air flow stops (cold air sinks and keeps one side of the filter cold and the other side exposed to warm exterior air hence the moisture profile) or just the loss of radiant heat of the filter to the evaporator keeping one side of the filter cold and the other side exposed to the warm humid air (the filter then acts like an evaporator condensing small amounts of moisture). You could try thermocouples either side of the filter to confirm if the filter gets cold.

[@MrGCondon]

Adam, you need to be hired by Sandy as he deconstructs Tesla vehicles for their brilliant designs and occasional flaws. Great job on your part! Loved the resolve to find the problem.

[@DaveDugdaleColorado]

Wow!!!!!! You win when it comes to this issue. Much respect for the time and persistence you gave to this problem.

[@DaveDugdaleColorado]

My friend made me a few of them on his 3D printer, once I have it installed and it starts to heat back up here in Colorado I will report back.

[@BigZeus]

@@DaveDugdaleColorado What's the news?

[@DaveDugdaleColorado]

@@BigZeus it didn’t help me here in Colorado. Just ordered more filters. Only got 4 months out of the last pair.

[@theRealSponb]

I live in Reno Nevada and I have used the open cell foam filters since the first time I swapped the filters. I still get the funk smell even with those filters, so I am going to try removing the initial duct and adding the sealing gasket as found in your first video. But, to confirm, just using the cell foam filters is not enough on its own.

[@101rotarypower]

Im so glad someone has taken the initiative to start working this problem, would love to see a full resolution with prescriptive fixes based on geographic locations

[@Radium3D]

Here in Southern California our air is very dry and very hot in the summer, and when the AC is running the entire evaporator in our house gets completely soaked with water when our heat pump is running in our house. To the point where it fills with water. It's the reverse in winter when the heat pump is heating, water pours out of the outside evaporator our air in winter is also quite dry most of the time. It's the same in the Tesla -- somehow what little humidity there is in the air is pulled out of our air at 10-50% humidity. You'll see *puddles* of water underneath every tesla at the superchargers haha, little rivers flowing out from each one. My filters are definitely wet, I can see evidence of that by the water marks on the bottom filter.

[@michael-qp9xd]

I work for company that makes the car heat exchangers. One of the exchangers - the evaporator core important to design this part where water can drain fully otherwise if stays moist then microbes buildup and produce smell with time. Also some of the evaporators are dipped in solution having chemicals with some zinc compounds that leave thin coating and prevents biofilm or microbe buildup even with moisture. This is extra cost and not all companies getting evaporators want to pay extra for the coating.

[@chonyi]

Man I was soo excited for the water to come up through the drain at 9:10

[@adamdport]

😔 you and me both, I was sure that's what it was

[@user-vn3mc4wq4c]

Fantastic video! Love that you explain everything in such a great detail! With this kind of quality you should become the next big youtuber!

[@jordanagustin6020]

Give this guy 10k subs for going above and beyond! Kudos to you! Shared!

[@noyb9284]

Folks, telling Adam thanks is great & all; however, SUBSCRIBING, LIKING & SHARING is the way to grow his channel so do that to show gratitude for what he's doing for us all.

[@keithviolette5870]

Amazing attention to detail Adam! Thanks for your incredible dedication to rooting out and solving(?) this stinky issue. Heading downstairs to fire up my 3D printer and make one of these clips.

[@adamdport]

It's so cool living in the future, where I can just upload a video and a thing and now you have the thing within hours of me uploading it. Wild!

[@keithviolette5870]

@@adamdport I have access to all kinds of 3D printers at work, so I got the first one for home about 10 years ago. I'm currently on my third, along with a bunch of other fun tools. Our 2018 M3P (and our noses) appreciate your efforts.

[@DannerBanks]

I love your dedication man. Just yesterday, finally had a chance to put in the solution you landed on in the last video. This makes me convinced that it will at least help a little!

[@HelloPersons-od2ch]

I can't find the post now but someone on Reddit mentioned they have a 2018 and they 3d printed the bracket and had trouble fitting the filter back inside the car. He thought the bracket was too wide and risked popping off when trying to squeeze it through the opening. They weren't sure if "older" Model 3s have a slightly smaller filter access door.

[@adamdport]

They use the same filters so I don't see how that could be. Maybe deleted the post because he accidentally scaled it up or something? Please post a link if you can find it!

[@HelloPersons-od2ch]

@@adamdport KZbin isn't letting me post the link here. Use google and search for Tesla Motors Club Smelly Stinky Socks Mold in Model 3 AC. In that thread it's post #383 from user nayr14. They printed it using your STL. FYI I ordered one of your clips off eBay, my car is a 2019.

[@WoundmanTV]

Thank you Adam! I'm about to change my cabin filters again and saw this! I'm only 11 minutes in! Awesome content!

[@satnik21]

You should get a job offer from Tesla for this effort!

[@_CPerk]

Appreciate all the work you’ve put into this series. I ordered some replacement filters a while ago and that did the trick for me. The musty smell on the old Filters is really awful

[@YamiLionheart]

I also live in New York and appreciate how much work you put into finding the cause of the funky smell. I always seem to notice the smell more in the warmer weather when running the air conditioner to cool the car.

[@hakuchu]

The amount of work put into this video is impressive. Thank you for being so thorough! For me so far, your first solution is still holding up and working well. I look forward to more videos from you!

[@adamdport]

Glad it helped!

[@noyb9284]

Telling Adam thanks is great & all; however, SUBSCRIBING, LIKING & SHARING is the way to grow his channel so do that to show gratitude for what he's doing for us all.

[@chrismarquardt]

You are my hero 🫡 This level of nerdery and dedication is what I'm here for. Thanks for making this series. So much to learn!

[@davidgomel557]

Following up after a few months on a Model Y with HEPA. Background: Live in the Southeast and the stank was unbearable during the spring/summer/fall. I'd change filters, and clean the evaporator every few weeks, but i never got much respite. Tesla was no help either. Watched your videos, inspected my filters and figured switching out the bottom cabin filter for the XTechnor would make sense. Results: Early spring, as the stank returned, I cleaned the evaporator, switched out the existing OEM filters with one Xtechnor on the bottom and one OEM on the top. 2 months later, still zero smell. Thank you so much for doing these videos! It's truly been a lifesaver.

[@adamdport]

Thanks for the update! Feel free to put something on your calendar and let me know 6 months or a year later too!

[@davidgomel557]

@@adamdport Will do! I was ready to light my car on fire it was so bad and so frustrating. A true breath of fresh air!

[@nathanhartley]

This is amazing. Thank you for all the time, effort, and money, you have put into this. The amount of work necessary to remove that one filter cover screw alone is a Herculean feat.

[@zackcruise]

great findings... I'm just going to keep changing the filters every few months but it's nice to see why this might be happening

[@joepasquale4877]

Absolutely Amazing! The level of detail AND you even bought a complete HVAC unit! I don't own a Tesla but thoroughly enjoyed watching the process.

[@mbmurphy777]

These are some really comprehensive high effort videos. Great work.

[@adamdport]

Sometimes I click into the profile of commenters to see if they also create content. I had to use chatgpt to see what the heck I was looking at, and I've gotta say...I did not expect to be watching someone make butthole steam with microscopic solder scissors this morning. Thank YOU for improving lives!

[@mbmurphy777]

@@adamdport thanks. I have those videos up so that people can check and see if I know what I’m doing.

[@RyanCalbick]

Adam, I just want to say thank you for the amount of time and effort you've clearly put into these videos. I bought the gasket and was hesitant to install it, worried about airflow. I think I'll proceed. Much appreciated.

[@Doctorbasss]

18:40: Open cell foam is more absorbing moisture than closed cell foam. But thanks for this ultra well analyzed problematic!

[@jaro6985]

Yes but either way its not really an issue compared to the paper/fabric filter which would wick moisture. " Open-Cell does not wick moisture out of air, or wick water like sponge. Water will only penetrate through the foam with pressure (i.e. submersion, flooding etc.). In fact, in 96 hour water submersion tests, 0.5lb open-cell foam was found to have a water absorption rate of approximately 25% - no more than typical plywood"

[@NJMike67]

I am in central NJ and I have a 2021 Model 3. The cabin funk happened after about a year or so. I replaced my OEM filters with charcoal ones I got from Abstract Ocean. I kinda forgot about it since. Every now and again I get a waft of funk but it seems only when it’s been very humid/rainy out and usually when I am using the windshield defogger. Not sure if that adds a wrinkle or not. Thanks for your videos. Dedication to detail and the efforts you extend to prove your point are pretty impressive.

[@nobodynobody1235]

Very good video with tons of work behind doing all these testings, bravo and thank you to you

[@MikeyDonios]

Bro it’s a crime this channel isn’t at 100k subs. Thank you for the dedication and putting this much effort into this issue.

[@emiliorescigno]

The effort put into this series is incredible. Well done.

[@noyb9284]

Folks, telling Adam thanks is great & all; however, SUBSCRIBING, LIKING & SHARING is the way to grow his channel so do that to show gratitude for what he's doing for us all.

[@GeneralSpecifiK]

This was superb investigation. I very rarely comment on KZbin videos and I wanted to say thank you for the effort and thorough investigation and testing you put in to this. Looking forward to whatever comes next! Love the unboxing grin at 10:49 😂

[@adamdport]

You're welcome!

[@ghall05]

This video is fantastic! I absolutely love that you bought a whole hvac assembly! One quick note is that the style of fan used in these systems can't move the air in reverse. If the fan runs backwards, the airflow direction is the same, however it is much less efficient at moving air.

[@trapoza66]

Great job!!!! I think getting the xtechnor filter seems like the best solution. I’ve already got the aftermarket gasket installed.

[@gbinman]

I really enjoyed your efforts to identify this problem and was impressed with the levels you went to. I hope Tesla watches them. I have a 2022 M3LR and live in the Dallas TX area. I don't drive a lot and garage my car. When I first got my car, I enabled recirculate like I always did with ICE cars. There were a few times when I got in to drive when there was a musty smell. I turned off recirculate and haven't used it since and have had no further smell issues. This effort was absolutely trivial in comparison to yours. A factor could also be use case. Mine is mostly short local trips, no commuting. Others may commute to work, with their cars parked outside and then return home which would be very different. In any case, your videos were enjoyable and very educational. Thank you!

[@kingkoolkata]

Wow, thank you very much for your effort. When you bought the entire unit just for research I had to laugh. I was shocked how much attention to detail you put into this. Another idea: what if you put some duct Tape around the bottom side of the Filter? Or simply soak it with hot wax, paint it, glue it? Just put something on so the fabric has no direct contact to the water anymore :) Subscribed ❤️

[@patrickd7484]

This video was so awesome. Such quality that I didn’t even want to skip ahead! Thank you very much for taking the time to do this I’ve learned a lot.

[@TM-Earthling]

From CNY to you in WNY, thanks for your informative & well studied video

[@adamdport]

Get those snow tires on!

[@TinkerTry]

Fantastic work here Adam, so friggin' inspiring to see what lengths you went to get to the bottom of this matter that affects >1M EVs. Looking forward to Tesla's reaction to this! (I'm forwarding this video and PART1 to the few folks at Tesla that I've gotten to know, many of them from Tesla Solar so it's a bit of a longshot)

[@Resist4]

Unfortunately I doubt Tesla will react, unless people like Sandy Munro do a video about the problem.

[@fernandokreutz03]

Very nice diving deep on this! I think that moisture might still be accumulating there as a result from water not completely draining from the pan and normally evaporating, finding its way through the small duct in the filter pan (and the drying cycle accelerates that). If that duct was blocked, very likely the vapors would spread out on the filter instead of accumulating in that area. If you dig a bit deeper youll find other cars with this issue, the c-class MB had a class action lawsuit over this as water dles not fully drain out from a design issue and causes the filters to moist and smell bad when parked (i had one with this issue and decided to sell the car).

[@tyeun1rocks]

The most thorough tesla tests I've ever seen. The effort in this video is astounding. Thank you so much for doing all of this hard work for free for us all. I hope your channel explodes.

[@kylehill4437]

Your level of detail and effort is incredible. Rarely I see KZbinrs at this level. Tesla engineering seriously needs to take notes. Everyone please try to send Tesla with links to this video, they must address this.

[@g.4279]

What an amazing video. It is so detailed and with great scientific backing given you are just one guy. Thank you for this!

[@FloridaPoolGuy]

The funky smell is probably the worst part of my model three. Thank you for this, very impressive what you have done here.

[@BPiddy405]

this is dedication! I have a 18 Model 3 with on again / off again stank and I definitely plan to utilize your tips! Seems like it mostly comes down to keeping that bottom filter edge from getting wet. Easy enough to try next time I'm in there

[@gillt1975]

Thank you for your videos. I got the frunk gasket assembly after watching your first video. It just makes sense that the water coming in would be the problem. I believe that it has helped. I haven't noticed the stink since. Seems strange that a company like Tesla wouldn't have done a better job of testing this. Great video.

[@mattdailey7151]

Nice work in helping to figure this out, Adam. It seems like the air movement past the drain hole is creating a vacuum that pulls any stagnant water (or even just humidity in the air, because I bet that material on the edge of the filter holds moisture easily) back up the drain. That would certainly explain why the 3d printed clip is making a difference.

[@adamdport]

I think that entire area is pressurized by the fan, not vacuum, but I never took a class in this stuff. Any idea how to test to prove your idea?

[@haphazard1342]

It's possible that the area is still experiencing a vacuum even under pressure, due to the Venturi effect. The best way to confirm this is probably with some sort of telltale (like string, or put dye in water) in the drain. If you put some dye in the drain then recreate the conditions, you should easily see whether the dye comes back up onto the filter. You might want to use a cover or something like a paper towel over the filter so you can try this a couple times without having to replace the filter. I really suspect that stagnant water from the drain is the culprit here. Even in the desert, air conditioning will condense water out of the air, and the hotter it is the more the A/C runs and the more water condenses.

[@mikeyc8139]

Incredible work! I do think you've found some of the issues, BUT... I ran Abstract Ocean filters for a while because those have a plastic lip around the entire edge of the filters (about 1/4 inch) so they can't soak water. After about 6 months, they still stunk: even the top one stunk. Don't think the fan sucking air is enough to moisten the filter. The filters get damp after driving and then parking for a bit so I wondered if the sudden change in air pressure from shutting the driver's door could push water out of the condenser onto the filters?

[@adamdport]

Appreciate the data point! Curious if you addressed the water-in-the-intake issue from part 1? Do you have problems with other cars or just Tesla? I wouldn't think it's pressure related since there's a vent behind the trunk lining to let air escape the cabin

[@mikeyc8139]

@@adamdportTesla is the only car I've owned that does this. I haven't done any modifications. I'm in FL so it rarely rains in the winter and I've gotten the smell to come back after a filter change and condenser cleaning in about 3 months with the car never seeing water: didn't drive it in the rain and didn't need to wash it. So I dunno. At that point, condensation on the condenser is about the only way to get water in there.

[@rebootninja8036]

The windows roll down a bit before opening and roll back up after closing, I would expect that to take most of the pressure change out of the equation, but it could still be a factor I suppose. I just did an evaporator cleaning & changed to filters with foam edges and activated charcoal, we’ll see how it works out.

[@sayeedahm]

Project Farm of Tesla issues. Love these videos. Please keep coming.. Subscribed to your channel. Hope it grows immensely.

[@TofuPhung]

Hi, thank you for spending time and making the videos. It would take a lot of your time, installing, uninstalling, then even bought a whole a/c duct system. I think mold and bad stuff grow in the second compartment of the draining pan, (not the compartment that the filter seats on, the other one).

[@bernadkecc]

Maybe , run the model3 without those filters for a day or two but measure the moister at the base area before and after and check a sniff test in this location for mold ordour as well.

[@rippleyunicorn7321]

Love this! Can you do a comparison between the Model 3/Y system and why this doesn't happen on the S/X system?

[@seantiz]

I have a refreshed model S and it gets a really offensive smell when it’s raining or super humid. And it happens while parked in a garage.

[@Ty-ls5xg]

Wow!!!! I am beyond impressed!! Now this is what you call a useful KZbin video and with a sizable investment on your end. I am going to subscribe just for that reason alone. You are concise and knowledgeable. You take geeking to a whole other level and I mean that as the sincerest term of endearment. I admire your intelligence and skills, I wish I had your qualities to the level you possess. I don't even have a Tesla anymore, but I did have this issue happen in my model y after a few months of ownership( during hot humid summer). Can you believe that Tesla charged me to come out and "fix" the issue with a new filter and evaporator drying spray? Apparently it's a "maintenance" item. Lol. Thanks again for wonderful content. Subscribed

[@GameNOWRoom]

I also don't comment very often, but your two videos were amazing. Thank you for the effort. I don't even own a Tesla and also never will, but I watched both videos. Amazing job Adam :)

[@CakeLorde]

Interesting you have a stink it the winter, I live in Sacramento and we sit around 90% humidity in the winter, but I only have the smell in the summer

[@torrmelling]

curious to know if any of these issues were addressed in the updated model 3 (highland)

[@vegasflyby]

Great videos on this issue. I feel like you’ve put way more into solving this than Tesla Engineering has.

[@hobblyjig]

I implemented some of the recommendations from your first video. The second video is stellar, and I look forward to part three.

[@BACcontrabass]

Dude you are an absolute monster - fantastic work!

[@pantube73]

Another extremely detailed video to part 1. Engineering Explained to the max. Instead of the clip, could you stop the moisture absorption by painting the bottom of the filter with Elmer’s glue? Less risky than a detachable clip.

[@adamdport]

yep, I'm just concerned about it deteriorating. I wish Tesla would do it so we don't have to!

[@DaveNagy1]

That was my initial thought as well: Rather than printing a fiddly little part, just seal the entire bottom edge of the filter with... something. Clear packing tape was my first thought, but of course it might come loose, or flutter in the breeze. My next thought, like yours, was some sort of liquid sealant or water-proofer. Just dunk or paint the bottom quarter inch of the filter in this mystery fluid, let it dry, and boom, profit! But what to use? According to Google: Nikwax TX Direct, Scotchgard, and Kiwi Camp Dry are all sold as something that makes fabric waterproof. I've of the middle one, but haven't used any of them. Something like Plasti Dip might also work, but I imagine rubbery substances would really stink until done out-gassing. The waterproof version of Titebond wood glue might work. (Titebond III) Or Elmer's, as you say. Great "series", Adam! I don't have a Tesla, but I'm finding this fascinating.

[@adamdport]

@@DaveNagy1 lots of waterproofers require reapplication every 6 months or so, which is the exact maintenance I set out to eliminate. Some kind of liquid sealant could be cool, but many have odors, and I'd feel terrible if someone was impatient and ended up gluing their filter to the bottom of their hvac module 😂

[@PHY51C15T]

​@@adamdportgood point. Cured permanent adhesive like crazy glue, or plastics epoxy seems like it's the best bet outside of the printed clip

[@denisbaev5479]

Thank you! I'll be pursuing the 2x filter solution (Xtechnor on bottom and Wix on top) + the hood shroud to prevent ingres from the outside. The auto dry sequence being a problem is an excellent find!

[@christokutrovsky8086]

Now this is some next level research. Amazing work - love the dedication, including the effort put to film and show us your measurments. Absolutely brilliant!

[@shallenberger57]

Great video Thanks. Two things that might work as well is either spraying the bottom of the filter with scotchgaurd water proofer or get a can of the flex seal spray and spray it to the bottom of the filter.

[@meseone920]

They have canned version of flex seal that allows you to roller it on or paint brush it. Could also use rubberized under coating or any series of similar stuff and a mini paint roller and make a few up at a time and store the flex seal until next need.

[@chuckz28]

Your dedication to this is incredible!

[@rcboosted]

What an exhaustive and comprehensive tests you've done, I really applaud the thought and effort that went into this! Even a whole HVAC units under the dash! I had a theory as to why it was getting wet, which is the evaporator fins might be too cold after shutdown and starts to condensate from ambient area. The moisture somehow gets onto the filter or just the fact that it was high humidity in a small area was enough to "wet" the filter? But then Tesla's own bandaid fix of running the HVAC pulling in fresh air should have dried it up? I'm just theorizing.

[@pepstein]

You went way above and beyond here. Super impressive! A few ideas for future episodes: 1. I wonder if there's a way to mount a moisture sensor down at the bottom of the lower air filter, so you can graph moisture over time 2. I suspect cabin overheat protection may cause problems, as it runs the air conditioning and it may not have he same logic for drying things out afterwords

[@marklefler4007]

Tesla, please watch these. Fantastic work!

[@Resist4]

Could be that Tesla knew about this and just wanted to sell us more filters.

[@ironborg6405]

Amazing job man! Tesla engineers better be watching this video.

[@Resist4]

You'd think those Tesla engineers would have done better testing.

[@ironborg6405]

@@Resist4Agreed

[@jeramievangessel4225]

Very well done Adam! I really appreciate all the work you have put into this and I'll be purchasing some of those "expensive" ebay clips to support your work.

[@jimmyvole851]

Thanks for the finding & your deep dive analysis. My 2019 LR M3 was getting this issue in late 2020, however issue was resolved after replacing the air filter & never has that issue again ever since. For the idea of printing a clip, I think it will work the same if you place a piece of duct tape or aluminum duct tape on the bottom of the filter and cover 1/2” up, the glue will hold it . Thanks for the clip as it the first time I could see the whole ducting system of a M3

[@yoji8130]

bravo tesla needs to hire you

[@christopherchu7521]

Thank you so much for doing this. This series has been very helpful!!!!

[@dankotz722]

WOW! Just WOW! Adam, that was the most thorough troubleshooting video I can ever remember seeing on KZbin. Thank you, and I hope that Tesla reaches out to you with an attractive job offer. Well done, sir.

[@the.man.from.toronto]

You went above and beyond. Thank you so much! I'm going to make some changes to my car.

[@hobblyjig]

Thank you so much for this series. The Tesla HVAC funk is the only ongoing issue I have with my cars and I love learning more about what might be causing it.

[@cndctrdjful]

Great video. You keep getting closer. Hope you figure it out in video 3.

[@brianscott1978]

Great video and going WAY past effort put in. Truly amazed me how much work you've put in. Your question about why moisture collects at the drain on the lower filter. I believe it's from the temperature difference with the air flow. That is the only access and the air temp moving between the lower (warmer area) and the upper outer(colder area) the water is condensing (might have that backwards). Growing up in the desert the misconception is low humidity = no humidity. To survive and collect water in the desert, you can put out rocks over a plastic bag to have morning dew/humidity condense and provide drinking water. As the bottom of the rock stays very cold, the top gets direct sun and heats rapidly. This creates an effect to change humidity into drinking water. I think you are looking at a micro environment creating this same effect in that filter area. To test this I think, you would need to put a temperature gauge in both areas to measure how large of a difference on both sides and how rapidly they change of temp of the bottom of the filter is. I'm guessing the filter over the vent gets extremely cold compared to one or both sides. Any evaporation or humidity is creating the dew that is being wicked back into the filter right at the temp difference. Software would need some kind of moisture or temp sensor in that area to modulate that depending on conditions. Guessing not worth it for Tesla to do that. Have the plate the filter is sitting on go across that opening, allowing the moisture to collect on it instead of the filter should fix that. An easy mod for Tesla if they are still using that setup in any new cars. Filter manufactures are probably the best solution at this point with changing the filter to have a water resistant bottom as you suggested. 3d printing a part would probably be next, as you stated someone selling that as an option for people that don't have a 3d printer themselves. Thanks again and hope this helps.