Question about air conditioning + auto exhaust and diesel fumes in traffic, help?

Question

To get to work, I have to drive through a heavy traffic area, that is densely populated with eighteen wheelers that constantly spew copious and profuse amounts of diesel exhaust into the air. Hoping to avoid inhaling such fumes and nanoparticles (the kind that lodge into your brain forever after inhalation), I keep my windows rolled down and set my A/C to recirculate. I realize that the cab of my truck is not hermetically sealed, however, since when I switch back to A/C it causes my ears to pop as though in an airplane, is this an indication that no outside air penetrating into the interior of my vehicle?

Answer 1

The air in your car has to come from somewhere, and most likely it comes from outside. Each car/truck comes with a cabin air filter, now these air filters can range in from what they block. But they do create a hepa type filter for cars/trucks. I would suggest you contact a local dealer for the model car/truck you have and ask if they sell a hepa cabin air filter.

But on that note, diesel engines produce less carbon monoxide then gasoline. Diesel produces about .4% where as a gasoline engine can produce up to 12%. And carbon monoxide is the primary chemical that can harm you. So your actually better off to let outside air in versus recycling the same air over and over again. Here is a good link for some information: http://www.vho.org/tr/2000/2/tr02patdies...