gappell

The air intake control on the 2014 ES350 is set to stay in the recirculate mode when the outside air is above 75 degrees F and the AC is on. In Florida this amounts to 90% of the driving conditions. This is a most annoying feature as I do not like to drive for hours in a recirculate mode. I have to remember to manually change the setting to bring in outside air every time I start the car.

This is a problem with this model that I did not have on my old 2007 ES350. Has anybody found a solution or realized this problem?

atoyota

I don't see it as a problem.

Arty101

This happens on my RX and GS. It's Lexus's logic to reduce the AC work and improve mileage. I don't like it either.

IS350atWOT

iTrader: (1)

Another member found a way to control it better. You may want to fool around with this and see if you like it better:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es3...t-climate.html

gappell

Interesting but seems a bit complicated, the AC is not the problem but fresh air ventilation. I would think it would be dangerous to drive in a closed compartment without fresh air for a long period. I do not know how tight the cabin is when in the recirculate mode. I would assume it is very tight if pollutants and fumes are not allowed to enter.

I have my 5000 mile checkup soon and will discuss this with the dealer.

jim256

I believe that even on RECIRC, some of the air is fresh, for the reason you stated. The only time it is 100% recirculated is when you engage the Micro Dust and Pollen Filter, and that automatically turns off after 3 minutes. 20% is what I have seen for common Toyota practice, nothing in our manual, but in discussions on other Lexus and Toyota boards I've been on it's been accepted as fact. See if the Lexus dealer will confirm that.

I did find this on a Lexus dealer site (Lexus of Pembroke Pines): It says up to 10%:

When the system is set on Recirculation Mode, does "fresh air" still enter the vehicle?

The air conditioning system is designed to allow up to approximately 10% of the air coming from the air vents to be fresh air from the outside. The exact amount of fresh air entering the vehicle on recirculation mode will vary. If the A/C system is turned on in the AUTO mode, then the A/C ECU switches the air intake ducting between "fresh," "fresh and recirculation mix" or "recirculation" according to the required outlet air temperature that the ECU calculates. This calculation is based on the temperature that is dialed in with the control ****, the interior air temperature and the operating conditions.

gappell

Jim,
Thanks for that information. I bought my car at Treasure Coast Lexus but did some dealing with Lexus of Pembroke Pines. It will be interesting to hear what the dealer has to say.
Jerry

SLH

I also live in south Florida. I keep mine in recirc mode almost all of the time. It does mix in some fresh air. That setting seems to work well most of the time.

Once in a while, when a car ahead of me is burning oil or making noxious odor, I would like to turn the fresh air intake completely off for a few minutes. I have not yet found a way to do that.

jim256

Try turning on the Micro Dust and Pollen Filter, that will usually keep odors out on mine.

gappell

I emailed the Technology Specialist at Lexus of the Treasure Coast to get some answers. The first reply, as expected, was that NO outside air entered in the re-circulation mode. When I questioned the answer and asked for more research I received the following reply:

"To answer your question I had to get my diagnostic specialist to get in touch with a engineer, because it is not printed anywhere written or printed in any publication, the answer to your question regarding the percentage of air entering in the cabin. In recirculation mode there is 85% of cabin air which is filtered moved by the blower.
The the remaining 15% is outside air that is drawing."


Jerry