Moldy a/c smell

[Porpoise Hork]

I use this stuff twice a year and just spray about a 1/3 of the can into the fresh air inlet on the passenger side of the cowl. Pull out the cabin filter and roll down the windows and let it air out for 30 min or so. Then run the HVAC fan on fresh air vent only for about 5-10 minutes. It will have a lingering fragrance for a few days but it's not overpowering.

No musty odors for months.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071GZ83PV?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

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[Texas2022XLT]

Fabulous. Glad this is working for you. I find it gets annoying to turn off A/C to dry it out every time. Might just hit it with more foam whenever (if) the moldy smell starts up again. I will get a few more cans to stock while waiting. What did you use this time, Klima or Fridgi or something else?

Kilma got off Amazon.

 

[Texas2022XLT]

I use this stuff twice a year and just spray about a 1/3 of the can into the fresh air inlet on the passenger side of the cowl. Pull out the cabin filter and roll down the windows and let it air out for 30 min or so. Then run the HVAC fan on fresh air vent only for about 5-10 minutes. It will have a lingering fragrance for a few days but it's not overpowering.

No musty odors for months.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071GZ83PV?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Yeap I’ve used this before and I agree it’s not overpowering.

 

[Kshort62]

Exactly.

I while heartily disagree with shutting off your AC before you shut your your truck off. This is the first and only vehicle I have this kind of trouble .. it’s a Ford issue that they ignore and owners try to work around it.

 

[Texas2022XLT]

I while heartily disagree with shutting off your AC before you shut your your truck off. This is the first and only vehicle I have this kind of trouble .. it’s a Ford issue that they ignore and owners try to work around it.

I don’t disagree with you but after searching and trying for a solution it’s more than a Ford issue. Tesla, Toyota, Lexus, BMW as well as others can all can be found with threads.

So far with drilling the holes and cleaning the evaporator and shutting the AC off for about a minute or two things have been good. I don’t agree with having to do this but Ford isn’t going to help us. I was at the point of getting a new truck but I’ll keep trying this for now as it’s paid off and I really don’t want payments again.

I’m scared to death our new 25 Expedition Tremor will do this so I got the wife running the vent for a minute or two to hopefully prevent it. If someone has a better solution I’m all ears!

 

[Truckguy24]

It's the same concept as what many household AC systems do. Every time my HVAC system in my house shuts off, the fan runs for a little bit to let the evaporator dry out. Most people don't know any better to do it in their vehicle so they get the mold smell.

I suspect some of this being more prominent has to do with modern materials being used in all HVAC systems across all types. There's been a huge increase in dirty sock syndrome with home HVAC units. And that from my research, traces back to the different materials/coatings being used on evaporator coils.

And like I said in my other post, my 2004 F-150 is now over 21 years old. And I bought that truck in 2009. That problem with the moldy smell existed all the way back then nearly 17 years ago. Fixed it using the Lysol as I outlined and every single time over the years the AC was running that vehicle or in any other - I would run the blower before shutting down the vehicle. Here we are almost 17 years later never came back.

So I would say, it's not a Ford specific problem. It's an all sorts of HVAC problem from cars to households and that method is going to be the easiest fix to avoid the problem. It's up to people to follow through with it.

 

[Kshort62]

It's the same concept as what many household AC systems do. Every time my HVAC system in my house shuts off, the fan runs for a little bit to let the evaporator dry out. Most people don't know any better to do it in their vehicle so they get the mold smell.

I suspect some of this being more prominent has to do with modern materials being used in all HVAC systems across all types. There's been a huge increase in dirty sock syndrome with home HVAC units. And that from my research, traces back to the different materials/coatings being used on evaporator coils.

And like I said in my other post, my 2004 F-150 is now over 21 years old. And I bought that truck in 2009. That problem with the moldy smell existed all the way back then nearly 17 years ago. Fixed it using the Lysol as I outlined and every single time over the years the AC was running that vehicle or in any other - I would run the blower before shutting down the vehicle. Here we are almost 17 years later never came back.

So I would say, it's not a Ford specific problem. It's an all sorts of HVAC problem from cars to households and that method is going to be the easiest fix to avoid the problem. It's up to people to follow through with it.

While I understand what you are saying , in all the vehicles I have been around and driven in my entire life … this ‘22 F150 is this first vehicle I have experienced this in. My wife’s ‘20 Edge doesn’t do it. Avoiding the problem is not a fix … so while all the “workarounds” are just that … not a solution or a fix to a known problem. I assure had my truck had this issue surface when I test drove it , it wouldn’t be in my driveway and I would feel stuck with a lingering issue that no ones seem to want to fix. Wish you all the best.

 

[Truckguy24]

While I understand what you are saying , in all the vehicles I have been around and driven in my entire life … this ‘22 F150 is this first vehicle I have experienced this in. My wife’s ‘20 Edge doesn’t do it. Avoiding the problem is not a fix … so while all the “workarounds” are just that … not a solution or a fix to a known problem. I assure had my truck had this issue surface when I test drove it , it wouldn’t be in my driveway and I would feel stuck with a lingering issue that no ones seem to want to fix. Wish you all the best.

I guess I just subscribe to it's a problem that has existed, it's not going to get any better, so I'm going to find a solution that works and go on with my life. As I mentioned and many Google searches will back this up, HVAC units for homes are doing this at a higher rate as well. There's clearly something changing within the industry and I have seen numerous discussions around the coating and materials being used on the coils.

I don't see this being something that is going to go away so I chose to adapt and overcome as they say lol.

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