In the owners manual it says that it is not recommended to operate the truck with the HVAC system in the off position, that we should just turn it off when undesirable odors would enter the cab, and also we should leave the system on the vent setting when the truck is parked to allow the truck to "breathe".

Do any of you do that? I don't. I turn the system on when I want it on and when parked, it's in the off position.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

I think the owners manual is referring to this...
https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...hreadid=126960

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...hreadid=111157

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...threadid=99181

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...threadid=69980

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...&threadid=4421

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...threadid=42568

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...threadid=20383

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...threadid=20376

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...threadid=20281

 

No, nothing to do with any kind of smell. It says that whenever the truck is operating, the hvac system should be operating to prevent humidity and when the truck is parked, it says to leave the system on vent so the truck can breathe. The owners manual is very specific.

 

humidity trapped = mildew = smell

 

I am aware that trapped humidity causes a smell. So I guess everyone has their hvac system running ALL the time when their truck is running and NEVER in the off position.
That was my question based on what is written in the owners manual.
Because it states in the manual that the hvac system should run at all times whenever the truck is running.

 

Well no, everyone doesn't.
If everyone did, I wouldn't have found any of those links.

Mine is in the off position sometimes but, I guess I run it at least twice a week and that has been good enough.
Nothing in my truck smells, except me.

 

I don't run mine all the time either, only when I need to. But I will turn the A/C on and run it for at least 15 minutes every so often to keep it in operating condition for the summer. I was just wondering what everyone did because of what the manual says.

 

Yes, it has everything to do with smells. The major reason it is written in there has to do with odor, fungus and bacteria.

The owners' manual is only specific enough so that people will bother reading it, which many don't. If it were truly specific it would be a lot larger than it is.

 

Believe it or not (well, you might as well believe it 'cause it is true) this was such a problem in my Tahoe Z71 that CHEV actually installed a blower fan that would engage periodically when the vehicle was off, just to "clear the lines". I didn't ask for it, it was something the dealership did under warrenty when I complained about a nasty smell. Well, it was my second complaint, the first time they just used a commerical oderizer and sent me on my way.

_SG

 

I agree.

 

I believe it. Most MFR's use an electrical control which does this function using the stock fan though.