Air filter question (1 Viewer)

[FarmerFox]

That pillow is wild and, since it has white fiber inside, looks to be a simple large particulate filter. The engine air cleaner IPL shows 1770170180 connects directly to the air intake pipes before the replaceable air filter. This "pillow" will need cleaning, collect debris under it, and/or need replacement. Why didn't Toyota use simple push pins that allow the pillow to be popped out and debris vacuumed out?

 

[Bret_T]

These are in the intakes to the engine, NOT the cabin air intake so what you say makes little sense. Would CO from nearby cars be any issue going into the engine? Into cabin I understand.

I am also completely confused about why these black pillow filters are in place. I've literally never seen them before on a car. Are they supposed to be replaced? If so, when?

 

[champ306]

just remove them. garbage. drill out the rivets, toss.

 

[cmfhsu]

I am also completely confused about why these black pillow filters are in place. I've literally never seen them before on a car. Are they supposed to be replaced? If so, when?

These are activated charcoal filters to capture fuel vapors escaping from the intake after you shut off the vehicle (leftover from the port injectors). They last for the lifetime of the vehicle. I believe they are necessary for Toyota to achieve the emissions standards they are targeting.

I can't think of any problems you would cause by removing them, but I also can't see any benefit from removing them. I didn't remove them from my vehicle, nor did I remove them from the BMW I owned previously.

If you're worried about airflow, remember - this vehicle is almost certainly tuned for torque targets, not air mass like older engines. That means this car doesn't care how much air it can get; if you run no air filter at all, it will make exactly the same amount of power because it's constantly adjusting the throttle body to only intake as much air as it needs to achieve the target torque.

 

[FarmerFox]

Well, the New Car Features (NM4320U) Air Cleaner identifies the pillow as "Fine Fiber Sound Absorbing Material" and there is another "Sound Absorbing Non-woven Fabric" in the Air Cleaner Inlet.

 

[GR8Santini]

Can any of you with a GX 550 look inside your air filters (you have 2 if you don't know it) and check something out for me?
They tops come off easy with clips then the air filter just lifts out. I have 2 questions.
1. Does either or both air filters have a piece of ¼" foam attached to it? one of mine does but no idea why as dealer says it shouldn't be there (I've since replaced it for other reasons)
2. Under the air filter do you have these little black 'pillows' (see pic)? Bonus question, what are they for and can they be removed? One of mine was damaged by a rodent and dealer can't find that part, says it is part of air intake and I'd have to replace entire thing. But it looks like it pops out with clips -though I haven't tried hard, don't want to break the clips. I can't believe I can't get just that part and replace it.
Lastly anyone know how to put a wire mesh across the intake somewhere to keep out rodents? I'm in rural area and apparently it is a problem even after spraying regularly with peppermint (which is supposed to keep rodents away).

Your rodent got into the fender & entered the passenger side air filter housing. That pad in the bottom is a resonator pad to help control noise. Will run fine if you remove it, but at times under a load or WOT it will be louder under the hood, as the plastic air filter housing isn’t the best noise deterrent. Make sure to replace that air filter in that housing w/ new one.

I have L/R V35A air intake assemblies off my Tundra from adding the TRD Performance Package CAIs. DM me if you want me to try to remove a pad & send it to you.

Good rodent & spider preventative concoction for your fenders & engine compartment:

• Grab ag pump sprayer
• 1/2G Water
• Qt Vinegar
• At least 6oz Peppermint Oil (not extract)
• 2 TSP Dawn dishwashing soap
• Shake it well b4 applying

 

[incognito.gx]

I removed the OE filters & swapped with the aFe drop-ins

 

[FJMainiac]

I just changed my cabin and engine air filters. 25 OT with 40,000 miles. The engine filters looked fairly clean but the cabin filter was very dirty, I need to change that one more frequently. I'm not too mechanically inclined but it only took 5 minutes.