Changing the Engine Air Filter

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jul 1 2007, 06:05 PM) [snapback]471157[/snapback]</div>

When is a good time to change your air filter? FishHawk

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FishHawk @ Jul 1 2007, 06:41 PM) [snapback]471164[/snapback]</div>

As the maintenance guide says: every 30,000 miles (same as the cabin air filter). If you drive in an excessively dusty region, do it sooner.

JeffD

 

The good Doctor has it right, especially the cold barley-pop! Although IMHO I would add this caveat. When you remove the cover and actually remove the old filter, always remember to be aware of the throttle body opening that is now exposed. If you drop as much as a grain of sand into that opening on the right side of the filter box, you will introduce foreign matter into the ICE. I always try and remove the dirty air filter to the left side so I don't even pass the dirty filter over the opening.

After said procedure, proceed directly to step 5C

 

If you want to do the job better than the dealer will, have a vacuum handy and vacuum out the dust and debris that will likely be laying in the upstream side of the filter. I usually do that every time i change the oil, even if I don't change the filter.

 

Filters were included on the prepaid maintenance on my 2005.

Yes, the big black box just to the left of center when looking in the engine compartment is the air filter box with the filter inside. There are three hook latches on the front side and a spring latch on the left side. Very easy to open and close.

 

A clean engine air filter will let your ICE breathe easier, which may improve fuel efficiency. On the other hand, changing it when it isn't dirty is just a waste of money.

You could always get a new filter, then take out the current filter and see if it's cruddy, then replace as necessary. Standard maintenance interval is 30,000 miles at most. An earlier change won't hurt anything. If you look online you can find filters at lower prices than most dealers charge. Check Metrotpn.com or AnythingToyota.com for example.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(indagarden @ Jul 2 2007, 03:37 PM) [snapback]471693[/snapback]</div>

Especially the part about letting the dealer do it, since you already paid them, up front B)

 

There is a secondary filter in lid of the engine air filter housing. Does this filter ever need changing? It appears to be there for pertection from course material if the primary filter is ruptured.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hschuck @ Jul 2 2007, 05:39 PM) [snapback]471925[/snapback]</div>

That filter does not need to be changed. It is molded into the top housing, so the only way to change the filter would be to change the top housing.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(indagarden @ Jul 1 2007, 06:02 PM) [snapback]471154[/snapback]</div>

You better be a girl or else your gonna get flamed, big time. If you dont know how to change your air filter then start riding the bus. Sorry, I'm such a troll , but as soon as you open your hood, its in your face!
If your a girl, ignore all of this, and props for working on your own car! Most girls are ok to ask this question because they usually rely on the man to work on the cars.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FishHawk @ Jul 1 2007, 06:41 PM) [snapback]471164[/snapback]</div>

I firmly believe that waiting 30,000 miles to change engine and cabin air filters is much too long. Granted some people will think that I am a dealer and have something to gain by suggesting changing sooner and I am strictly speaking from a monetary standpoint. I am not. Check your filters at 15,000 miles and you will most likely be surprised at how dirty they are. Toyota does not mandate replacement at 15k, but they do tell you to check them both. We all know that Toyota is not always correct with everything they recommend, like engine oil level for one, but they at least tell you to look. For those of you who like to have your service done at a dealer, then just ask them to see the 2 filters before they replace them. That is pretty common here at my dealership whether the customer asks or not. We just show them so that they are aware and can be better educated for the future. I am sure it also helps show them that we can be honest too. I am not here trying to drum up business and get people to buy their filters from me, just some helpful advice since I have seen a lot of dirty filters long before they ever get to 30k. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

Yes!!! How awesome is that! If your single, just change keep changing it every day in a gym parking lot and you wont be single for long haha. Ya, I'd suggest every 10k miles, because a dirty air filter can really really REALLY have a negative effect on your MPG. I change mine every fall and spring because road salt buildup kills them. I dont have a normal airfilter, mine is actually relocated lower in the grills for better airflow. So I get more crap on mine a lot faster. Thats why I change it twice a year, but with a normal one, I'd say once a year/10k miles is optimal.

 

In the mid 1990's I lived for a couple of years in Mesquite, NV. It can get dusty - and HOT - there too.

One thing I've noticed with constant city driving is that I'm lucky to get 8 months out of my ICE air filter. It's usually jet black, probably all that soot from diesel trucks and busses. I'm lucky to get 4-6 months out of the passenger compartment air filter.

One thing I did do was get a high efficiency furnace filter, with a carbon charcoal prefilter, and cut it to fit the passenger compartment HVAC filter. Seems to do a much better job than the dealer filter, and far cheaper as I can get two filters out of a $20 furnace filter.

 

Just changed my filter for the first time today, both cabin and engine. Piece of cake. You've got to love Toyota. 30,000 miles, change the filters, check out a couple of things, good to go. Wish I could say things were as cheap and easy with my wife's Subaru Outback!