The cabin air filter is NOT washable!

I was putting an amplifier and sub last night and decided that while I had my dash apart I would go ahead and pop out my cabin air filter like I've read about on here and clean it.

...This ISN'T a washable filter as mentioned on the various write-ups. I feel as if I would know this- I'm an HVAC Service tech! It's a throw-away, and it supposed to be replaced with another of the same part number.

Considering that my truck is only about a year old and I don't smoke, I was pretty surprised to see how dirty this filter actually was. I would recommend, that if you plan to CLEAN it instead of replace it, use compressed air- not water!

What I decided to do is call the company that produces a lot of our custom-sized filter applications and ordered a replacement as a FARR 30/30, the industry's leading pleated filter. I ordered several of them- I'm going to pop one in my truck and see how it goes, show you guys some pictures and see if anyone would like to order a few- they'll only be a few dollars a piece and are FAR superior quality than these cheap factory ones-

...Granted, I'm not replacing this with a washable filter, but a high quality filter in an application like this will not need to be replaced very often at all, I would say YEARLY- and this one would certainly be worth more to blow out and put back in than the shotty one that comes with your truck.

Let me know what you guys think, and I'll post some pictures of the product when my order comes in.

 

at least your truck had one mine didnt when I went to check it

 

I don't beleive they put cabin filters on the 2005 tacomas

 

So you are saying not to wash it or that it cannot be washed?

 

i wouldnt bother wasting the time to wash it just pick up a new they are cheap

 

5 bucks at home depot and you can make 4 of them out of a single filter (the household sized ones).


Same damn thing, dealership is a ripoff.

 

Lol, so I'm not the only one that had a moment there. (is why I laugh at company fleet mechanic when he asks if I want it 'replaced')

Dude seriously though, you should have known better.

 

I am saying that washing it will do nothing but make it work less and grow mold, thus restricting the blower. What air ISN'T restricted will also be disgusting and moldy and ultimately defeat the entire purpose.

The filters I am having made up will more than likely cost less than 5 dollars a piece, rigidly constructed and be a far superior filter than anything you can rig up from home depot, and have to be cleaned/replaced probably about 1/10 as often.

 

easy there big boy

 

It's amazing we even survived before the invention of cabin air filters...

 

it's a custom-sized version of that exact filter produced by the company that we order them from.