Secondary Air Filter

I just joined this forum today with the purpose of improving HP and gas mileage on my 99 2.7 Tacoma. I read somewhere about taking out the secondary air filter. I have a few questions:

What is that?
Where is it?
How do I take it out?
Will it affect anything negatively?
What is it supposed to help?
What else can I do to improve MPG's and HP?

I'm not even really worried about HP, otherwise I wouldn't have bought a 2.7 Tacoma. My father-in-law is an Amsoil dealer, so I just switched over to Amsoil oil and filters and I've consciously dropped my speed by about 10mph on the highway and I'm not really seeing much of a difference. Right now, I'm getting about 19.5mpg which I don't think is that great for a 4 cylinder. Everyone asks me what mpg I get and they're all suprised with the usual response being "Wow, I'd have thought you'd have gotten better mileage out of a small enging like that". ME TOO!! I searched quite a bit and found information on the newer trucks in the 1st Gen forum, but couldn't find much about my 99. Any help would be appreciated.

 

I'm pretty sure you don't have the secondary filter. It was added to appease the tree huggers starting with the 2005 model.

 

yeah, I was looking around and i guess I asked before I read up...still a newb on this.

 

Yeah, only 2005+ models.

Just an FYI for anyone else to read the thread...

It's a thin filter (reminds me of a fishtank filter) with carbon stuff in it I think. It's like 1/4" thick (if I had to guess) and mounts inside the airbox in front of (engine side) of the air filter.

I took mine out.

 

I resemble that remark, but me and my tree are friendly, there is plenty of room over here, I'll save you a seat.

 

Oh by the way my favorite tree is a Norwegian spruce.

 

My contribution to the "green" movement is sailing. Wind moves us and solar powers us so my total fuel use is less than 15 gallons a year for 6 months of fun on a 35 ft boat!