MAF problem on TRD Filter Help

I know there are a lot of posts on here about cleaning the trd air filter and problems with the MAF sensor. But I need to know what you all think. I have a TRD intake system and almost a year ago I cleaned the filter with the K&N cleaning it. Didn't put a whole lot of oil on it but about a week later the Slip indicator and check engine light came on. Dealer said it was the MAF sensor so they replaced it. Now I haven't cleaned my air filter since that time and this week the same problem occured and took it back to the dealer and it again was the MAF sensor (Thank God for warrenty). The mechanic told me that it was cause of the oil on the filter and said he could wipe off the oil on the filter with his finger. I would've thought the oil wouldn't be that bad since I haven't cleaned it in a year. He said what he would do would get an OEM paper filter to put in the box instead of the TRD filter and the parts guy said I could reclean it with the K&N cleaner and barley put on the oil. Now I love the TRD filter but I don't want to mess with the MAF going out again and definantly don't want to sit in the waiting room watching the Rachel Ray show again. What would be the best solution to the problem, reclean it with the K&N cleaner again, get the Toyota cleaning kit for it and clean it, get the OEM paper filter, or buy a new TRD air filter?

 

This is exactly why this type of filter is no good.

Go back to paper.

 

X2. Throw that oily piece of shit away.

 

I have the same filter and intake for over 2 years and haven't had that problem weird. But I guess I'd recommend replacing it with the afe paper one

 

TRD cai for just under 90K miles, no problems. Just gave the MAF and intake track a look see and the white glove test, clean as a whistle. A little filter oil goes a long way. I apply it from a bottle sparingly on the outer pleat edge, wait a couple off minutes and do it again.

 

my .02

take your K&N off - as you are throwing it away, hold it up to the light and look from inside out. Pay attention to all the holes you can see thru the filter element and ask yourself how well this thing can actually filter (not too mention the oil issues) then drop in a paper filter or a dry media filter and move on!!

I had similar issues, did the same thing, and need to change the filter on my old ford after having made the same mistake twice

K&N and other similar filters have their place but not on stock engines that do not require that much air volume

 

Not to thread jack, but is there a better replacement filter for the TRD Intake ?

 

You should be able to find replacement dry filters for either type of trd intake. If you have the 1st gen type with a cone filter just measure the ID of the flange, the height, and the top width and look for a dry cone with the same dimensions. The same basic idea applies to the rectangle filter of the 2nd gen type filter.

 

Unless you are driving a race car and don't mind routinely rebuilding the engine, just use an OEM paper filter.

Any filter that needs oil applied to it, is complete garbage. (unless it's an offroad foam filter...)

 

Thanks for the help everybody, I think I'm going to get the OEM paper filter. It doesn't make sense how Toyota made it and all it does is mess up so far. Does Toyota make the paper filters that fit in the TRD intake box or like what Kingston73 said, measure the dimensions, and get one from Autozone or something?

 

I have the older TRD cold air intake system and have never had the MAF problem and I cleaned and oiled it a few times already. I used the TRD cleaning kit. If you have the same intake as me you can order a dry filter from AFEpower.com its the same filter used on AFE CAI stafe 2.

 

Thanks for the website, been checking it out. Never heard of the dry filters before, what is the difference in air flow of the oiled and dry? Here's a pic of my intake system.

 

Its called the stock paper filter.

Its the best filter for our trucks.

 

Ah my bad it looked like the steel mesh kind on that site. Does Toyota make the paper filters to fit in that box or get it through that AFE site?

 

I'm not sure if AFE makes filters for the newer TRD cold air intake for the Tacoma. I thought you had the older style like me.

 

Video I found awhile back on youtube for people having problems with the newer TRD intake it may or may not help.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=TfMpeTdseMU

 

The oiled filters should flow a bit more air, but it depends on how many layers of material they have. Here's an explanation from afe, other brands should be similar:
http://afepower.com/faq.php

Honestly, oiled filters get a bad rap on this site but they really aren't that bad, the problems happen because the user doesn't clean it right. IMO the only really ad thing about the oiled is they take longer to clean.

 

Bad rap my ass. You can see through them. How can you expect and air filter to filter out dust when you can see through them? And I know this because I fell for it when I had a Jeep. I had a K&N on it.

Oiled filters are a stupid waste of money on a stock street truck/car. They are designed for motors that would most likely suck in a normal paper filter that is a little dirty. Our motors are designed to run a paper one.

Its just a scam these oiled filters. And obviously they have a lot of you hook, line and sinker.

For me its common sense but it seems something people are loosing these days. And now for the responses from the people that just can't learn anymore.

 

Don't know who peed in your wheaties today, why so angry? You don't like oiled filters, ok, great. No need to get so defensive about it though. I personally don't have one, I'm just telling you that an oiled filter is not going to make your vehicle have a melt down.

 

This thread got me doing some research...I looked under my hood and saw a cone thing in a box.

http://www.knfilters.com/MAF/massair.htm

I know this is from K&N and they sell filters.

That said this thread interested me because the previous owner put a cone looking filter in place of stock worth some sort of extender inside an open top box.I did not look under the hood when I bought it. (As if I would know the difference anyway).

I called the service dept today who does all my service. They indicated they have never seen any issue with K&N Filters and the MAF would still be covered under my 7/75 Toyota Care EW ($510 Thanks Action Toyota. My sales guy wanted far more) The Stock Intake Assembly would be $580 with before installation costs. Not doing that. He said a new MAF was only around $160 and not a big deal to replace so run the K&N.

Cool forum for those of us who let the pros do what they get paid for. They don't fly my aircraft. I don't do their jobs LOL