K&N Air Filter was worth it for me

So, you're only using it as a 'secondary' filter and not necessarily for the benefits of the charcoal? (whatever those benefits are...I have no clue. LOL)

Charcoal doesn't dissolve in water.... If you washed the filter in water, I'm sure it'd be just fine. However, over time the charcoal might break up from all the washings and dissappear. Does that worry you?

You could buy a second charcoal filter. Wash both of them and rotate their usage. They'll both last longer because you're using them half the time.

Something to think about since you're exposed to that much dust - and this is totally 'out of the box'. Make sure you research thoroughly. Where I work (in factory), every 6 months they put this white filter material over the air handlers. GOOGLE "FILTER MEDIA"
Basically...it's sheets of filtering material. You could buy this stuff, cut it to length.....throw it ontop of the charcoal filter (or ontop of your regular air filter) and toss it away when you're done.
Similar to this:
http://www.grainger.com/category/fi...ion/ecatalog/N-qbn?searchRedirect=air+filters

 

the charcoal filter does not filter air from dust particles.... it does not restrict air flow at all to effect the performance of our NA'd motors

Its job is to simply capture fuel vapors from leaving the intake after shutdown (same thing the charcoal canister does for the fuel vapors on your gas tank). Then when you start your truck back up air being pulled through the element pulls the fuel vapors with it.

Leave it in, there is no reason to take it out, and there is no reason to clean it unless you have a shitty engine air filter that is letting dirt get through.

FYI just changed my moms 07 4runner's air cleaner, original OEM one at 107k miles (i know it should of been done sooner) But the air filter did its job, the charcoal element behind it was just as clean as my truck at 26k miles.

 

Run oiled air filter. Get oil in the maf and throttle body. Then you can clean all 3 items at service time. Simple as that.

 

I have only used oem filters and there is quite a bit of dust on the charcoal filter and behind the charcoal filter was dusty as well. I don't mean to be a pain I'm just asking questions thank you for the help

 

I love watching adults argue over air filters. Thank you for my morning entertainment


OEM=Win BTW

 

Well... I am at work. On college game day no less

 

Good times

 

OP - Glad you like your K&N filter. I put a K&N Cold Air Intake into my Tacoma very shortly after buying it. Only thing I noticed was that the engine got louder.

Today when I was exiting the Interstate this came in handy. I was sitting at a red light waiting to turn right. It looked clear to my left so I began entering the intersection. Then I noticed a silver Audi four door coming at me in the lane I was entering. It was approaching quickly. I was forced to mash the pedal to the floor. Thankfully the sound of my K&N intake scared the Audi and forced it to lower it's speed. Narrowly avoided a car wreck thanks to that massive burst of guttural roar.

As I slowed down, changed lanes to the left, and turned into a nearby grocery store parking lot I realized something. Anyone who happened to be nearby (and the area was sparse at the time) must have heard and then spotted my Tacoma. They probably expected a bad @$$ horse power beast. They were likely super disappointed when they saw the slow moving white pickup that was screaming so loud. I felt a bit shorter at that moment. As if I had shrunk even while sitting in my seat. I became self conscious of myself, my vehicle, and whether my engine was really being treated well by my K&N intake. Then and there I wondered if I should have simply purchased the TRD Air Intake instead of the K&N.

Thanks for your service, BTW!

 

In my case, I tested the K&N filter few days ago. No difference at all in power; I decided to keep the original paper one. Maybe is the absence of charcoal filter what is allowing additional air intake, and so, more power?

Not the same filter you use, but I was checking the CAI K&N for Tacoma in Amazon; 50% of

$301 K&N Cold Air Intake System: High-Flow Air Filter, Increase Performance & Towing: Compatible with 2004-2015 Toyota: Tacoma, 63-9037

customer reviews were very good (5 star, in a 1 to 5 scale), yet you can see that for the same car, effects are different in each case; sometimes even more gas consumption. So, for air filters, one particular experience may differ from the other.

 

Most of those reviews are like the "Butt Dyno" test though. Most folks will see fluctuations in fuel mileage every time they fill their tank. So to claim the air filter reduced their mileage is kind of.... well...

I can say I really didn't see a change at all either way. If anything over time I learned to drive my Tacoma more efficiently.

 

I personally just don't understand the purpose of the charcoal filter..... and why I took mine out 8 years ago.
And why I wasn't concerned about the 'charcoal' being exposed to water.

What exactly is it doing? Preventing gas vapors from escaping??.... into your garage? into the atmosphere? Why wouldn't you want those vapors to escape? Is the truck saving those vapors for later when you start the truck up again? Oh...but wait... Is it to make the 'greenies' happy? No offense of course....but...

 

So which action created the 'feel'? The K&N, or the removal of the charcoal? Or the combination?

In the world of automotive discovery, its good to follow the rule of 'only change one thing at a time' so you truly understand the impact of the changes.

I'm not a self appointed or professionally paid filter expert, so I have questions, not answers.

I understand that oil is a binding medium. Many old cars had 'oil bath' air cleaners on their carbs. Some of the same models didn't even have oil filters for the engine. My '59 Chevy PU was one example, my wifes '56 BelAir was another.

I suppose K&N style filters might play off that concept. But if the concept was great, it seems that it would be used in other filtration applications? My home AC system for example? Industrial AC systems?

My questions are, is that style (not brand so much) used in other applications? If not, why not?

 

If the k&n lets so much foriegn material into the engine wouldnt toyota void the warrenty for installing one?

 

My truck came with the air filter when I bought it.
After seeing what people are saying about K&N, I checked my filter. There was more dirt on the back of it instead of the front. I bought a regular paper one from Walmart and took out the K&N.
Putting the K&N filter up for sale after I clean it.

 

They don't void the warranty for the TRD and it's basically the same thing as the K&N.