Dust getting past AFE Pro Dry S

Around 2 months ago I put a drop in Afe filter in my 2.7 tacoma, also removed the charcoal filter. The gas milage and little extra power has been really nice but I just went to check it and there is a fine layer of dust on the other side... nothing terrible but enough to worry me. The plastic was clean when I swapped filters. Truck has 103k on it and I drive around 5 miles of gravel every day. Considering just going back to OEM.

 

Put the charcoal filter back

 

Not exactly the same story but I replaced my OEM filter with a K&N. Lost mpg. Replaced it back with OEM and now getting over 19mpg.
I never felt much HP difference and my truck is pretty stock.

 

It's good to be worried.

Doesn't it seem reasonable that if a filter that offered great filtration AND mpg AND power existed, that the OE would have used it from the get-go?

I mean they struggle to squeeze every oz from MPG ratings to comply with the feds as it is. An off the shelf drop in solution would be a no brainer wouldn't it?

Therefore, barring silly conspiracy tin-foil-hat theories, the OE filter, or it's equivalent, works best for all the purposes it's supposed to serve. Which will suit 99.9% of Tacoma uses.

 

Just cuz my hat is shinier than yours doesnt make me semi right!

Or semi left for that matter.

And i agree whole fartedly, too many gimmicks, and even a dyno has variations of a few hp that manufacturers work into their favor.

Now im off to throw some wd41 on my hat.

 

I have the same filter, and have the same issue. I think a bit of weatherstripping on the filter will allow it to fill up the space between the two halves of the airbox. Seems to be a thinner 'edge' than the OEM filters have.

I will also be taking the motor apart here in the next few months and I will report of how much mud is in my engine after the last 50k miles with this filter hahaha

 

Running a 4.0 or 2.7? Why are you tearing it apart?

 

2.7l

I'm rebuilding a spare block, and setting it up for boost. I'll be pulling my motor thats in my truck now for the same treatment so I'll get to see ehat damage, if any has been done

 

Guess I'll go check mine. Thanks for the heads up.

Damn. Do you have to ruin EVERYTHING for me?? lol jk

 

Ill definitely look forward to hearing what you find. Hopefully good things haha.

 

Let us know if dust is getting past yours too.. its unfortunate but I think ill be going back to the big pillow of an OEM filter

 

Will do.

If I see any dust I'm going to replace my AFE with an OEM and recheck in a few months to see what I find.