Air Cabin Filter

I just brought my 2021 in for its first 5K maintenance cycle with the dealer. Everything on the inspection checklist checked out good EXCEPT for the cabin air filter. They had it marked as yellow (will need attention soon).

I taken the truck offroading on dirt/dusty roads 3 times, about 40 miles total. Would that already start to clog up ine cabin air filter, but not the engine air filter?

I have not removed ether filter to inspect it for myself but plan to this weekend. Just surprised the cabin filter is already in the yellow zone.

 

I bet that they never looked at it!

 

The cabin air intake on these trucks is in the cowl behind the glovebox / under the windshield. Known for collecting lots of debris like small leaves, twigs etc that fall down in there.

I take mine out every few thousand miles and dust it off with the air compressor. Replace as needed.

 

It's possible. Leaves and crud can get in there just parked. Only takes a minutes to open the glove box and look

 

My experience is these filters, especially when off-roading, get dirty quickly.

 

I think telling a customer it's dirty is standard procedure for dealerships; either way, you can pick one up at Walmart or Autozone for right around 20 bucks and change it in about 2 minutes. If you have any questions, youtube is your friend.

 

I’ve changed the cabin filter three times but never the engine filter, it won’t get dirty.

 

My cabin filter is always deemed dirty by the dealer even shortly after I change it myself. They are a huge money maker because people dont realize how easy they are to replace. Just buy a bunch at an auto parts store and change as needed.

 

I just pulled mine out to check it because of this thread. It had some leaves and tree junk, but looks good as new after blowing it off with the air compressor.

I have one of these waiting on my parts shelf for when it does need to be replaced (usually annually)

$13 EPAuto CP374 (CF10374) Cabin Air Filter includes Activated Carbon Replacement for Toyota Tacoma (2005-2021), Dodge Dart (2013-2016), Pontiac Vibe (2003-2008)

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01LY5YMJJ?_encoding=UTF8

 

K&N cabin air filter does an excellent job and it's reusable

 

How often do you have to clean it out?

 

Toyota/Dodge/Pontiac

 

I believe whenever looks dirty, depending on where you live and stuff...maybe once a year

 

I check everything I know they're going to check before I turn it into service. I even have a my wheels numbered so I can tell if they rotated them. Had them not do it once. Once. My buddy took his Taco in for a 25K service and purposely took out the cabin filter and they said it was bad and wanted $90 to replace both. Double check your stuff before and after.

 

Not too bad. I thought about getting one that way you don't have to shell out money every time you need to replace it.

 

did they inspect your floor mats? How can you REALLY know?

 

Thanks everyone. I'll open it up this weekend. I know it is easy to get to.

 

I’ve changed the engine air filter 3 times and the cabin filter once. I normally drive with the windows cracked open and feel it is more important the change the engine air filter on schedule more so than the cabin filter.

 

I checked the cabin filter yesterday and there were surprizingly a number of small leaves and a few bugs! Thankful for installation arrows on the filter because as soon as I took the filter out and shook out the loose debris, I immediately lost track of the orientation it was installed in!

Otherwise filter was fine. No significant dirt build up.

 

On my 10K maint. my engine air filter was fine but the cab filter was dirty. Toyota isn't required to replace it till 20K, but they replaced mine at 10K as a freebie.