Where did my air filter go?

I live in the country. Yesterday I went to check the engine air filter on my 15 Tacoma. There was a hole chewed through the center of the filter, about 2" by 3." Okay, so I need to put some metal mesh in the intake somewhere. The problem is that the box is as clean as if it had been vacuumed. I don't know if the filter material was removed by the rodent or sucked into my engine. It runs just fine. Should I worry about it? I don't really know what I can do about it. If the filter material was sucked in, would it just get burned and ejected with the exhaust? I know, I need a garage.
Thanks.

 

Is the charcoal mesh filter still in place in the intake side?

 

If it was a rodent. Some probably got sucked up

 

Pieces may be stuck in the intake manifold.

 

Dm93-I read your response and thought "the charcoal what?" I did not know such a thing existed. I did some reading. I will check it out tomorrow. Thanks for your comment.

 

It's basically a plastic mesh infused with charcoal to prevent fuel vapors from escaping the intake manifold, some people remove them but if it's still in place it should have caught most of the paper bits from the filter.
Even if the paper got in the intake it's most likely not gona hurt anything, I'd be more worried about dirt and other debris getting in from the hole in the filter than the actual filter media itself.
I have seen bits of debris get lodged in the MAF sensor from a damaged or improperly installed air filter and cause a driveability problem, in fact I just fixed a Nissan car today that had a leaf stuck in the sensor from an improperly installed air filter.

 

Paper probably wasn't exactly good for the engine, but it would combust out without thrashing it. If anything, it would leave a little bit of carbon deposit on the valves.

Id be more worried about running a holy filter. Sand isn't as forgiving, hopefully you caught it relatively quickly.

Watch those electric wires while you're at it.

 

That's for sure, mice love to go under the intake manifold and chew off the knock sensor wires which are a royal pain to fix.

 

I don't drive too much, and I live in Ohio where is it woods, not really dusty, so I hope not much got into the engine. In regard to the wiring, I don't know what to do other than hose the engine bay down with rodent repellant spray.
Thanks guys, I'll let you know tomorrow what I find.

 

Stick a couple rodent bait blocks under the hood somewhere, all they need is a few bites and they won't be back for 2nds.
Repellents don't work well in open spaces, they work decent in enclosed spaces like cabs but under a hood you will be needing to reapply it quite often to be effective.

 

Do dryer sheets work or is that just a myth?

 

Go to Tractor Supply and get Rodent Repellent Bags. I was having issues with mice i the engine compartment of mt three vehicles, Since I put them under my hoods, No more issues. You can also order them Off Line directly from them.

 

Never tried them, I've used some bought repellents and they seem to work but only in enclosed spaces.

 

Nothing works 100% to deter mice- except a guard cat or coyote. Coyote urine worked for me 20 years ago, but mice figured it out since then and just ignore it and go searching for a way in. You might try coyote urine sprinkled in the engine bay. It STINKS, so go lightly.

 

Check your cabin filter behind the glove box.
The rodents may have taken the air filter material into there.

 

I have tossed a couple mothballs [real ones, not the substitute ones] on top of air filters in ''mouse infested'' areas before and I've hit [lightly] them with pepper spray also. Unless they run very fast and yell ''arriba, arriba, andele!!!'' they leave them alone.

 

Get a cat. Feed him/her and put the litter box in the garage.
Cat prints on the cars is better than chewed stuff.

 

Maybe op can save a few bucks and pee on engine

 

I'll do it for a price

#sidehustle

 

I will probably try these.

One of the members here mounted a yoty tail under his hood to deter rodents. That was very cool.