DIY: Secondary Air Filter Removal

they should have them, i don't know why they wouldn't if almost all new cars are made with them...it's just a few inches further in from the primary air filter

 

I will look better tomorrow, but I know my air filter does not look like the first pictures posted...

 

remove your intake tubing and your primary air filter, it will just come out when you pull off the clamps, it's a long rectangle shape. once you take that filter out, look at the side of the intake you didn't remove or touch and the charcoal filter should be right there. it won't just pop out tho, use a knife and cut the tops of the plastic rivets off and take it out

 

The first set of pictures are from a 2007 2.7L. Look further through the posts and you will find that Maverick491 has some pictures and instructions on how to remove the filter out of the 4.0L V6 (which is the same from 2007 to 2008).

Cheers!!!

 

I Am Not In Cali, So Screw Them.

 

Is this still relevant if you install a Super Charger?

 

so your saying that on an o8 v6 the filtration process starts with the standard paper filter, then is followed up with the charcoal filter before entering the IM?

 

I am in the asking position here.

 

just like you said. pretty dumb IMHO. thanks for the help. seing how this isnt my truck i cant attest to mpg improvements.

 

what hodgey said

 

Hmm i just got my 2008 4 cyl. tacoma... it doesn't even have 400 miles on it yet.

Should I try this mod out or wait awhile to break in the car?
Also, anything I should know about this affecting the warranty?
And what should I do so that I am able to re-apply the filter if neccessary?

 

I wouldn't really think that this filter has anything to do with your break-in, but if you really want you could wait another hundred miles to be sure.

As for being able to re-install the filter if necessary. If you follow 007Tacoma initial write up to the letter the filter will be intact and can be re-inserted if the need for a warranty repair were to arrise. Also Sawdust added his own method somewhere down the line in this thread of just shaving off the "plastic buttons" with a very sharp small detail chisel, which would leave the mounting posts intact as well as the filter intact which would make re-install even easier and slightly more secure.

In short anything but jhodge83's "cut and rip" method (no offense intended) will enable you to re-install the filter at a later date should you need to.

As for warranty... It would be hard for them to prove that the removal of t his filter affected anything other than perhaps your emissions, but none the less as long as you keep the filter intact and place it back into the airbox before going in for warranty work you should have no problem.

Edit: Just saw you were in Cali, so you will likely want to keep the filter to put back in for when you have to go for smog inspection, since you guys have all those wierd emisions laws out there.

 

Awesome, thanks Maverick.. now I just have to build up to courage to do it. (Never even opened up the hood of a car before, ha)

PS Should I reset the ECU after I'm done? And how do I go about doing that?

 

You're welcome.

Don't worry about re-setting the ECU, it is a learning computer to begin with, so it will adjust to the higher air flow by itself anyway.

 

I removed my secondary air filter yesterday. IMHO it made a nice improvement. I have no idea how it will effect my mileage (24.8ish average)but the truck is definately responding to throttle better. I found myself having to keep a lighter foot on the gas pedal for my normal driving speeds and when hitting hills with the cruise control on the truck maintained speed with less effort.

I ordered a scangauge II (about 2 hours after removing the filter) and I'm looking forward to playing with.... I mean using it to confirm the differences with the filter in place and removed.

 

Does this have any affect of emissions?

 

It shouldn't affect the exhaust emissions at all. It's only reason to exist is to absorb hydrocarbons that might try to find their way out of the truck through the air intake while it's not running.... Like that's going to save the planet

 

I'm convinced!
The two tanks I used before removing the secondary filter averaged out to 23.681 mpg. The two tanks I've used after taking the filter out averaged to 24.615 mpg.

 

i cut that thing out of there just for the weight reduction