I have been driving for 5000 miles with no air filter. Advice?

I purchased a 2022 TRD offroad with 26,000 miles about 3 months ago. I checked it over rather thoroughly but for some reason kept not getting around to checking the air filter. I purchased a new one and went to swap it today to find this:


My guess is that the Honda dealership I purchased the truck from took it out to swap it but didn't have a new one on hand and never got around to putting one in.

So at best I have been driving close to 5,000 miles including 2 very dusty desert camping trips without an air filter. Luckily it atleast has the carbon filter built into the top. The carbon filter and the filter box look amazingly clean. Although that could just be because everything got sucked into the engine.....

So did I do much damage? My plan is for this to be my forever truck so I am trying to stay on top of maintenance.

What do I need to do now? Obviously an oil change needs to happen ASAP. What else? Should I try to do something to clean the carbon filter? I don't want to completely eliminate it as I don't want it to bite me at an emisions inspection. Although they didn't notice the lack of filter when I emissions tested it....

Seems to run the same with a filter in it as it did without although it seems a tad quieter when I really hit the gas. I kind of miss the extra noise......

 

I used to know a guy who whenever he rented a car would remove the air filter. He said it increases power!

 

If it were me, I'd pull the top of the airbox and try to vacuum/blow/wipe everything as clean as possible. New air filter. 20oz bottle of Techron. A few short interval oil changes. Not much more you can do.

 

Not much you can do about the past
Fix it
Be more diligent about service

 

Separate the airbox lid from the intake tube and check how dirty it is inside the tube, downstream of the filter location. If it's clean then all the dirt got captured by the charcoal filter.

Unbolt the MAF sensor from the airbox lid and see if it's dirty. Spray some MAF cleaner on it if it's dirty (or if in doubt). Use only MAF cleaner and nothing else.

You can vacuum out the charcoal filter. In addition, you can try blowing it out in reverse direction with a hairdryer set to no heat.

 

Clean up the throttle plate, a couple of short oil intervals you’ll be good to go.

Did you wipe the inside of the air box before you took the picture?

 

I didn't. I was shocked at how clean it is. The engine compartment is covered with dust from a recent Mojave trip.

 

Part out.

 

Do not worry. The frame will rust to dust long before this causes an issue.

 

The truck picks up air from inside the fender which I bet helps a lot. Not like some newer vehicles that have scoops that face forward.

 

The carbon filter is probably clogged up. I would change that also.

 

Well, at least you found that odd rattle under the hood.

 

it cant be changed. permanently fixed to the airbox

 

What's that white mesh thing that is tucked under the lid?

 

Without the filter to make a seal it may have been sucking air from the engine compartment instead of just the wheel well which might explain how clean it is. Until recently thenengine compartment was actually very clean.

 

That is the carbon filter. It is there to stop evaporative emissions. When running it is after the air filter in the airflow so should normally stay rather clean and is not replaceable. Wouldn't be against tearing it out now except here in California they might flag me for it come emissions testing time.....

 

Come back on Friday. We'll have a better answer for you.

 

Correct. You will have to buy a new air box.

 

I'd bet the Honda dealer tech thought that was the actual filter.

 

Change the oil, send for analysis. If silica numbers are high, polish the truck and sell.
If within normal parameters, switch to k&n filter..