Toyota Air Intake Pre-Cleaner
 

Saw this on a buddy of mine's FJ...one of those "WTF?...why didn't Toyota think of this for all of the 1GRFE engines".
This is a factory pre-cleaner box that replaces the OEM air box for the 1GRFE engines.
What it does is help remove dust by spinning the incoming air into the chamber...and that dust settles into a cup for easy removal.
I spend some time on some pretty dirty/dusty roads and get tired of vacuuming out my filter every time I get home.

(Yea, I cleaned my engine last week...and knock the dirt off it regularly.)

This is just like the cyclone gizmos some guys attach to the top of their snorkle rigs.
What it is NOT is a throttle body gizmo...it only removes dust.
Cost was $116 from my local dealer...it took two days for them to get it in. The part number is 17730-31030.

Photo from toyota manual that helps to describe this as well.

4runners actually have one in the OEM airbox but its a flat screen after the airfilter (making it really an after filter).

Appears to be a nifty idea. My question is how much "cleaner" or "longer" would the pre-cleaner extend the service life of the air filter to justify it's cost. OEM filters cost me about $15 and I probably replace my filter every 10-15k miles. It looks like it's meant more for larger dust particulates like sand, etc.

By all means, in no way am I trying to knock the product. Just wondering the cost/benefits much like buying a hybrid car vs. an all gas model.

Wouldn't those blades actually restrict flow?

The roads I have been driving on lately have been choked with a fine dust...mainly due to high volume heavy machinery. Not to mention the severe lack of rain here on the east coast has made it worse.
I have had to change my filters twice in the past year...and vacuumed them out twice each besides. (It has gotten to the point where I buy two at a time now.)
I plan on keeping this rig for while...at least to 100k miles (or until gasoline disappears...whichever comes first).
If this extends the life of my filters by double...then in a couple of years it'll be worth it.

As for the vanes restricting air flow...so far haven't noticed anything one way or the other. I suppose I'd have to put it on a dyno to know for sure. But next week I'll be out there again...so who's to say it's the dust or the vanes. It's not like I can drive that fast when the roads get crazy with dust. (It's a good thing window cleaner is cheap.)

Waterman,
Nice find.
Sorry but I have a few questions:
How is this working for you?
Do you see a difference in the air filter dirt volume or is it too soon to tell?
Was it a direct bolt in?
Can you take another pic directly from the top because I want to see if there is anything protruding forward (like the dust cup)? I have a second battery right where the power steering reservoir used to be and it is a tight fit. Just want to make sure I have room if I do this mod.

KMVRETER,
This thing is physically smaller than the old box and uses the same mounting holes...so I think you should be in good shape.

KMVRETER,
as for the amount of dirt...I haven't had to any off-road driving the past few weeks...just city driving. But even with that...there is a fair amount of crap in there already.
Not sure if you can see it well in the picture though...it's not like there's a sand storm in that cup.

This thing reminds me of the "Tornado" gimick. But if it's meant to catch dirt, it's not a gimick :).

Yea, it's just a dirt catcher and so far seems to do that part well. I will take some more pictures in a few months to show what effect, if any, it has had on the filter itself.

Thanks for the fitment info and pic. It's on the tentative future mod list so I look forward to see how effective it is for you.

Update
 

I have had mine on for a while now. My T4R is approaching 15k and the air filter is only slightly discolored. I have pinched the rubber boot on the pre-cleaner many times and a mixture of dust and sand always comes out. The pre-cleaner will extend my air filter life from about 12-15k miles (that's an avg for my other vehicles) to 25-30k is my guess. I have good power, good mpg, no complaints.
:cheers:

Update
 

My filter did make it 25k instead of the more normal 12-15k I am used too. Many would've let it go to 30k. So far no complaints, good mod.:bigok:

:cheers:

It has been a while since i squeezed the bellows to empty the pre-cleaner; probably 12k. I just 'forgot' about it.:happens: WOW! I could fill half (or more) a shot glass with dirt and the paper element still looks good:D Coming up on 20k for the paper element. This thing really works!
:cheers: