Air Filter

[Flip-er]

I know this has been talked about before BUT just a quick question
The foam filter attached to the factory filter, can it be removed and cause no dammage?
what are the benifits of removing it.
Its a nice day here in N.C so i am doing the once over, checking cleaning and ajusting things on my 2012 sr5
thanks for any input

 

[brockeverly]

If you mean the carbon filter attached to the top of the intake box, yes you can remove it without an issue. You will get moderately better air flow, although it is doubtful that it will be enough to notice. I remove them from all of my vehicles, just something in my head says the benefit (emissions when motor is off) is not worth the extra restriction.

 

[Flip-er]

this is a white filter attached to the filter.
same material as you would use for your home hvac unit.
same size as the air filter.
when you pull out your factory filter flip it, and you will see it.
sorry trying to figure out how to do a pic from iphone, my other camera is messed up

 

[brockeverly]

this is a white filter attached to the filter.
same material as you would use for your home hvac unit.
same size as the air filter.
when you pull out your factory filter flip it, and you will see it.
sorry trying to figure out how to do a pic from iphone, my other camera is messed up

I do not recall having that on my 2010 when I had it. No clue what that would be.

 

[Flip-er]

called a buddy that works in auto parts place and had him pull one.
the replacement ones come with it, so i guess its part of the filter.
thanks for the input i got.

 

[t4rjohn]

that white layer on the air filter

Leave it on there. I drove about 50 miles over some gravel roads a few weeks ago. Noticed my milage was down about 2 mpg a week later. I didn't think about the dust from that road, and figured I got some different blend gasoline causing the mileage drop. I was in the middle of nowhere, and not sure about that gas station anyway. Well...
Went in for the 35K miles tire rotation last week. They said the air filter was clogged (Duh?), and should be replaced. Wanted $33 & some dab of labor to do it. I turned them down, and picked up one for $12 at Autozone on the way home.

YEP, that white 1/2" thick filter on the bottom of the filter cartridge was totally black over about half of the filter. This was from much less than 100 miles on dry dirt roads. Of course, it took three car washes to clean up the truck after I got home. The truck was coverd in fine dust, and it was in every nook and cranny, but I never thought about the air filters.

Reset the meter and within 15 miles I was back up to my average of about 18.5 mpg.

Just my experience, but I'd not remove it.

John
2011 LE

this is a white filter attached to the filter.
same material as you would use for your home hvac unit.
same size as the air filter.
when you pull out your factory filter flip it, and you will see it.
sorry trying to figure out how to do a pic from iphone, my other camera is messed up

 

[Flip-er]

thanks trjohn for the input.
I now know to check it every so often and when it starts to get nasty, i will take notice of my ppg and see if its dropping.

 

[Antman]

The white part is a pre-filter.

If you don't want it, switch to another brand of filter like K&N, or AFE, etc., but don't pull it off.

 

[kmiller8821]

called a buddy that works in auto parts place and had him pull one.
the replacement ones come with it, so i guess its part of the filter.
thanks for the input i got.

Thanks for the follow up. I honestly have never really looked at it that close. Good to know.

 

[SigSense]

...you can remove it without an issue. You will get moderately better air flow, although it is doubtful that it will be enough to notice.

Thanks for that tip, I just removed mine.

 

[diverscale]

removed it as soon as I got the truck. Rip a cut through it and pull it with your hand. Then clean with a vacuum.