Engine air filter doesn't get dirty?

[sel1005]

OK, so this is a bit of a strange question, but need some feedback. We have a 2004 V8, 96K miles, and my wife has an 04 Lexus RX with 74K miles. We don't do offroading in either, but do live in an environment with lots of salt in the air, dust on the road, etc.

Our cabin filters are changed every oil change, as they get a lot of crud in them. However, neither one of the engine filters get dirty at all. Just pulled both after maybe 2-3 years use, and they look like they just came out of the box!

Anyone else have this sort of experience? We try to maintain our trucks, they run great, no issues, but it just seems so strange to get all the stuff in the cabin filters but nothing at all in the engine filters.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[earthrealm]

you sure you are not looking at the wrong side?..ie the side facing the engine...
same s#$t happened to me once....turned out i was looking at the wrong side

 

[sel1005]

checked that out first, but again, there was just nothing in there. expected leaves, some sort of debris but nada. Guess our roads are cleaner than we think?

 

[Davy180]

I am sure it's dirty, you just can't see it. Bang it on the floor with the engine side facing up and I am sure dirt will come out and fall on the ground.

 

[sel1005]

changed anyway

LOL, can't believe what you see in front of you, so I went ahead and changed it, put the new one in. Truck has been bulletproof, not worth risk of doing any damage for the $25 for a new filter

 

[AZ07Runner]

I think this has a lot to do with the location that Toyota engineered into the intake. My last Toyota truck's filter HAD to be changed every year due to the amount of garbage it collected from the intake behind the DS headlight.

Thinking that I'd be doing the same with this 4R, I bought a couple extra filters. The dealer I bought it from over two years ago replaced it before my purchase so after one year I went to replace it (I'm in AZ...its VERY dusty). I took it out and . Clean. Both sides. Nada. I looked up the OEM suggested replacement schedule and said every three years/30k. Whoa! At least I'm good on filters for the next 4-6 years!

Still good to check sooner, though.

 

[offshorebear]

I just replaced the True Flow filter in mine. Its probably been in for 4 or 5 years and I have never looked at it.


Not much physical debris on the filter, but it was heavily blackened. I was surprised by the lack of debris.