Engine Air Filter

[Jeff Kleb]

I am curious as to how often most of you replace your engine air fitler on your 4Runner. I know that 30k is usually recommended for most vehicles, but I tend to do it more often. Generally, I put a new one in about every 20k in my Sentra and that has worked well. (It is amazing how bees can get into them sometimes.)

I just flipped 18,000 miles on my 2005 SR5 V-6, and will probably throw a new one in this afternoon (if Wal-Mart has the correct one in stock). This will be the first time I replaced it. Heck, I have not even opened the old one to see how bad it is.

At least the engine air filters are not too expensive and you can usually find them at other places besides the dealer. With the in-cabin filters, though, you typically have to buy them from the stealership.

 

[MW 4Runner]

I replaced both my engine and cabin air filters at about 30k miles. If you are wanting OEM ones I would check online at partznet.com or 1sttoyotaparts.com before buying from the dealer. They are usually about 30% cheaper than buying from my local overpriced dealer. 1sttoyotaparts.com has been about 5% cheaper than partznet on everything I have priced to date.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Thanks for the reply. I went to the local Auto Zone today, and they don't carry the 4Runner air filter (neither STP nor Fram). I thought about trying Wal-Mart, but I generally avoid that place like the plague unless I need other stuff.

Looks like I'll swing by the stealership sometime this week. My girlfriend works there part-time on weekends, so maybe I can get a better deal through her. :bigok:

Anyway, this will be the first & last time I need to replace the filter because I only have a little bit over a year remaining on my lease.

This 4Runner has been very good to me and I love it, but somehow doubt that I am going to buy it at the end of the lease. Regardless, whomever ends up with it is going to be driving a babied 4x4 that still looks almost new.

Maybe I'll just buy it outright and then re-sell it. Too early to tell right now. I only have 18k on it, but am allowed to have 36k at lease's end. Me thinks I need to drive it to work a bit more often!
:awais:


P.S. I already replaced the cabin air filter back in June or July - with about 14,000 miles on the clock.

 

[Fro-Runner]

Jeff,

Go to Wal-Mart! I bought two FRAM air filters there for my 4 Runner. I replaced my air and cabin filters at 15k miles because of the so. California dust. My cabin air filter was homemade from a Filterete home central air/heat filter trimmed to size. You can buy these at Wal Mart or Target.

 

[greasefingers]

For the engine air filter I use ACDelco pn# A2047 @ $ 14.67/ea (note this is for the v8 engine) I change it once a year.

For the Cabin filter I use Beck/Arnley pn# 422014 @ $ $14.57/ea. I change it once a year, but I blow it out with my air compressor and sometimes wash it in soap & water about twice before replacing.

I purchase them both at RockAuto and buy 3 at a time.

EDIT The above Cabin air filter (Beck/Arnley pn# 422014)
does NOT fit. It is one inch too short

 

[icantsee]

OEM part# 17801-0P010 (V6)

I would replace mine at every 25,000 miles.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

I ended up getting a Purolator air filter from Advance Auto, which they did not have in stock and had to order for me. It took 24 hours for them to get it to the store closest to where I live, and I installed it that same day. Totally a piece of cake!

I paid $11 and some change for it, and I noticed that the Purolator filter was identical in constuction, color and quality to the OEM one. The stealership was closed on Sunday, so I never got to see if my g/f could get me a better deal. I doubt it, though.

I replaced it with just under 18k on my 4Runner, and the factory one was barely dirty at all; a testament to me not driving on dirt roads very often.
:awais:

I am halfway through my allowed mileage (36k), but only have one more year remaining on the lease......so I reckon I will be driving my 4Runner a lot more in the coming months.

Most certainly, I will miss it after January of '08 when it goes back; but perhaps another vehicle will catch my eye by then. I have a craving for a Mustang GT, but know that the insurance is expensive on those cars and they depreciate faster than a T4R (and thus have a higher lease payment).

Oh well, we shall see what happens.

 

[Uneek]

I replace my air filter usually around 15k. I hold the element up under a light, if I don't see light through the filter I replace it. IMO mileage for the filter doesn't work too well, since it really depends on the environment the vehicle is used in/driven through (construction zones, dusty or desert roads vs. freeway, paved suburb streets, etc). Air filters aren't that expensive anyways... $10-15, probably less than $200-300 for the life of the vehicle.

 

[kimboy]

I thought changing the air filter at 30K would be good, however, I think I'll change that to 20K. Here's a look after 27K miles. The filter looks like its doing its job, but, its probably eating away at my efficiency at the same time.

The pic shows the air filter (27K miles) vs. a new OEM filter