Filter behind the filter?

[Camprunner]

I was changing my air filter the other day and I noticed this sort of cloth filter after the air filter on the air intake on my "06" V-6 4runner?? ......... And I was wondering is this something that I can service when it gets dirty down the road or not?

 

[Uneek]

The filter behind the replaceable air filter is a charcol filter for emission purposes. I believe the charcol filter is to trap gasoline vapors from escaping into the atmosphere when the engine is off. The charcol filter is not replaceable, from what '05 Tacoma owners (same engine as V6 4th gens) say--it has some welded plastic rivets when they removed their charcol filters permanently.

 

[Even Steven]

Is there any performance advantage to removing it? I'm not sure why anyone would want to take it out.

Also, I'm not sure why Toyota would put a charcoal filter in the intake to keep fuel vapors from getting out. I don't see how a modern fuel injected vehicle would even have fuel vapors leaking out of the intake.

 

[NCSCOTT]

If you replace the intake with a CAI of your choice then you will remove the "Charcoal" filter anyway.

Here ya go!!!