Just removed Hydrocarbon filter

[chip4]

Any other actual reports of increased fuel mileage? pls report guys I am curious.

 

[WTS]

You don't need any tools really. Actually if you use a chisel and just lop off one corner revit then pull it down and just rip it off. It's only plastic and comes off very easy. It took all of 2 mins to do from opening the hood to closing the hood.

 

[Rez90]

on the V6's is it the filter that is located right at the end of the airbox to the right of the reg air filter?

Thanks

 

[WRENCHHEAD]

does taking out the filter increase engine noise? i really like how quiet the v6 is.

 

[Fuzion]

does taking out the filter increase engine noise? i really like how quiet the v6 is.

I have a V-8 which is amazingly quiet at idle and now that I took it off it's still quite, even with a K&N.

Too remove mine I started using a small flat head then I just yanked it out with my hand.

 

[Annoyed]

Hey Mr. Annoyed,
I can see from the tone and content of most of your posts that you are a miserably unhappy and bitter person. I'm sorry to see that in another human being.

However, this is a forum about Toyota 4Runners. Could you please keep your offensive bile and negative comments to yourself? Your political opinions add nothing to the discussions about our trucks.

Thank you,
JP

If you don't like my views or opinions, I cordially invite you to put me on this board's /ignore list, or just not bother to read them. But I will not change what I want to say to conform to your desires. The vies that you find offensive are what other people might agree with.

And I will repeat: Attempts to use the power of government to determine what we are allowed to drive, or to use the power of taxation to influence people's decisions about what to drive is very much relevant to this board, as there are many in government who would like to legislate vehicles like the T4R out of existence.

 

[RTCarlin]

Wow... This threat is almost worthless for my search on the filter in question.. Environmental points of view cast aside, can we post some facts?

Do we have any real results from the removal of this filter? MPG gains, HP gains? Are we throwing codes? Any build up or any crud getting into the intake? I've seen about a dozen people say they removed it, but no one with a follow up yet.....

EDIT: I just popped the screen out of my 03' V6. I had the battery disconnected for about an hour. I'll post some MPG results / seat of the pants results in a few days.... It didn't throw an immediate code or anything, so I suppose that's a good start...

---Ron

 

[MikesToy]

Wow... This threat is almost worthless for my search on the filter in question.. Environmental points of view cast aside, can we post some facts?

Do we have any real results from the removal of this filter? MPG gains, HP gains? Are we throwing codes? Any build up or any crud getting into the intake? I've seen about a dozen people say they removed it, but no one with a follow up yet.....

---Ron

I have an '03 V8 Limited. Took mine off a year after i had my 4R. What year is it now? So go figure! Anywayz, MPG gains? I don't know. Wish i had that in mind before yanking that tea bag off. But it seemed like i spend a little less on gas when i took it off. HP gains? Again i don't know. Maybe 1 or 2 Horsepower since my right foot is heavy at times. haha...
Any build up or crud getting into the intake? Well, i vacuum my air filter everytime i wash my 4R and when i peek in there, i stick my fingers in there too and it's still clean. Are we throwing codes? Not that i know of or else my dealership would let me know. Overall, i'mma happy camper without it.

 

[ALLEGRO]

I am quite sure I get between 1 and 2 mpg better. I changed to synthetic diff and x-fer case fluids and the filter removal at the same time. There might be some increase from the new lube, but I suspect just the free-er breathing has done the increase.

 

[RTCarlin]

That filter was a lot more restrictive than I thought. Once I cut it out, I saw that there is a MAF screen behind it, so air flow across the sensor should remain the same. Provided the computer is set up to add some timing for the increased air flow, there should definitely be a benefit to efficiency (performance AND MPG). I've noticed that on quite a few newer vehicles (2000+), that the computers programming doesn't do a whole lot to add performance when fuel / air is available. They're set up more or less to de-tune in the case of a loss of fuel / air. My wife's Lincoln actually goes into "Fail-Safe Mode" when it detects a drivetrain problem (Shuts down cylinders, reduces fuel, limits you to 2500 RPM). I suppose this is why handheld tuning products (Hypertech, etc...) are so popular these days...

 

[eskimochaos]

I am quite sure I get between 1 and 2 mpg better. I changed to synthetic diff and x-fer case fluids and the filter removal at the same time. There might be some increase from the new lube, but I suspect just the free-er breathing has done the increase.

Yes Im consistently getting 21-22 on the screen about 20 hand calculated after removal on flat high way roads.

 

[nc211]

Ahhh, Koln. I was there last summer. The dome is amazing.

That's right, Koln! I honestly couldn't remember where I took that picture, as we had taken on of those bus tours that lasted for 2 weeks and blasted us all over the place. Great trip, but I can't remember exactly all the things we saw!

In terms of the whole environmental side to this thread: I honestly think it's 6 in one hand - half a dozen in another. You leave it in, you reduce the air pollution, but need more fuel. You take it out, you increase air pollution, but take less fuel. So, it's one or the other. At the end of the day, we all tax the world we live in, and until someone "who can walk on water probably" can show us how to live on this planet and not tax it, then I'd have to say....go live your life!

Me though, my initial fear of taking off the filter is in the a+b+c=d equation. I get nervous with mod's of the engine area on a car. Knowing how touchy a Lexus "toyota" engine can be with some tweaks, sometimes taking "b" out of the intended design can really screw up "d". But, from the sounds of the other guys on here who've done this, it doesn't sound like removing the filter will hurt "d".

So, it's a personal preference! :cheers:

 

[baronvdb]

Has anybody with the Borla exhaust taken out this filter? Is it located in the same place? btw I have 2005 v8. Thanks!

 

[Spider5]

I consistently change my air filter every third oil changes and find it interesting that a filter upstream can not be changed out when it becomes dirty. Makes me think that I'm wasting my money changing the air filter as the carbon filter gets more an more clogged up. As the cars with these filters get older I wonder it this doesn't become a problem with fuel/ air ratio's? Best I can tell from some reading the filter is needed to get the ultra-low-emission rating on vehicles which helps mostly with PR for the auto maker.

 

[Fuzion]

Has anybody with the Borla exhaust taken out this filter? Is it located in the same place? btw I have 2005 v8. Thanks!

V8's are in the same place, the filter is just larger than in V6's

 

[baronvdb]

V8's are in the same place, the filter is just larger than in V6's

cool thanks...i think i'll be taking mine out as soon as i have a couple minutes free.

 

[George]

I still disagree with you. If it was that important, CAI's would have them installed but most do not.

Furthermore, I dont care if hydrocarbons get into the atmosphere. Global warming is a communist idea.

Unfortunately stupidity is global. :cheers:

 

[George]

I still disagree with you. If it was that important, CAI's would have them installed but most do not.

Furthermore, I dont care if hydrocarbons get into the atmosphere. Global warming is a communist idea.

Unfortunately stupidity is global. :gaptooth:

 

[George]

Other cars around and maybe one of the kids had a window open I didn't know about, but there was some major stink going on

Later my wife was just ahead of me in her 911. I motioned that she should hit it off the light. She did and I was right on her bumper: Not saying she's the quickest chick with a 5 speed, but it must have been an interesting site for everybody else on the road as a black monster tailgates a little blue carrera at double the limit. Didn't notice the stink on that one. Maybe since it was the second stomp of the day? Kids were in her car so windows were up for sure. Maybe I just didn't notice as I was concentrating on not killing my family while drag racing in Chicago on Mothers day.

BTW while everybody else in the country was enjoying a 3 hour lunch we went to Great America (Six Flags). Nobody there. We didn't even have to get off the rides. Did more roller coasters in 3 hours than the rest of my life combined.

Had the same experience at Cedar Point. Normally up to 3hr lines (was a Saturday), longest was 1 hr, and only one. MOST of the big rides were 15-30 minutes! UNREAL :lmao:

 

[George]

After reading around online and learning what a hydrocarbon filter does I decided to remove it like others on here. I removed it because I heard of increased throttle response, the fact that it really does nothing on modern cars and because when you get a CAI in almost any car - the hydrocarbon filter is not replaced.

The process is simple - open up the air filter box and seated right above the filter itself is the hydrocarbon filter. It mounts on rivets that are easily pried off using a flathead screwdriver. Looking at the hydrocarbon filter, it looks like a large fish tank filter with the same black beaded charcoal inside. Furthermore, it definitely restricts airflow. Blowing through it as hard as I could yields only a small amount of air that actually gets through it.

After removing it I immediately noticed increased throttle response. Not so much increased acceleration but the engine felt like it revved easier and idle seemed smoother as well.

I cant yet report back on MPG but on a recent 500 mile trip I got 22mpg going about 80-85 so that is my current benchmark.

For those that dont know, the hydrocarbon filter is used to keep hippies happy. Furthermore, it is used to prevent the escape of exhaust fumes or hydrocarbons from the engine after turning it off. However, I learned in another thread that modern EFI engines turn off because the ECU turns off the injectors which ultimately means that essentially zero fumes are produced.

Any questions just ask, I will report back with MPG as I drive it more.

No way in bleepin he!! you got 22mpg going 80-85 with the V8.