Need to find cheap Cabin Air Filters

[greasefingers]

I have been removing my cabin air filter and washing it with soap & water. I can not do this for very long as it is a frail and thin filter. The reason is because my local dealer wants $ 27 for it. This is ludicrous and I am determined to find an aftermarket replacement. So far no luck. Is anyone offering Cabin air filters yet, other than the dealer?

 

[toybox]

Got mine for $16 at partznet. You can probably get them to go lower because when I bought mine I walked in, so they may not have given me the lowest "internet price".

 

[DjGorilla]

I saw it on 1sttoyotaparts.com for $14.50
https://www.1sttoyotaparts.com/partscat.html
search for "element"

 

[Guest]

Over on the lexus forums they buy those giant hepa air filters that are designed for use in the air return of a large house. They then cut it up into the exact dimensions of the OEM filter. It performs exactly the same.

It's a little more expensive to do this on the front end, but considering you get like 10-15 OEM sized filters out of one house filter, it's wayyyy cheaper in the long run (also consider that you can cut out different sizes from this, so if you don't go through 10-15 cabin air filter replacements for your 4Runner, you can just cut out whatever size your next car/truck uses.

 

[greasefingers]

Now that’s the answer I am looking for. I will remove mine and measure the thickness of the filter. Then go to HomeDepot and choose one that will fit. It is amazing how dirty this thing gets. If I had a cheap source, then I would replace it every four months. Thanks.

 

[toybox]

The edges of the OEM filter fit under little notches to secure the filter. You are not going to be able to get the cut up filter to fit as good. And with air filters it is only as good as it fits.

IMO that is not a good solution for the 4runner. Maybe the lexus has a different design. If any air gets past the filter it totally defeats the purpose. May as well just take it out.

If you can afford a new 4runner why can't you afford a $16 filter?

 

[greasefingers]

Well, it just burns me up that I must spend $16 to replace a cabin filter. The engine air intake filter cost half that much and is larger and weights about10 times more. I own three vehicles, one riding mower, and a snow blower. It seems that every month I am changing fluids or filters on something. Every dollar counts; especially when you have teenagers at home.

 

[Guest]

The edges of the OEM filter fit under little notches to secure the filter. You are not going to be able to get the cut up filter to fit as good. And with air filters it is only as good as it fits.

IMO that is not a good solution for the 4runner. Maybe the lexus has a different design. If any air gets past the filter it totally defeats the purpose. May as well just take it out.

If you can afford a new 4runner why can't you afford a $16 filter?

That sounds exactly the same as it is on my GS400 and I've never had a problem with any gaps. Just get a relatively stiff filter element and cut it out to where the dimensions are just slightly oversized, and there shouldn't be any leaks. I mean true it won't be 100% sealed, but hardly any, if any air at all is going to get around the edges unless it's like a wind storm in there (which it's not)

And the filters for most lexus cars are about 45 bucks... so it's an even bigger savings for us.

 

[toybox]

For the same reason that these things get so dirty is why I would think you would want as tight a fit as possible. It may not be a wind storm but I think a dirt storm is going on in there. And also we are talking about micro particles here i.e. pollen and very fine dirt and dust particles, so any space, no matter how small, would count as a drawback.

I don't mean to be argumentative but I think there are better places and ways to save some money.

 

[Guest]

If the filter costs 16 bucks then I can see where it might not be worth the money saved - especially if you only change the filter once every year or so.

But if you change every 3 months, that's a little more money.

Especially if the filter costs $45 like it costs on my car.

 

[bulldog-yota]

I would like to see a pic of the "cut" filters. Is it similar to the paper elemnt ones in home A/C systems? I like the 3M home filters especially the 1600, as they seem to filter everything out while not affecting the air flow.

I am very disappointed in the filter quality of the stock Toyota filter, dust still gets through it and they last at most 2 wheeling trips for me before they are compltely dirty and it smells like dust even when I'm on the road.

I think the Lexus filter will be similar to the filter that was in my BMW, which isactually a carbon filter (explains $45). I never had a problem with dust, but then again it never saw anything but the paved road.