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Cabin Air Filter Replacement - When to replace? OEM quality concerns[PIC]

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Netfcher

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
After reading a different topic on cabin air filters, I decided to go and check out the conditon in which mine was. Well, after getting it out I was kind of shocked.

I changed it back in december - and after six months and less than 4000 miles later it looks awfully dirty. It even looks to be more blackish than grayish in color, plus there was a lot of loose debris and leaves lodged in its crevasses.


By netfcher

When does Toyota recommend changing it? 15k, 30k? If so I'm not so sure of the quality of its effectiveness after such long periods.

Note that I am using aftermarket (cheap) replacements. I changed the original Toyota one at 10k - It wasn't as dirty from what I recollect, but then, does that mean that the OEM Toyota filters are even less effective in filtering the air than the cheap $5 ones?

I am considering buying a more expensive "charcoal" cabin air filter, if that will help filter the air even better.
 
#2 ·
The Canadian service level is 12 months / 10,000 Miles (16K km). I just replaced mine yesterday and it too was dirty and that was the factory filter. I was surprised.

Changing this filter is one of the few remaining chores a layman can do on a car these days. I miss the day when points and plugs was a quick home repair project. Of course the old cars needed new points a plugs a lot to keep running - life is a compromise.
 
#3 ·
i bought 6 of those tyc filters. IMO, they work just as well as the factory one. The oem ones are way over priced anyways. I check mine every 6 months to make sure it doesn't need replacing. By the looks of yours...i'd chuck that one out.
 
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Discussion starter · #4 ·
I bought 6 of those tyc filters about a year ago. I gave one to my father, used up the one in the picture, and I am currently down to 3 spare ones left.

I thought they would last me at least one a year, but now I see I am going to have to re-supply on them in the not so distant future.

If I were to buy OEM toyota ones and pay the dealer to install them, I doubt I would pay less than $200 a year just for cabin air filters (Note I live in Euroland at the moment, and the prices here are astronomically high - e.g. I was quoted $200 for a set of lugnuts for my alloy wheels).

BTW I replaced the air intake filter at 12K and it was in an almost pristine condition compared to the cabin air filter. I guess the air supplied to the engine is routed in a more efficient manner, and sucks in less debris and gunk - at least now I know I'll suffocate faster than the engine :D
 
#6 ·
Carbon said:
Have you considered vacuuming the filter from the dirty side to extend the filter life?
Click to expand...
won't work. all that dirt is embedded into the cotton fibers. You'll end up damaging the cotton and then the filter will be just about useless. The tyc are cheap enough to replace as often as needed vs the OEM ones.
 
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Discussion starter · #8 ·
rancidrancid said:
Carbon said:
Have you considered vacuuming the filter from the dirty side to extend the filter life?
Click to expand...
won't work. all that dirt is embedded into the cotton fibers. You'll end up damaging the cotton and then the filter will be just about useless. The tyc are cheap enough to replace as often as needed vs the OEM ones.
Click to expand...
I thought about throwing it into my washing machine, but my wife said that if I did so she would kill me. :D

At less than $6 a piece the tyc filters seem to be a reasonable alternative, considering they collect as much, or even more dirt than the OEM filters - at least in my case.

Gbcue said:
Where are those TYC filters available?
Click to expand...
http://www.logical-source.com/TOYOTA/2008/2008-TOYOTA-RAV4-7572.html
 
#9 ·
got mine from ebay through this seller: modernautonet.com

I got a discount by buying 6 filters at once. Just shoot him an e-mail and see what he can do. I'd definitely recommend the seller...fast and efficient.
 
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#13 ·
Weird, I thought manual talked about every 30000 miles?
I checked mine at 20000 and it wasn't too bad so I will do it at 30000. YMMV.
 
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#15 ·
The OEM filter isn't a charcoal filter, so that doesn't explain the gray. I changed ours at ~15K miles and it was the same gray color due to being dirty (exhaust/smog dirt).
 
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Discussion starter · #16 ·
mkperceptions said:
The difference between the two filters you are showing is one is charcoal activated ( thus the gray color) and the regular filter. I change mine about every 6 months. Your filter being gray in color is not dirt.
Click to expand...
BOTH filters in my pic are TYC brand filters - one used and one new.
 
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Netfcher
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