Time to change the cabin air filter?

During my last oil change with 19k miles on my 4Runner, the dealer said that my cabin air filter was pretty dirty and that I should change it out.

Ordered a new filter and went to change it out today.

Yeah, I'd say it was about due...



Never seen a cabin filter get so dirty, so fast! But, super easy to change out and filter was $14 on Amazon.

 

What, you didn't want to pay the dealer $80 to change your CAF? How are they going to survive?

 

Wow, yes you were due. You must park outside.

 

Yep. Garage is too small for the 4Runner, plus, I drive in the woods quite a bit, and just did multiple excursions into the desert near the Mexican border. The black piece of debris is a chunk of Plasti Dip from one of my rims. I just pressure-sprayed it off the other day and pieces went everywhere.

 

Cool, I really like the fact we have filters for the air. I still make sure my outside air is shut off when I off-road because the dust is so bad.

 

Next time use K&N. It'll make your exhaust louder and give you lots more hp.

 

A few years ago I brought my truck to a dealer for something simple, like an oil change. The rep came out to the waiting area, holding my CAF. He said a critter must've gotten to it, there were seed husks , and a hole chewed in the center. He had his finger through the hole, as if I wouldn't be able to tell it was a hole. Said they could replace the filter for 49 bucks. I told him " Take your finger out of the hole, and put the filter back in the truck."

 

He probably keeps that filter around to do the same thing to others.

 

Don't use K&N they let more air in but they do a poor job filtering. Just go with a wix and call it a day.

 

Went with a K&N in my V car and am reminded to check it every 6 months(phone calendar alert). Plan on doing the same with the Runner. T.O.L.

 

How did it clean the air “before” filters? Mine still blows ice cold fresh air after 25 years and I’ve never recharged the AC.....

 

How did we survive steel dashboards? seat backs without locks? no seat belts? the list goes on, but I won't.

 

IDK, though I imagine I will miss the cabin air filter when I'm back in California in the summer, and it is inevitable that there will be a giant wildfire that turns the outside into a giant smoke house. On the bright side I have some N95 masks that I have for other reasons if it gets that bad.

 

This also happened to me .......now I lock my glove box whenever I go in for an oil change....heck, I can maintain the air filters.

 

You don't know where that finger has been.