K&N Filter DIY

[Cashmachine]

I did not find a DIY for replacing air filter so I'm going to put one in the forum. TD, please remove if it has been duplicated.

1. This is where you replace the air filter



2. Unplug the connector at the top of the cover



3. Unscrew two bolts (10mm), open the cover and remove the old air filter



4. Open your K&N filter and put it in place of the old filter. Please notice one of the corner is different from the other 3, which should be the front right corner.



5. Put the cover back back and here is the tricky part, the two taps at the right side are hard to align so make sure you check how the taps were positioned before removing the covers so you know exactly how to put it back together.



6. Screw the bolts back (front bolt is much easier than the back) and put the stickers on. Hopefully the Toyota technicians know how to read and not throw the air filter away when they try to replace it.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by Cashmachine

I did not find a DIY for replacing air filter so I'm going to put one in the forum. TD, please remove if it has been duplicated.

Excellent! Thanks, buddy, for putting forth to effort and posting up the DIY. I'll add it to the Mods & Maintenance sticky in just a couple of minutes.

One observation I have is that your filter box sits a centimeter or two closer to the engine block than mine does, which offers that tad of clearance I suspect for other owners' filter changes to be made with relative ease. My filter box rests right up against that wire bundle and makes for an expletive-laced hour or more to get it back into place.

[LarsT]

Nice job documenting the installation. I want to caution you that you are risking the health of your engine using a K&N filter. You will get maybe 0.5% more flow but you will also get probably 300% more dirt through your engine. Also, the oil can contaminate your MAF sensor. Last, do you really want to spend a few hours washing, drying and oiling a filter when you can just put in a new disposable one and be done with it.

[Cashmachine]

Originally Posted by LarsT

Nice job documenting the installation. I want to caution you that you are risking the health of your engine using a K&N filter. You will get maybe 0.5% more flow but you will also get probably 300% more dirt through your engine. Also, the oil can contaminate your MAF sensor. Last, do you really want to spend a few hours washing, drying and oiling a filter when you can just put in a new disposable one and be done with it.

Thank you for your concern but I guess everyone can just throw out an unfounded statistic number and bash a product. I will report any problems I might have in the future if the product turns out to be a dud.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by Cashmachine

Thank you for your concern but I guess everyone can just throw out an unfounded statistic number and bash a product. I will report any problems I might have in the future if the product turns out to be a dud.

I agree. I've been using K&N filters for years now (2 1/2 with my Highlander) with NEVER an ill effect. That aside, I'm fed up with threads where K&N filters are discussed descending into a vicious debate regarding their efficacy. This thread is about conducting a DIY installation of the filter, and replies concerning the DIY will be all I'll allow. I rarely intervene like this in threads, but enough is enough. Thanks.

[nannahill]

Good write up. I wish I'd read the bolt size, 10mm, before doing mine yesterday. Thankfully the second guess was on the money. It's a fairly simple process but had to find some extensions taller than the air box so I could use a socket.

Any Highlander owner that's had the tech show them the old dirty air filter may want to check their air filter box bolts post service. The rear bolt (ie closest to the windscreen) was barely finger tight. I know it's a pain to tighten because there's not a lot of room to work with but come on guys.

I can already feel the extra 500hp post installation ...

[robbyvanz]

is there a difference in orientation for the K&N, or is it just the OEM filter? When i looked at my K&N, I didn't really notice any difference in sides.

Thanks,
Robby

[SSPRMAN]

I just did this swap, unfortunately I snapped one of the bolts. Anyone know the thread? Thanks

[sweeneyp]

Originally Posted by robbyvanz

is there a difference in orientation for the K&N, or is it just the OEM filter? When i looked at my K&N, I didn't really notice any difference in sides.

Old post....but one side of the K&N is deeper than the other. The deeper side goes down.

Originally Posted by SSPRMAN

I just did this swap, unfortunately I snapped one of the bolts. Anyone know the thread? Thanks

Dang, you must have seriously been tightening that bolt down. I don't know that bolt specifically, but most 10mm bolts on the HL are the same thread. I replaced one in the tailgate and it was a M6 x 1.0. Not positive if that is it, but its a place to start.

[SSPRMAN]

Originally Posted by sweeneyp

Old post....but one side of the K&N is deeper than the other. The deeper side goes down.



Dang, you must have seriously been tightening that bolt down. I don't know that bolt specifically, but most 10mm bolts on the HL are the same thread. I replaced one in the tailgate and it was a M6 x 1.0. Not positive if that is it, but its a place to start.

Thanks , I'll try one of the others to see if it matches. All I did was give it that last little turn and the bugger popped on me. Oh well, next is to get the threaded end out

[sweeneyp]

Cashmachine, whats that box attached to the 12v+ terminal of the battery in your first pic (It looks like some kind of fluid container)???
It looks like the OEM wiring setup was changed and it has to do with that box...(excuse my curiousity )