[doznI4SE]

I bought and installed a FRAM CF10285 Fresh Breeze Cabin Air Filter

Nothing wrong with the existing filter, I'm just in maintenance parts acquisition mode.

The cabin filter is a piece of cake to remove. See 2012 Toyota Camry SE: What's In There? for pictures and instructions on removing the filter.

You can vacuum, blow, and tap out the dirt from your current filter if you're not ready to replace it yet.

There's also a $3 Fram Cabin Filter Rebate ending August 31, 2012 with a limit of 2 per address.

It fits perfectly. The Fram instructions say to install it with the air flow arrow pointing down, but the 2012 Camry air flow direction is up, so I installed it with the arrow (darker, carbon treated side) facing up.

One insignificant difference I noticed is that the stock filter has 15 pleats, the Fram has 14 pleats.

The Fram filter is has a mix of active carbon and baking soda woven into the fibers of the filter. I'm not sure if the stock filter has active carbon or not.

I have not noticed any difference with this filter installed vs the stock filter, but I've only driven 20 miles or so with it and did not encounter any stinky air or vehicles in front to test it with.

When you pull out the currently installed cabin filter, look at the bottom, because that's the dirty side. I'm not sure why Toyota designed it so the dirty side is down, because this means some dirt falls down out of the filter and cannot be cleaned without disassembling the HVAC system. I wonder where the dirt that does not get blow and caught by the filter ends up and how to clean it out:dunno:?

I hope this helps someone and you are :welcome:.

***** 09/01/2012 CORRECTION TO DIRECTION OF AIR FLOW STATED ABOVE: *****
The air flow direction is top to bottom, as evidenced by holding a piece of paper in the air filter slot and turning the fan on. Therefore the filter should be installed with the air flow arrow pointing down, which also results in the darker charcoal covered facing down.

 

[GCharlotte]

I bought and installed a

FRAM CF10285 Fresh Breeze Cabin Air Filter

Nothing wrong with the existing filter, I'm just in maintenance parts acquisition mode.

The cabin filter is a piece of cake to remove. See 2012 Toyota Camry SE: What's In There? for pictures and instructions on removing the filter.

You can vacuum, blow, and tap out the dirt from your current filter if you're not ready to replace it yet.

There's also a $3 Fram Cabin Filter Rebate ending August 31, 2012 with a limit of 2 per address.

It fits perfectly. The Fram instructions say to install it with the air flow arrow pointing down, but the 2012 Camry air flow direction is up, so I installed it with the arrow (darker, carbon treated side) facing up.

One insignificant difference I noticed is that the stock filter has 15 pleats, the Fram has 14 pleats.

The Fram filter is has a mix of active carbon and baking soda woven into the fibers of the filter. I'm not sure if the stock filter has active carbon or not.

I have not noticed any difference with this filter installed vs the stock filter, but I've only driven 20 miles or so with it and did not encounter any stinky air or vehicles in front to test it with.

When you pull out the currently installed cabin filter, look at the bottom, because that's the dirty side. I'm not sure why Toyota designed it so the dirty side is down, because this means some dirt falls down out of the filter and cannot be cleaned without disassembling the HVAC system. I wonder where the dirt that does not get blow and caught by the filter ends up and how to clean it out:dunno:?

I hope this helps someone and you are :welcome:.

I'll keep this in mind. How often do you expect needing to change the filter? The warranty guide states it should be cleaned at 15K or 18 months. Then replace at double that.

 

[doznI4SE]

I'll keep this in mind. How often do you expect needing to change the filter? The warranty guide states it should be cleaned at 15K or 18 months. Then replace at double that.

I think it depends on the environment where one drives and parks their car.

I did find small pieces of grass and other in my cabin filter. I was able to tap, pick, and vacuum the filter to get the dirt out.

The filter is so easy to get out that I'd like to clean it every 6 months. I'll replace it when it starts looking grungy, even after being cleaned - and I'm not sure when that will be.

 

[molson.david]

I bought and installed a

FRAM CF10285 Fresh Breeze Cabin Air Filter

I used fram fresh breeze before on my 2007 camry -very good filters.
they keep pollen and micro dust away from passenger compartment.

When you pull out the currently installed cabin filter, look at the bottom, because that's the dirty side. I'm not sure why Toyota designed it so the dirty side is down, because this means some dirt falls down out of the filter and cannot be cleaned without disassembling the HVAC system. I wonder where the dirt that does not get blow and caught by the filter ends up and how to clean it out:dunno:?

you got confused by little arrow on the filter pointed UP, right?
it should be aligned with arrow on the first cover. it shows where top of the filter should be, not air flow.
if you'll remove glove box you'll see AC motor and air ducts.
it sucks air from outside, through filter and sends to evaporator.
so don't worry, all dirt will stay on the filter.

How often do you expect needing to change the filter?The warranty guide states it should be cleaned at 15K or 18 months. Then replace at double that.

here in TX I was cleaning them every couple month -just don't like to smell any dead insects and replacing filter once a year.
if you do at least 10-12K miles a year of driving and can afford extra $12-15 a year, change your filter more often than once every 36 month.

 

[doznI4SE]

I used fram fresh breeze before on my 2007 camry -very good filters.
they keep pollen and micro dust away from passenger compartment.



you got confused by little arrow on the filter pointed UP, right?
it should be aligned with arrow on the first cover. it shows where top of the filter should be, not air flow.

What was confusing is that the edge of the Fram filter is marked "CF10285 ...... AIR FLOW v" - where v = an arrow pointing down".

The Fram instructions step 8 states:
"Install the new filter with the air flow indicator arrow printed on the side of the filter pointing down"

The OEM filter was installed with the air flow arrow pointing up - and air does flow from the bottom through the filter out the top of the filter. So I installed the Fram filter with the arrow pointing up, contrary do the Fram directions.

I'm sure this filter fits many different vehicles, and in some installations air does flow from top to bottom. In the 2012 Camry, since air is flowing from bottom through the filter out the top, if there's heavy dirt pushed into the bottom of the filter, gravity is on the side of the heavy dirt to fall down out of the bottom of the filter. I understand the light fine dirt will stick on the filter, but I'm wondering about the bigger heavier stuff .

if you'll remove glove box you'll see AC motor and air ducts.
it sucks air from outside, through filter and sends to evaporator.
so don't worry, all dirt will stay on the filter.

I could see the fan through the filter hole without needing to remove the glove compartment. I also turned on the fan while the filter was removed and put my hand in the filter slot to confirm that the air flowed from bottom to top.

 

[jcoop]

doznI4SE, the link to the Fram filter part says it does not fit the 2012 Camry when amazon asks the year, make, and model of your car.

"Select a Year 2012




Select a Make Toyota




Select a Model Camry



Go
This product does not fit your 2012 Toyota Camry


See similar products that fit this vehicle"

 

[GCharlotte]

doznI4SE, the link to the Fram filter part says it does not fit the 2012 Camry when amazon asks the year, make, and model of your car.

I'm not sure what's going on but if you go to http://www.framcatalog.com/Application.aspx?b=F you will see the filter listed there. It takes you to:

http://www.framcatalog.com/PartDetailWindow.aspx?b=F&pn=CF10285

Which includes:

4-2.5L F/inj. (16V) DOHC 2AR-FE [2012-2010]

and

V6-3.5L F/inj. (24V) DOHC 2GR-FE [2012-2007]

Now the weird thing is that the dedicated site for the filter also doesn't include our Camry but I'm going with the catalog lookup: http://framfreshbreeze.com/


To solve the puzzle for sure, you could call the Fram at 1.800.890.2075

 

[doznI4SE]

doznI4SE, the link to the Fram filter part says it does not fit the 2012 Camry...........

Ray,

Amazon.com's auto parts verification is often wrong as in this case.

I actually bought the filters from RockAuto.com (your neck of the woods), and these folks are professional part sellers - they list the items as fitting the 2012 Camry and as GCharlotte wrote, so does Fram.

And now for the non-disputable scientific data (+/- 1 mm ):
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/272784-gcharlotte.html
OEM Measured Size: 30mm x 193mm x 213mm
CF10285 Measured Size: 30mm x 194mm x 214mm

so go pull the filter, measure it, and if the dimensions match above closely, then order the CF10285 without worries :chug:.

 

[raptorhigh]

I could see the fan through the filter hole without needing to remove the glove compartment. I also turned on the fan while the filter was removed and put my hand in the filter slot to confirm that the air flowed from bottom to top.

FYI - I did this test on mine with my hand and couldn't necessarily tell the air flow direction. After holding a piece of paper in there, I confirmed the flow was top to bottom. I'd do the same on yours to see what results you get.

 

[TAH Owner]

Shouldn't the air enter the charcoal side of the filter ?

 

[theneb]

Shouldn't the air enter the charcoal side of the filter ?

Can someone confirm to which direction airflow occurs in the 2012 model and which direction the air filter should be placed? I am confused as to which direction the black (charcoal) part should be pointed towards?

 

[doznI4SE]

raptorhigh,

Thanks for the paper suggestion.

I just saw this post now and used a piece of paper as you suggested, to determine the direction of airflow.

:facepalm: The air does flow from the top to the bottom, as evidenced by the paper getting pulled downwards when I turned the fan on.

In that case, the air flow arrow on the Fram filter should be pointing down, which means the darker charcoal side of the filter will also be facing down.

Sorry for the confusion. Do I have this all correct now?

 

[theneb]

I need a quick update on this. I installed the FRAM filter too, with the arrow pointing down, i.e., the direction of airflow. Did I do it correctly? The airflow feels different from the OEM filter, wanted to make sure. Thanks. This was the easiest cabin airfilter installation EVER. Kudos to Camry design engineers on that!

 

[Paul3637]

You did it exactly correct

I need a quick update on this. I installed the FRAM filter too, with the arrow pointing down, i.e., the direction of airflow. Did I do it correctly? The airflow feels different from the OEM filter, wanted to make sure. Thanks. This was the easiest cabin airfilter installation EVER. Kudos to Camry design engineers on that!

*********
I just did mine with the same Fram Fresh Breeze yesterday. It's easy to tell the air is going from top to bottom because all the debris from the outside is sitting on top.

 

[nicholas77586]

Lol I remember someone here complaining on how small the glove box was. Well, this is a good reason to have it small!:thumbsup:

Having a cabin airfilter in the Camry makes the other cars I used to own feel so dirty

 

[blinkme_210]

Bumping this thread back from the dead.

Just bought a Fram Fresh Breeze filter and now it has "UP+Up Arrow" printed on the filter just like the OEM filters, instead of "Airflow+Down Arrow". See picture below for reference.
So I installed it in the same orientation as the OEM filter; meaning that the black carbon side of the filter is facing down.
Air & debris will hit the white paper side first.

 

[Paul3637]

This is absurd. Nothing like the Chinese to get it wrong. I have the identical problem ....... but since the air is flowing from the top down .... it makes no sense the black side should be on the bottom. The black/dark grey side should be on top ..... exactly the opposite of what the instructions from China say.


Maybe I'll just return the damn thing and pay the Toyota dealer their $35 to do it right.

 

[Paul3637]

Black side should be up .... per Fram

Bumping this thread back from the dead.

Just bought a Fram Fresh Breeze filter and now it has "UP+Up Arrow" printed on the filter just like the OEM filters, instead of "Airflow+Down Arrow". See picture below for reference.
So I installed it in the same orientation as the OEM filter; meaning that the black carbon side of the filter is facing down
.

After wasting too much time on this ..... I just called the customer assistance number on the Fram website .... and the guy knew exactly what I was talking about. He says they are aware of the problem .... and that the word UP should not be there .... because the arrow points in the direction of the airflow. The air should hit the darker side with the charcoal first. So black side is on top. . .