FJ Cruisers of Northern California

Cabin air filter

Somebody (potatomutato? I do not recall exactly) once told me instead to buy a new cabin air filter (cost: 20+ bucks) there was a way to use some much cheaper stuff one can buy at HomeDePot. How was that? Frankly after all the dust we collected in High Sierra I want to get rid of the cabin filter I have right now :)

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Permalink Reply by opg4759 on October 16, 2009 at 10:07pm

I buy the 3M filtrate filters and cut them to size.

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Permalink Reply by manoweb on October 16, 2009 at 11:01pm

Good solution. Where can I buy that?

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Permalink Reply by Boss73 on October 17, 2009 at 5:42am

I believe people are buying big ones from Home Depot or a hardware store..

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Permalink Reply by BigFish on October 17, 2009 at 6:12am

We have replaced both of ours. They work good. I put one in the Camry as well. The wife said what the heck are you doing. I told the house filters are being used to address a higher priority. As long as her car was first she was good.

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Permalink Reply by Romanski on October 19, 2009 at 2:01pm

nice good idea!

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Permalink Reply by manoweb on October 19, 2009 at 2:42pm

I did it, it seems to work (I will have to test in a dusty environment, not after the rain on the freeway) but... what a PAIN to cut that stuff, with the metal inserts...

I need to find a better way for next time.

opg4759, how do you actually cut that material?

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Permalink Reply by pkelly72 on October 19, 2009 at 5:56pm

how much was it? Is it worth it vs buying a new one? More information would be helpful

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Permalink Reply by manoweb on October 19, 2009 at 8:45pm

Yeah of course I think I paid 7 or 8 bucks and I can get 4 filters out of it.

The cost of a filter specific for the FJ is about 20 bucks.

The only problem anyway, is that it's hard to remove the cardboard and then cut the filter itself. It's really an irritating job.

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Permalink Reply by opg4759 on October 20, 2009 at 7:48am

I use a pair of tin snips

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Permalink Reply by BigFish on October 19, 2009 at 6:47pm

My filter was 12 bucks for a top of the line mirco filter which has good air flow. I cut it it with a pair of emergency response scissors (10 bucks) I still have at least enough material for three more filters. (six total) Watch the prices on the filters - I went with the largest one I could find for about the same price. I was a bit surprised when I did not have to shop a specific size.