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What is this?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by a64pilot, Sep 3, 2009.

  1. a64pilot

    a64pilot Active Member

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    Hope I'm attaching a picture, I hope. It's the airfilter cover, It's upside down in the picture. In the top of it there is what appears to be another filter. I don't think that's what it is because whatever it is, it's "welded" to the cover, your not removing it, so your not changing it. It's made from a plastic mesh. I can't figure out it's purpose, anybody know?
     

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    #1 a64pilot, Sep 3, 2009
  2. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    It's the automotive equivalent of a Native American Dream Catcher. It actually catches nightmares and filters them out before they reach your dreams. Enjoy.
     
    #2 The Electric Me, Sep 3, 2009
  3. Bobsprius

    Bobsprius BobPrius

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    I have to assume it's a "Sealed Unit" air filter. I would assume if you can't remove anything and I have not looked at mine yet, that it get's replaced as a whole unit at the hose connection area???

    Wild Guess....but hope I am on track..
     
    #3 Bobsprius, Sep 3, 2009
  4. Politburo

    Politburo Active Member

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    It probably covers the permanent charcoal filter that controls evaporative emissions. Poke around some Gen 2 threads for more info.
     
    #4 Politburo, Sep 3, 2009
  5. a64pilot

    a64pilot Active Member

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    That's usually a cannister with a solenoid that opens for a timed interval to purge vapors from the charcoal in the cannister, but you may be correct. I'll poke around and look for a cannister
     
    #5 a64pilot, Sep 3, 2009
  6. a64pilot

    a64pilot Active Member

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    I should have been more specific. It is immediately above the replaceable paper filter, therefore just "downstream" of the filter
     
    #6 a64pilot, Sep 3, 2009
  7. Mike Dimmick

    Mike Dimmick Active Member

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    Probably an extra crud trap to stop people accidentally dropping coins, bolts, keys into the engine when the paper filter has been removed.
     
    #7 Mike Dimmick, Sep 3, 2009
  8. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    That would be my guess as well--I had one on my last car.
     
    #8 stream, Sep 3, 2009
  9. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    It will save your motor if say a mouse gets into your paper filter and chews it up, it will catch all the little paper chunks and prevent them from getting into your motor.
     
    #9 adamace1, Sep 3, 2009
  10. a64pilot

    a64pilot Active Member

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    If for some reason Toyota deemed it necessary to have an after filter filter for safety reasons I'm sure it would be a form of wire mesh. This thing seems awfully restrictive, which is odd. Restriction adds to pumping losses.
    I think Politburo is correct, even if it seems to me to be an inefficient way to do things.
    Have you noticed the huge resonators on the induction side of things? Somebody worked real hard to quiet the intake "honk"
     
    #10 a64pilot, Sep 3, 2009
  11. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    My 2004 Prius had one, so does my 2007 FJ: its an activated charcoal filter that will adsorb any evaporative emissions from the intake manifold (Some intake valves will be open when the engine is off) while the vehicle is off
     
    #11 jayman, Sep 3, 2009
  12. a64pilot

    a64pilot Active Member

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    That makes sense. I would assume there aren't many vapors, but I guess a little here, a little there add up.
     
    #12 a64pilot, Sep 4, 2009
  13. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    On my FJ, all the intake air must be drawn through that thing. Here is a photo

    [​IMG]

    Some FJ owners have reported that under extremely dusty desert driving, with aftermarket air filters that have allowed too much dirt, they had to remove the carbon charcoal thing because it became plugged
     
    #13 jayman, Sep 5, 2009
  14. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    It is definitely the carbon filter (*2 in the diagram.)
     
    #14 RRxing, Sep 6, 2009
  15. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

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    So when we replace the air filter do we replace this charcoal filter also, or can it just be cleaned with by running water through it?
     
    #15 tumbleweed, Sep 7, 2009
  16. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    It's not a normally serviceable part. Yanking it out won't set a CEL, but may increase evaporative emissions while the vehicle is off
     
    #16 jayman, Sep 7, 2009
  17. a64pilot

    a64pilot Active Member

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    It appears that to replace it, you replace the airfilter lid. It has spots melted to the lid. Now that I know it's there, I would look there first if mileage and or power suffers as the car ages. Apparently it's in several Toyota's, and has been there for some time. Pretty safe to assume it won't be a problem as long as you use a paper airfilter
     
    #17 a64pilot, Sep 7, 2009
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