DIY Cabin Filter and some findings

billssr5

billssr5

Well-Known Member
Needing a new CAF for my truck and usually get a DENSO FTF caf from HOMEDEPOT online for about $11.50 plus tax this year they are now $14+ tax, so i remembered some DIY versions from the TW taco site and decided to try it out using this cut to fit furnace filter with 8 MERV Rating, doing a little GOOGLE search auto CAF are between 8-13 MERV, 13+ being restrictive. So bought this at LOWES https://www.lowes.com/pd/Purafilter...r-Cut-To-Fit/5005841503?gStoreCode=1046&gQT=1 I found an opened package one they sold it to me for $6.10:) so here are some pictures.
Now on to my findings, i sandwiched the new filter together and used ordinary twisties from the supermarket on all 4 corners,stuck it in the truck turned on the AC full blast at the last setting and it sucked the rear end of the filter down but very close to the fan, hmmmm:rolleyes: so I put the old DENSO back inand tested it at full blast AC and the center of the paper was also sucked even more down toward the fan than the DIYed one hmmmmmmmmm, the 5-8 pictures show the before and the after of both filters being at full blast. This AC has very high suction on the 2nd highest and highest fan setting with the recirculation on. is this normal that it sucks on that filter like that? never really paid no mind till i made this DIY filter and tested it in the truck with the CAF door down to see in there. not quite sure if this is a normal thing, ive seen that the highly restrictive HEPA filters actually collapse in Tacos because the air pushs them down trying to get thru, mine 2 didnt collapse but were definetly sucked downward when at the 2 highest blaster settings with recirculation, the air came out very good with the new DIY CAF no doubt, just little concerned with the suction.
 

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When it comes to needing a filter of any type, I always try to remain stock, or very close. As far as cabin air filters, I don't consider a truck to be a home furnace.
 
tacojoel said:
When it comes to needing a filter of any type, I always try to remain stock, or very close. As far as cabin air filters, I don't consider a truck to be a home furnace.
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yeah but i put the DENSO caf back in and it was sucked in worse than the DIY one is that right?
 
Thats odd, i've replaced those denso cabin air filters from rock auto in my tacoma, and haven't had any issues. I use the ones that claim they are suppose to guard against any mold or allergens.
 
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tacojoel said:
Thats odd, i've replaced those denso cabin air filters from rock auto in my tacoma, and haven't had any issues. I use the ones that claim they are suppose to guard against any mold or allergens.
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open the CAF Door turn the AC full blast or second to full blast see if the DENSO gets sucked down in the middle, i would have never realized the filter would do that cause i never really thought it would do that heres the before i turned on the AC fan and then after at full blast fan AC pictures also the second to last setting. also i think that water gets in thru the cowl opening when it rains and the filter gets wet and damp over time and the paper is a little damp/moist and loses its rigidity in the filter, this may be for all paper CAFs without even realizing it, they still function but get sucked down but still not getting caught in the fan. this new filter i made i added another piece of the plastic grid to the bottom and its more rigid now than before and the air really comes out super cold more than ever before with paper filters, im hoping the MERV 8(Auto CAFs should be 8-13) rating will filter adequately, the filter material is i think polyester with a carbon layer also, but no go with mold or spores,bacteria,viruses,smog
 

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I think my gen3 tacoma uses the same caf as a gen2 so idk what you're complaining about. I can agree those filters get super nasty collecting all sort of stuff, as mine are often full of those maple tree whirly-birds, not to mention stuff I don't even know what they are. Seems if I shake out the filter every few months I can get a year out of them before needing a replacement.
 
I know its highly unlikely, but could the filter have been installed in such a manner that it crumpled before you even allowed any air to flow through it?
 
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