Toyota washable paper air filters.

I use to wash myn out when I had the hilux. I would hit it from inside out with compressed air first to blow the crap out if it, I would then fill a bucket with warm water (not hot) with some fab,cold power etc then dunk it up and down till you couldnt see any crap run out of it. Then would do the same thing again minus the detergent to rinse it out then I would dry it out by either leaving in sun or place in front of heater (if available at the right time of year or near the fire) or I use to put myn on top of the boiler at work (bit hard in the scrub LOL ) Dont keep turning it over when drying it out as when you do this the water will kepp running back down to the dry stuff. Just leave it one way. When I have done it away from home I sit it on a towel to absorb the water so it doesnt pool under it. Hair dryer will do the same thing.Genuine is the only one you can wash out that I know of Regards steve M

I use to wash myn out when I had the hilux. I would hit it from inside out with compressed air first to blow the crap out if it, I would then fill a bucket with warm water (not hot) with some fab,cold power etc then dunk it up and down till you couldnt see any crap run out of it. Then would do the same thing again minus the detergent to rinse it out then I would dry it out by either leaving in sun or place in front of heater (if available at the right time of year or near the fire) or I use to put myn on top of the boiler at work (bit hard in the scrub LOL ) Dont keep turning it over when drying it out as when you do this the water will kepp running back down to the dry stuff. Just leave it one way. When I have done it away from home I sit it on a towel to absorb the water so it doesnt pool under it. Hair dryer will do the same thing.Genuine is the only one you can wash out that I know of Regards steve M

A good agitated rinse gets most of the loose stuff out, however with each wash they apparently lose their filter efficiency.I've only ever washed them once then renewed.

I have a genuine washable filter in my Hilux. The book says lift it up and down in a bucket of water at least ten times to clean it. I have found I have to lift it up and down that many times in in damm near ten buckets of water before I reach the stage where the water stays clean with no sign of dirt in it.

This could create a real problem in the Outback because of lack of water. To make things a little easier I use a pre cleaner on dusty roads and blow it out occasionally using a short air line from a tyre inflated to maximum pressure.

Dusty mountain tracks are easy because there are usually plenty of clean rivers around. Many times I have stood in the middle of a fast flowing one letting countless litres of water flow through the element. I usually do this when stopping for the night then shake it a few times and put it back in the car. The heat from the engine soon dries most of the water out of it and any traces left the next morning are not going to worry anything.

I know the book says to replace the element at regular intervals but thiis is for normal everyday driving on mostly sealed roads. In very dusty conditions the element will need a lot more attention. An element can be just about fully clogged up in a day or two in some conditions like a mining site but nobody is going to replace one that often so they are designed to be cleaned. If you clean them properly according to the instructions, they should be ok. If water or compressed air is a problem then use a pre cleaner if necessary to extend the intervals.

Brian

Like Splits, I find it takes quite a few buckets of water before the filter is clean. So the garden gets watered at the same time.

Your mechanic hates them because it takes too much time, and they take ages to dry, so its pretty hard for a workshop. Much easier to pop a new one in.

So I keep 2 airfilters. Come service time, I just stick the dry one in, wash and dry the other when I feel like it.