Toyota Prado air filter aka air element

This Toyota Prado air filter looks really tired and dirty

So, this has become of K's 1995 Toyota Prado air filter aka air element in Toyota language. He discovered this during a routine engine oil service. Wasn't too please with the condition. The one in the picture above may well be the original one since it rolled out of the show room. Air filters are an important part of the engine. It filters out the contaminants that should not enter the engine (mainly dust and dirt). Typically a dirty and clogged air filter may affect mileage and engine power.

The air filter taken out from the 1995 Prado GX. 

The other side of the air fiter

The workshop did not manage to find a new replacement for the air filter. The closest they got was for an OEM version. K decided to plug the old air filter back in, after a few rounds of compressed air cleaning.

Seems that original Toyota Prado air filters can be washed and reuse

While the air filter can be washed, air dry and reused, perhaps it is better to have it replaced. For a vehicle that is over 20 years old, the air filter can offer a fresh breath of life to the engine. After much scouting around, K manage to buy one for about RM150 with postage within Malaysia. It did not take the seller much time to get it delivered.

Made In Japan air element for Toyota Prado

Everything looks exactly the same with the old one. Except
the color of this new filter is yellow. 

Dimension wise for this new filter seems to match with the old one. The only difference is the color of the filter material. The old one is almost completely gray/ black probably due to the age and all the hard work it had done over the years trapping dirt and dusts.

Compare the old (left) and new one. Everything looks identical except for filter color

The car engine uses a lot of air to work properly. Any contaminants will effect the engine and that's not gonna be good for the car as a whole. It is almost like human breathing. We are going to suffer if we keep breathing in pollutants and contaminants. The air filter in the car works to let only the cleanest air possible to enter the engine.

It is a good idea to check and clean the Toyota Prado air filter every time it goes for its routine maintenance. It is easy to do and should be part of the routine check every time.