200 series air cleaner not filtering dust!

Unifilters are not necessary the ideal answer.
The surface area of the filter is far less than the OE filter, meaning it will clog faster. There are also some reports of the OE sensors downwind from the filter being affected by the oil from the Unifilter.
Not saying it wont be better, just suggesting that it is worthwhile checking these and any possible warranty effect before putting one in.
CJ

A filter which works is the issue.

The surface area as presented in the Unifilter in the 2011 Dmax I have cleans the air, requires very little servicing and does definitely flow more air than the original. I made a vacuum, flow test rig especially to check it. Unifilter make filters so as not to restrict the airflow and usually are better/less restriction than the OE. Check of course.

The issue of sensors being contaminated, (mine is 130mm from the filter itself and has never had stuff parked on it. If the Unifilter or any filter is over treated or simply dripping with the treatment then maybe that will cause a problem. Still, You can clean a dirty sensor with a couple of sprays of CRC sensor cleaner, far better than having to replace worn rings, pistons etc, easier too.

If you have the dealer sanctioned dust or NO dust entering the engine, I know what I would prefer. A dealer WILL NOT lose whatever happens, the owner may be disadvantaged quite a bit.
Ask the dealer to OK (in writing) a Unifilter, so the dust isn't entering the engine. See if he recognizes the advantage of clean air going in, or outback Australia being cycled through the V8. Ask him to make a fair judgement on that.

Test the guts of his conviction to the issue. Make him take photos of the dust and record it and have it certified as received by Toyota Warranty Engineers with them contacting you to confirm the receiving of the issue. Then they are put on the spot to fix the issue or accept the inevitable accelerated wear as THEIR problem and responsibility.
Anything is better than dust going IN.

Customers should NEVER be placed in a position of having to keep a previous vehicle over an expensive modern vehicle which they already own, for the sake of some sand.
If dust is going IN and pictures are presented to a Fair Trade Tribunal the owner may be receiving a NEW V8 model soon. Bad publicity in the press and records in state tribunals have amazing results.

A friend I helped in '14/'15 received $39,500 back from Nissan/Dealer for his defective Navara with a bent chassis.
PS has the dealer actually contacted Toyota regarding the issue or simply claimed what he says is the state of the nation? Check the status of that!
Possibly, not implicitly trusting the dealers words is a wise thing to do.

RMD,

You are correct, customers should never have to keep previous vehicle due to issues with a new one.
We chose the 200 for the 100 is on 175000 and it's manual to have a newer auto car to eliminate failures when outback in the 100. But, it appears the 200 is not what we thought it is....

For the three visits to toyota, I only have a letter to say if the air box is proving the cause of dust it will honour warranty on new engine. The current pics are showing ok as per pictures.

Toyota wouldn't even replace the air cleaner. Just say it is acceptable.....

Cheers

Hello CJ,

I have had a fj40, 60, 80, still have my td100. These do not have any dust in the intake. The 200 should be no different.

On other social medial other owners are having dust issue also. Only when toyota changed to panel filter this has become a issue.

Dust is the cause of left turbo and left bank failures.

Thanks

A snorkel sock is only a bandaid measure and doesn't fix the airfilter issue. The sock severely restricts intake airflow volume. Maybe if you are forced to drive right behind someone with no alternative, then the sock.

The airfilter per say is NOT the problem on the 200 series.Dust doesn't get through the filter, it's the dust that gets past the seal on the filter.

I believe the airbox has always been a problem, and doesn't clamp down effectively.

Solution ? Don't know.....I have a 200 series and I'd like to know of one as well.

Unifilter make a 'droopie' to go in the snorkel and team up with the main filter. They say it traps 90% of the dust.

As for blow-by, that's known to occur with some Euro bikes and it *does* trash engines. Owners have reported engine replacement under warranty. In some cases a Unifilter takes up the gaps, in others new seals or complete filter redesign is called for.

Hell Michael,

I understand what you are saying. My issue is the air box need a redesign, the air box is the issue.

My other thought is if dust is passing so will water in a river crossing.

Thanks

Hey Pinko,

Did Alice springs have a fix for this issue?

A human hair is 75 microns. I am unsure how toyota can say 2 micron is fine... it's fine for the warranty period. Then it's the owners problem.

Cheers

2 microns is very fine and very few filters of any type will stop high persentage of particles less than 5 microns.

cheers

Might be wrong but a paper automotive filter doesn't filter down past more than 6 microns.
My understanding anyway. If Toyota have a filter of that size that filters down to 2 microns, no wonder it pulls air past the seals.

Hello Steve,

I have checked out LCOOL, lots have experienced the outcome I have been trying to avoid-new engine. I am trying to find a fix..

The air cleaner is in the correct way, toyota have checked this also and wipe the dust out and say it's fixed.

The clamps can not be any tighter for the top housing bottoms out on the lower with out the filter installed.

Thanks

Mick

You say the LCOOL outcome suggest "lots have a new engine" as a result of dust?

This is not supported in anything I have read in there. Not the new engine, nor ill effects of dust coming through.

Hey Cseajay,

Do a search for "dust" on 200 section and you will find lots of threads with engine failures and dust passing issues.

I have posted this to see if anyone has found a solution. If this continues I will be forking out large amounts of cash for a replacement engine.

Also, a 200 series FB page has photos and chats about dusted engines.

This is a issue that toyota has to sort out...

Hello Paul,

Has this method been effective for your 200? The manual states severe service is 15000klm.

i have bought a new filter and yet to test on another trip.

Thanks

If you look at his photos ( and I have seen it on mine as well ) the dust is getting past the seal...not the filter median. And whatever you do....do not blow out the filter with compressed air.

On mine, after installing a snorkel, it has largely fixed the problem as I very rarely follow anyone on dusty roads or tracks.

And Mick78, don't take any advice from the manual. Same as there is NO service interval for the fuel filter.....only change it if the light comes on ?? WTF ??

Why not blow out with compressed air? If it's done correctly from the inside out the filter is not harmed.
I worked on a minesite years ago (lots of sites actually) and filters were changed twice a day as dust was the big killer of machinery.
The "used" filters (mostly CAT) were shipped back to Perth to be washed professionally and then sent back to site. Too expensive to throw away after a few hours work.
But blowing out a filter the wrong way just forces dirt in and it then gets sucked into the engine.
I had to get stuck into a mobile mechanic north of Perth for doing just that to my Prados filter.... and he said he couldn't see anything wrong with it!
He also got caught not doing grease nipples and using 5 different types of oil in the engine which he also reckoned was OK so.... he now runs a service business and I've warned people I know about his skills but I wonder if they take any notice?
AlanTH.

Been well documented that blowing out the filter CAN open up the pores of the filter and increase the size of the "holes" .....or worse still, actually blow holes in the filter ( still small enough that you wouldnt notice them )..

Getting a filter "serviced" by a company that knows what they're doing is a different thing again !

For $35, as opposed to hundreds for an industrial type filter, changing it is a no brainer!

Hey Dozer,

I have read that the ryco filter seal is 2mm thiner than the genuine.

The clips are as tight as can be. The top housing bottoms out on the lower half without the filter in it.

I think this is the issue with the filter seal not having positive te soon on it.

No way would any vehicle of mine go to 20K until an element change. No way at all. That's asking for trouble.
If you're travelling in dusty country that filter gets full quick, snorkel (RAI) or not and full filters pull air in anywhere they can get it.
A mate with his BMW bike found that when it struggled to even start..... chockers with dust, engine stuffed. Admitted he was a slow learner but still...
You should always take a spare with you and you can then knock lots of dust out of the element you take out.
That's one problem with oiled filters ... they have to be washed out before reuse. Stick to paper as it's easier.
AlanTH.

Alan,
I do all my own servicing (since new on every vehicle I've owned) and check the air cleaner element every service. I replace it earlier if needed but most of the time I'll average 20,000k out of an element. I do a lot of outback kilometres and always had a snorkel.
The paper elements reach their peak efficiency once they have been in service for a little while, so replacing them too soon is of no benefit.
Cheers
Phil

Tony, can't agree more. Guess that is why all heavy earth moving equipment and trucks use paper filters.

Just blow them out and have them washed at certain intervals. Most have pre-filters and see more dust in a week than the average 4x4 sees in a lifetime.

Trouble is, Toyota have installed an inferior filter box and unless that is addressed the problem will remain no matter what the filter does.

I believe they have an inferior filter box as well, but good luck trying to get a company like Toyota to admit it !!

This would be what you're thinking of, Rob.



Bob

Not sure, Mick? Will see if I can find out, let you know tomorrow. Think it is for the 79 models.

Bob

Mick,

It appears Matt Krautz is the bloke to contact. Mobile 0431 685 586

Don't know where he is, or what state, but judging by that photo he is a craftsman!

Good luck with it,
Bob

Gotta agree with you there Bantam.
I currently run a Donaldson filter on the 200 series, but haven't done enough dirt roads to conclude anything about the seal yet ?

I'd be interested to hear your in hand visual impression of the donaldson filter V the factory item

it may be "acceptable" to them ........ customers would probably be of a different opinion

Bob, just to add to your post. I have used AAA exhausts when they were a much small business and they were always good.