TRD air filter box question

Does the TRD air filter box have that mesh looking stuff attached to the underside of the top portion of the air box? Stock box has it and seems like some air flow would be somewhat restricted. I guess I can always cut it out, but is it necessary?

 

Before you cut stuff out of your airbox, read this thread.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/beware-of-mice-inside-of-your-air-intake-box.523735/

 

Cutting out the mesh will not accomplish any performance gain at all, but it will allow vermin to get into the airbox.

 

The charcoal filter built into the lid is for meeting evaporative emissions requirements (the little bit of fuel vapor coming out of your intake). Since Oregon doesn't do visual inspections, you can rip out the filter.

Leave the metal mesh grille on the air box inlet.

 

I don't understand how the mesh on the lid would prevent mice from getting in the airbox... The mesh on the airbox lid is between the filter and the throttle body. The mice would have to go through the air filter BEFORE they can get to the mesh in the lid. The mesh in the lid has no bearing on the rodent's access to the airbox unless they try to crawl in through the intake tube between the throttle body and the airbox, which is the least likely access point for obvious reasons...

 

Many TW members don’t know how rodents are getting into their airbox. After reading all of these threads, I am thinking more mesh is better than less mesh.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/chipmunks-in-my-air-filter-argh.551657/

 

If there is not a hole chewed through an obvious place between the air box and throttle body, then they should know with 100% certainty that the rodent is climbing in through the airbox inlet that is in the fender well. Meaning the mesh (and charcoal filter) in the air box lid is doing absolutely nothing to keep the rodent out, because it never even encounters it. If it did, you'd find the rodent in the actual engine anyway after the engine *attempts* to chew it up and spit it out.

 

TRD "performance" air filter is garbage. If you want to let fine dust into your intake, then go right ahead and install one.

Also, absolutely zero performance gains running an oiled filter on the 3.5L except for some cool whistling noises.

Only OEM paper for me, I learned my lesson.

 

They're confusing the metal grille on the airbox inlet with the charcoal filter on the lid.

 

That's the thing...there is not a metal grille on the airbox inlet. If you're referencing the thread that the 2nd poster posted above, he ADDED that to stop mice from crawling in after discovering they were in there chewing stuff up... That's not there from the factory and why the mice are making it into the air box with little effort.

 

Ah OK, I replaced my stock airbox with a Volant CAI within the first week of ownership 6 years ago, didn't pay much attention to the inlet. How would the charcoal filter stop mice? If mice can chew through the primary air filter, they can chew through the charcoal filter as well.