Clogged Engine Intake Filter
 

So I got one of those TRD drop-in air filters, and while changing out the filter, I noticed the airfilter was clogged with some fuzzy yellow material, very similar to house insulation.

I replaced the filter and checked upon the intake every couple of days to fine the intake continually getting this yellow stuff in it. It's been about a month now and it's been getting less, but not sure if it's stopped. Having the dealer check it out.

For those who haven't taken apart their intakes, you should definitely check. My FR-S's vin ended in 700306, so it was one of the earlier cars that got built.

Here's a picture of the clogged filter. I'm wondering if it's coming from that box to the left the filter based on how the left is the only side with the material. Anyone know what that box is there for?

http://i.imgur.com/Cx5cH.jpg

oh wow, that seems totally out of the ordinary

Looks like it sucked in a bird or something....

It's been clogging up on and off since I can tell up to 75XX miles... Not sure if it's going to stop or not. Hopefully the dealer figures it out.

I thought that as well, but the material is pretty clearly, the fiberglass insulation material but between the walls in a house. Looking at the piping, there's two piping paths leading to the filter.

- the short air pipe from the radiator to the intake filter
- the 4"x8" box to the left of the intake filter

Judging by how the left side of the filter is the only thing getting clogged, it appears to be coming from that box. The only path for debris to enter is through that pipe as the box appears to be sealed. It also looks difficult for anything to get in between the short pipe and the radiator to be able to get in.

After taking delivery of the car, I put the new filter in around ~1.5k miles and noticed it. After 7500 miles on the odo, it's still showing up... Quite an oddity.

Look in the box?

Taking apart filter piping is a job we should be able to handle I'd think. Also, for clarification you saw this first on your stock filter, and it's continuing even though you put in a new filter?

You have a mouse trying to make a nest in your car. It's likely stealing insulation from your house and stuffing it in your intake horn.

^^ +1 ^^ See it happen with squirrels all the time. I pulled apart my Celica's airbox to find it full of insulation, acorns, and other assorted crap. I was amazed the car even ran with so much crap clogging the air filter!

this is the most logical explanation.

Judging by the amount of material that's on there... I say it's a mouse from the Gunma plant. Authentic JDM mouse man!

*chuckles* My house was built with the pink insulation. In fact my whole ~240 house development went up with pink insulation. I suspect this yellow insulation came from the dealer or during transport.

As funny as this is... how unfortunate.

Hopefully it's not an invasive species. International shipping is how a lot of them get introduced.

Yeah you know those mice from over there come over here and knock up all the mice here. Next thing you know they start tuning our children's remote control cars.

Didn't they make a movie about that? ;)

I think if JDM mice were an issue we'd know by now.

Yeah looks like a mouse has made a home in your intake ducting. I see that quite often at my dealership knock on wood its hasnt started makeing a nest out of your wireing harness or cabin air filter.

Or chewing on your rubber fuel lines, so they go "pop" when you start your car, and spray everything under the hood with gas. Thus ruining all electrical tape, the hood blanket, the silver paint on the intake cover, and making an ugly 4' wide soft spot in your nice asphalt driveway... Hey... happened to me 3 days after bringing the car home. Dirty vermin.

It really does look like the work of a small rodent. They like airboxes...cars, motorcycles, ATVs, they're not fussy. You may be on to something with your idea about the "box" off to the side of the actual airbox. It is possible that a mouse built a nest in there, and it has slowly been working its way out since your original post. I thought I replied to that one, but must have missed hitting the submit reply button. That was a while ago...sorry 'bout that.

You may want to check the backside of your hood liner...I had a field mouse that made a home/nest in my engine bay w/ the hood liner insulation. You won't see the damage unless you separate the liner from the hood. Funny thing about my mouse, he used my motor mount wells as his seed mills. He had his shit all organized. Sadly he met an early retirement. :paddle:

Put some traps under your car with peanut butter on them or a small piece of pepperoni, mice love that stuff. Bet you catch the culprit.....