# Changing engine air filter **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [March 20, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-engine-air-filter/136876 "2019-03-20T23:20:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Marnet](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/marnet/32/41_2.png) [@Marnet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Marnet)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-engine-air-filter/136876/1 "2019-03-20T23:20:38Z")
2014 Camry LE 2.5L 4-cyl When changing the engine air filter I know to vacuum out the compartment. Should I also wipe out the compartment after vacuuming? If so, only dry wipe? Or damp wipe then leave open long enough for all possible moisture to totally evaporate before inserting the new clean filter and buttoning up the compartment? Marnet ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 11:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-engine-air-filter/136876/2 "2019-03-20T23:24:29Z")
I just vacuum out any debris. Tester ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 11:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-engine-air-filter/136876/3 "2019-03-20T23:25:45Z")
I would say vacuuming to get rid of any loose debris is sufficient. ---
**Author:** ![anon86613489](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@anon86613489](https://community.cartalk.com/u/anon86613489)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 11:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-engine-air-filter/136876/4 "2019-03-20T23:26:49Z")
Marnet Your idea with a damp wipe is very fine and you don’t have to wait for the moisture evaporate. The engine knows how to handle humid air. I compliment You for taking such good care for Your car. ---
**Author:** ![Marnet](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/marnet/32/41_2.png) [@Marnet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Marnet)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 11:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-engine-air-filter/136876/5 "2019-03-20T23:26:55Z")
Thank you for the answers. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 11:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-engine-air-filter/136876/6 "2019-03-20T23:36:13Z")
The main thing is to look for evidence that the sealing surfaces between the filter and its housing are intact and making a good seal. Also any downstream boots and connections need to be free of leaks that can draw in unfiltered air. ---
**Author:** ![Marnet](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/marnet/32/41_2.png) [@Marnet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Marnet)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 11:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-engine-air-filter/136876/7 "2019-03-20T23:39:21Z")
@anon86613489 Thank you for your compliment. I’ve learned so much about doing proactive care of my car from years of hanging out on the forum, reading, asking questions. ---
**Author:** ![anon86613489](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@anon86613489](https://community.cartalk.com/u/anon86613489)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 11:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-engine-air-filter/136876/8 "2019-03-20T23:43:19Z")
> [@Marnet](#): > > I’ve learned so much about doing proactive care of my car from years of hanging out on the forum, reading, asking questions. That secures Your car a long and lasting life and I hope You’ll continue to come back and ask. Best regards Asterix ---
**Author:** ![Marnet](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/marnet/32/41_2.png) [@Marnet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Marnet)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 11:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-engine-air-filter/136876/9 "2019-03-20T23:45:00Z")
@shanonia Uhm, the downstream stuff is way beyond me. I’m not at all a DIY, just an older woman with no mechanical aptitude beyond keeping tires aired, oil checked, change wiper blades, change the cabin air filter. Now I thought to change the engine air filter myself. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 11:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-engine-air-filter/136876/10 "2019-03-20T23:52:08Z")
It’s likely all the connections between the air filter housing and the intake manifold are just fine. You’re doing the right thing to be thoughtful and careful about your work. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2019, 7:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-engine-air-filter/136876/11 "2019-03-21T07:42:31Z")
> [@Marnet](#): > > the downstream stuff is way beyond me. Look at the air flow like a creek. It should flow in only one direction, Intake toward the engine and exhaust away from the engine. Any thing in the “creek”(ie, air filter, catalytic converter, muffler etc.) would be mid stream, before that would be upstream of, and after that would be down stream. Its easier for me to visualize like that . ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2019, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-engine-air-filter/136876/14 "2019-03-21T15:11:55Z")
Vacuuming is OK, so is wiping with a dry or damp cloth. But do NOT blow out with compressed air, that could blow debris down into the intake, the stuff your filter is designed to keep out. It would be better to do nothing but replace the element than to blow the compartment out with compressed air. BTW damp would be better than dry as a dry cloth may also allow some debris into the downstream ducts, not as bad as compressed air but some none the less. Swifter would be good for a dry alternative.