Is a bath sponge suitable as temporary fix for car air filter?

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Crikey. How very Italian.

Yes a small wodge of silicone sealer could work wonders. The seal on the airbox can't be too good either. I am pretty darn sure no water would get past the airbox seal on my Toyota Corolla. It is a very robust structure with over-centre latches and an 0-ring seal in a captive groove all round. Back on track to your original question: leave the duff filter out and drive with no filter at all. Get a new filter ASAP. DON'T put sponge or foam or paper or golden monkey fur in the airbox. If it disintegrates and gets sucked into the engine you will be very very sorry. But driving short distances with no air filter on sealed roads is no great danger.

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

Posted by Hopper on 19/01/2023 09:58:53:

Crikey. How very Italian.

Yes a small wodge of silicone sealer could work wonders. The seal on the airbox can't be too good either. I am pretty darn sure no water would get past the airbox seal on my Toyota Corolla. It is a very robust structure with over-centre latches and an 0-ring seal in a captive groove all round. Back on track to your original question: leave the duff filter out and drive with no filter at all. Get a new filter ASAP. DON'T put sponge or foam or paper or golden monkey fur in the airbox. If it disintegrates and gets sucked into the engine you will be very very sorry. But driving short distances with no air filter on sealed roads is no great danger.

That.

Stuffing some sponge in the box in place of the filter is just going to make you feel better until the engine ingests some of it. It won't filter anything worthwhile. If you're really worried about not having a filter, fit the new one in the carpark before you drive home…

[John Doe 2Participant @johndoe2]

A few miles without an air filter won't hurt – especially at this time of year when it is not particularly dusty – even less dusty when it is raining.

And fit the new filter before driving home, as others have suggested.

Running without a filter for 25k miles however will cause wear to the piston rings and cylinder bores, and potentially cause soot and crud build-up on the piston and the inlet valves and stems. This will be very gradual and not noticeable but the engine will wear.

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Looking at Michael's link, the seal depends on the lid engaging with the back of the airbox and the foam being thick enough to fill the gap.

If one of the plastic pegs has snapped off the lid or the slot has split there will be a gap.

[JellyParticipant @jelly]

Posted by duncan webster on 18/01/2023 15:37:57:

Order one on line it will come very quickly, might get tomorrow if you pay a bit more.

If you ring in before 12:00 you can usually get same day delivery on car parts from Euro Car Parts and sometimes GSF too.

I have previously had them deliver a battery and alternator to "the obvious broken down car behind Cotswold Outdoors in Betws" at about 15:30 on a Thursday, having ordered it just before lunchtime… Was a lot cheaper than a hotel.

[Simon Robinson 4Participant @simonrobinson4]

Posted by Hopper on 19/01/2023 09:58:53:

Crikey. How very Italian.

Yes a small wodge of silicone sealer could work wonders. The seal on the airbox can't be too good either. I am pretty darn sure no water would get past the airbox seal on my Toyota Corolla. It is a very robust structure with over-centre latches and an 0-ring seal in a captive groove all round. Back on track to your original question: leave the duff filter out and drive with no filter at all. Get a new filter ASAP. DON'T put sponge or foam or paper or golden monkey fur in the airbox. If it disintegrates and gets sucked into the engine you will be very very sorry. But driving short distances with no air filter on sealed roads is no great danger.

Thank you that sounds the best solution.

[Simon Robinson 4Participant @simonrobinson4]

Posted by Hopper on 19/01/2023 09:58:53:

Crikey. How very Italian.

Yes a small wodge of silicone sealer could work wonders. The seal on the airbox can't be too good either. I am pretty darn sure no water would get past the airbox seal on my Toyota Corolla. It is a very robust structure with over-centre latches and an 0-ring seal in a captive groove all round. Back on track to your original question: leave the duff filter out and drive with no filter at all. Get a new filter ASAP. DON'T put sponge or foam or paper or golden monkey fur in the airbox. If it disintegrates and gets sucked into the engine you will be very very sorry. But driving short distances with no air filter on sealed roads is no great danger.

Thank you that sounds the best solution.

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