grunner58

I agree you 100%! There are some "Denso fanatics", so to them: This Denso, Made In USA, item is crap vs the competing product from China. I found my receipt and had bought the filter locally for a lower price than the Denso junk. My post is to simply warn people about buying THIS Denso product. If you want to buy it, feel free! Buy a dozen!

takimanpgt

Well - I'll be damned. The Denso does look cheap as can be.

tradosauru

Where did you buy the filter from China?

grunner58

It was a local parts guy who runs an independent shop. I wish I had remembered that prior to buying from Rockauto and the Denso

StanVanDam

Toyota/Lexus OEM cabin air filter part number is 87139-YZZ01, and Denso is the manufacturer. However, Denso also manufacturers an aftermarket line called First Time Fit, and the equivalent-fitting (not equivalent-performing) part number is 453-1007. Obviously their aftermarket product is going to be different from their OEM product, so I'm not sure why some of you think the aftermarket Denso would be exactly the same as the OEM Denso. Get the 87139-YZZ01 filter if you want the high-quality OEM filter. Get the 453-1007 if the cost savings and mild decrease in product quality is worth it to you. Know what you're buying before complaining about it.

Maybe it's your camera, but my Denso First Time Fit 453-1007 filters from RockAuto don't look like that - the tops of mine are much more black (from the charcoal/activated carbon). Neither my Lexus OEM nor my Denso aftermarket filters ever said China on them. On Amazon, right under the price it states "Denso partners with other manufacturers to supply the parts your car was originally built with. This product is in a Denso package, however the part may have been manufactured by an independent Denso supplier." Therefore, it is reasonable to infer that there are at least a couple different cabin air filter manufacturers under the Denso First Time Fit name, and it is also reasonable to infer that these different manufacturers may manufacture the filters using different processes and/or materials.

For 87139-YZZ01: "DENSO factories are QS9000 and ISO9000 certified worldwide, just one of the many reasons why zero defects for parts produced in the millions is a reality for DENSO. A recipient of the prestigious Deming Award for quality in 1961, DENSO spent over five decades perfecting technology and processes, a claim that few automotive manufacturers can make.

For 453-1007: "DENSO has taken everything they have learned as an Original Equipment Manufacturer and use it to their superior aftermarket product lines of auto parts. DENSO First Time Fit™ products are products built and tested to OE-standard offered for the aftermarket by DENSO. Each of these products is precision-built for exact replacement so you don't have to worry about doing the same job twice."

Interesting to note that FRAM Fresh Breeze claims a 98% removal rate for particles 5 to 100 microns, but particulate removal efficiency isn't the only metric of a high-quality air filter. Reviews on Amazon show that FRAM's airflow is nowhere near OEM (30-50% reduction), they create a lot of noise, unfiltered air bypasses the filter due to an imperfect fit, and they blow baking soda dust everywhere.

Tom57

All valid points. And, Fram Fresh Breeze cabin air filters are garbage. They use cheap baking soda instead of activated charcoal pretending to clean the air.

2KHarrier

Facinating discussion on these filters. I think I have a Beck Arnley from O'Reilly in mine. I replaced it back last summer and the one that was installed didn't look too bad. MY RX300 on the other hand was about 4 years old and was horrible looking... Way past due