Aftermarket Engine Air Filter

[NROhioPruis]

has anyone looked into the aftermarket aif filter that claim to boost HP and economy for the Prius? it looks like this

by injen? it cost almost 50 bucks, but if gets me better mileage, it might be worth it.

[firepa63]

Snake Oil...!

[prius4ed]

My 2004 Prius air box (air filter housing) was damaged in an accident. Instead of replacing it with an OEM box and MAF (mass air flow) sensor, I would save a lot of $$$ using an aftermarket cold air intake filter & pipe. Will need to somehow attach it to the OEM MAF sensor. Anyone have any clues for this, and a lead on the intake kit? I see them on Ebay for $40-50.

[prius4ed]

Anyone have a used or new Prius air box (air filter housing and mass air flow sensor) for sale cheap?

[GatorJZ]

Originally Posted by firepa63

Snake Oil...!

No, it's not. Injen filters are a very popular modification. I would like to see dyno data for this particular application, but in general Injen makes high quality stuff.

[cairo94507]

I echo the request for dyno results to confirm the gain, if any. When it comes to my daily driver, I do not mess with the power train.

[tnthub]

Generally speaking, the intake of the Prius is quite efficient from the factory. Although I have personally seen gains up to a couple of miles per gallon using aftermarket intakes on conventionalvehicles I have seen no real world results in the Prius that would warrant going in the direction of an aftermarket intake. Maybe I am wrong, but a Prius with a stock clean air filter seems to do just fine without the fussing around with cleaning the filter every couple of thousand miles (depending on environmental conditions).

The majority of filter aftermarket filter designs allow more air into the engine to breathe more efficiently. The bottom line is that by allowing more air they are also allowing more contaminants. This may not be a big concern in a urban area with lots of blacktop and one season all year round, but where I live with country roads, sand and salt in the winter, and the wind off the ocean it would be a concern for me in regards to the frequency of needing to clean the filter without damaging it and making sure there is a very light coating of oil on it.

Most people tend to put too much oil on the filters. The proper amount is basically a mist like what a 1950s housewife would leave in the bathroom after spraying her hair (I'm showing my age).

I use aftermarket filters in vehicles other than the prius and have had good success with them in regards to fuel economy and performance.

Bear in mind that allowing more air into the engin places a greater strain on exhaust exiting it so the best formula (in a conventional vehicle), is to decrease exhaust backpressure while allowing a greater air intake. This allows the engin to require less go pedal to achieve desired performance, hence increasing mileage as well as maximum horsepower.

In the Prius the goal is to utilize the hybrid technology to maximum advantage instead of maximizing the potential if the conventional engine (which is quite efficient alrady) so the gains, if any, I would expect to be minimal and likely not worth the investment in dollars and time associated with maintenence.

Perhaps someone here can prove me wrong and if so that would be fine with me.

[ASavingMember]

Originally Posted by prius4ed

My 2004 Prius air box (air filter housing) was damaged in an accident. Instead of replacing it with an OEM box and MAF (mass air flow) sensor, I would save a lot of $$$ using an aftermarket cold air intake filter & pipe. Will need to somehow attach it to the OEM MAF sensor. Anyone have any clues for this, and a lead on the intake kit? I see them on Ebay for $40-50.

what did you crash into?

[edthefox5]

I did some experimenting with it on this car as I have used the intakes like you have shown on other cars but on the Prius don't bother. This car is so tightly fuel mapped any alteration to intake air flow puts the MAF in a tizzy resulting in one bogging little motor.It runs the best with its stock intake. Unless of course you change the fuel map with software. More air requires more fuel if not it would run in a lean condition which is a very very bad thing.High cylinder heat and pinging. The car's software is designed to not allow that to happen.But then of course by re-mapping the car you are trying to get more performance out of the car which takes more fuel and then you quickly realize I'm doing this to the wrong car.

[mattpopp]

Performance parts and a Prius don't go together. A high Flow air filter will not benefit you much unless you have a need for it. You are not going to get any better flow with the factory restricted exhaust. Even if there was a better exhaust it would not help the Prius. That is not a sports car. If you can fit a turbo or a charger on a prius then yes you will yes a benefit from it. Also why would you want to put a after market air filter on the car. In doing so that could effect the emissions, you effect the emissions and then you just killed the environment with a eco friendly car. That would not be any good at all. have to live with that label.