1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

My Prius v (lowercase v) Mods

Discussion in 'Prius v Accessories and Modifications' started by Eric "v", Nov 17, 2014.

  1. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,295
    1,005
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Sometimes I wish I lived in another state that is less strict like yours. I have a feeling the intake would pass the performance portion of the test. I'm pretty sure that they'd get one on the visual inspection portion. I have a K&N intake on a '99 GS400, and when I took it to get smogged the one guy was nudging the other, I think to fail me, for a darn K&N prefilter I had put on! I have the EO sticker in plain view right next to the intake!

    I have to agree that the cotton gauge filters do a good enough job from my own use/research.

    Just curious, did you see a carbon element somewhere in the stock intake, or is it built into the filter element? I was under the impression that the carbon element was separate.
     
  2. Eric "v"

    Eric "v" Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    229
    44
    0
    Location:
    'Vegas, NV, Baby
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    jzchen,
    I have not dissected my two stock air boxes. But you've got me curious about the carbon element so I'll look tomorrow and hope I don't have to cut into a filter to find out. (I'm saving them in case the next owner wants to revert to OEM air boxes.)

    Nevada does follow California's smog test protocol and standards EXCEPT that I can run any air intake I want as long as it does not light up a "check engine" light. Nothing (yet) about needing a carbon filter for "seep back" exhaust after the engine is shut down.
     
  3. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,295
    1,005
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Definitely don't cut into the stock filter. It would be a waste. Like I said I thought it was a separate element altogether. Should be easy enough to see, one would think, just looking at pictures of filters on the net, if it is part of a single filter. I'll hopefully get some time to search filters later.

    The tester can fail you here just by seeing an aftermarket part without a CARB EO#. It is sad, but partly a money making thing here I guess. I didn't know that is what the carbon is for. Thank you.

    MT2L03 ?
     
  4. jerryhe

    jerryhe New Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2015
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    2437 s morgan st seattle wa 98108
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
  5. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,295
    1,005
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    So I was looking into purchasing a replacement air filter and got to see some pictures. I can't see any type of "carbon" on the aftermarket replacements on AutoZone or O'Reilly. Strange, but if the carbon is in the filter, then these aftermarket filters would not be CARB compliant! I ended up purchasing a aFe 31-10228 Pro Dry S but am thinking it may not be compliant. (Maybe should have just gone with the Injen intake!)
     
  6. Eric "v"

    Eric "v" Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    229
    44
    0
    Location:
    'Vegas, NV, Baby
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    I wonder if INJEN makes an activated charcoal (carbon) impregnated dry filter. I'm going to call them next week and ask.

    Maybe there is even one we could slip overt the regular filter.
     
  7. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,295
    1,005
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    It wasn't too hard to find an example of the hydrocarbon filter from a Toyota. A modification to remove it to improve performance can be found here (I honestly don't know why it takes me a while to figure out things, ie. in this case it took me days to figure to do a Google search on "hydrocarbon filter"):

    Toyota 4Runner Hydrocarbon filter removal

    Here is a picture of the actual filter from that same page:

    http://www.top4runners.com/cgi-bin/image.pl?/ja/2007/hcf/hcf8.jpg

    The page notes that "H C" is stamped on the top half of the airbox, and the carbon element is attached permanent style to the top. I honestly don't remember seeing this "H C" on the Prius v box anywhere, shown on this picture from that same page:

    http://www.top4runners.com/cgi-bin/image.pl?/ja/2007/hcf/hcf7.jpg

    The example vehicle is a 2007 4Runner 4.7L V8...

    The hydrocarbon filter seems to be a separate more permanent part of the air filter housing. From the looks of the 4Runner V8 setup, it is on the engine side of the housing, meaning the hydrocarbon filter would go on the inside of the conical filter of the intake.

    Maybe I shouldn't have rushed to buy the aFe filter if there is no hydrocarbon element in the Prius v and could have hope for a CARB EO# for the Injen Intake, although I don't see them show the dyno results...
     
    #67 jzchen, May 23, 2015
    Last edited: May 23, 2015
  8. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,295
    1,005
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Never mind. I just looked over the installation instructions for the Injen Intake from their website. In one picture you can clearly see the "H C" stamping on the top half of the airbox just as they show removing it.

    It is on Figure 6....
     
  9. Eric "v"

    Eric "v" Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    229
    44
    0
    Location:
    'Vegas, NV, Baby
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Amazon sells "cut-to-fit" carbon impregnated filter covers for about $9.

    So anyone worried about a needing a carbon element over their conical cold air intake can make one. Likely some kind of glue for foam (maybe as used by upholstery repair) can be used in fabricating a cover.
     
  10. Prius rv

    Prius rv New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2015
    4
    3
    0
    Location:
    Fort Myers,Fl.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Hey Eric "v" did you ever replace the stock shocks on your "v"? I know you did exhaust tip, but did you do tuned muffler or exhaust system? I love your "v", building mine on what I learned from your set -up. Looking for adjustable Shocks and Exhaust muffler for my silver zvw40 2012 v m5. Anyone else have their 2 cents on modifying "v"? I love My little v......
     
  11. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,295
    1,005
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    The smog check station could fail you on the visual inspection without a CARB EO#. No "sniffer" test necessary. I wish it were so simple...

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  12. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2012
    3,626
    1,623
    0
    Location:
    Sanford, NC
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    We have to be careful not to assume that our smog check experience translates from state to state. Some states and even areas within states have no smog checks or different ones.
     
  13. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,295
    1,005
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Yup. Should have specified for California only. My apologies.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  14. chipr

    chipr Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2009
    16
    3
    0
    Location:
    Cascadia
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    e.g. Vashon Island is exempt from King County/WA's smog test
     
  15. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    3,902
    1,064
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    NY State just instituted tint testing at annual safety/emissions inspection: > 70% transmissivity (< 30% tint)
     
  16. natsmada

    natsmada Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    13
    2
    0
    Location:
    Planet Earth
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    V
    Here's some photos of an HPS CAI that I installed a few months ago. I really like the sound and added thrust that it provides.
    YMMV
    Happy Driving!!
     

    Attached Files:

    Burna J likes this.
  17. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2014
    1,612
    1,144
    0
    Location:
    Franklin TN
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Nice! Did it affect your fuel economy in any way?
     
  18. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    3,902
    1,064
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Did you add the stickers for their incremental 10BRWHP?
     
  19. black Sunshine

    black Sunshine Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2016
    9
    3
    0
    Location:
    Atlanta
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    How hard was the install? I did this on my first car and I remember loving the sound too!
     
  20. natsmada

    natsmada Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    13
    2
    0
    Location:
    Planet Earth
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    V
    The install was pretty straight-forward and took about 25 minutes. You may need an long (>12") ratchet
    extension to get some of the 10mm bolts removed. Regarding gas mileage, it seems to have improved
    slightly, but I do seem to be heavier on the gas pedal now that it sounds so "throaty".