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K&N filters v/s paper filters

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by dhedges, Mar 25, 2013.

  1. Jon Hagen

    Jon Hagen Active Member

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    Magic JC Whitney FIRE INJECTORS, run your car without spark plugs using ordinary gas. :). I still have a set of those along with an ad, tacked to my shop wall. Been there for 40 years.
     
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  2. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    Paper filters are more efficient, i.e, they capture smaller dirt particles. It is for that reason I won't use K&N filters..
     
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  3. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    Hold your somewhat used K&N up to the sunlight.

    How do you explain those pinpoints of light shining through?

    But if you like dikin under the hood and making a mess in the kitchen sink..... Enjoy!
     
  4. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Reminds me of the olden days with the oil-bath air cleaner in the '65 Beetle and the oil wetted foam over mesh in my '63 Monza Spyder and '80 Sturgis. :D
     
  5. jharwd

    jharwd Junior Member

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  6. jharwd

    jharwd Junior Member

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    ran a k&n on my 2005 prius for 108000 miles with no problems. compare the cost of replacement filters.will install k&n on my 2012 prius.
     
  7. dbcassidy

    dbcassidy Toyota Hybrid Nation, 8 Million Strong

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    Gawd, that brings back memories of the old Beetle ('71).

    DBCassidy
     
  8. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    To some,, time is money. You can change a paper filter in <2 minutes. Paper filters don't have pinhole of light.
    What's your average time to service a K&N, hood open to hood close?

    On my current car I have 4050 miles on the air filter and 12,350 miles on the car !!!
    I may have to think about that air filter someday !
     
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  9. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Yep, to me, the K&N is like a step back.
     
  10. R1CH13

    R1CH13 Member

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    Cheaper route would be to go with a K&N for your Prius. Paper filter recommended change is every 15,000 miles. K&N you would reuse and clean every 50,000 miles. Better air flow for your engine when you put K&N. If you drive a Prius and you care a lot about the environment, wouldn't it make sense to get a product that is reusable and sustainable? I love my K&N in my Prius. Costed me $35.
     
  11. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    The engine air filter has a recommended change at 30,000 miles, according to the maintenance guide.
     
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  12. dbcassidy

    dbcassidy Toyota Hybrid Nation, 8 Million Strong

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    Agreed!

    DBCassidy
     
  13. dbcassidy

    dbcassidy Toyota Hybrid Nation, 8 Million Strong

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    If this doesn't sound like K & N advertising, then I don't know what does.

    DBCassidy
     
  14. dbcassidy

    dbcassidy Toyota Hybrid Nation, 8 Million Strong

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    The pin holes in the K & N filter, in the light - can you say "dusted engine"?:eek:

    DBCassidy
     
  15. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    Detergent, old oil going down the drain.
    Yelling wife about the mess you made.
    New oil, but not too much...
    Your smelly hands.
    All these things are bad for your personal environment.

    Better to throw a new paper one in every 30k and then take the wifey out for breakfast with all your saved time and trouble !!!
    Good for your environment!
     
  16. John Sayre

    John Sayre New Member

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    I got the K&N filters for my 2012 Prius C and my 2013 Prius, MPG went from 48-50 on the Prius to 51-53. The Prius C went fron 58 to average 59-60. Well worth the price to me. Won't take long to pay for the filters.
     
  17. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    ^ 15 percent increase just by replacing the filter eh?
    You will excuse my skepticism......
     
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  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    It might just that there's no heavy/dusty industry around here, and we are getting prevailing winds off the Pacific, but 64,000 km's on original engine air filter: took a look at it the other day, still virtually new looking.
     
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  19. Vman455

    Vman455 Senior Member

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    I assume you have the fuel logs to prove it (something that looks like this or this). Post 'em up.
     
  20. Sizzla

    Sizzla New Member

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    You don't have to service the filter. I put a K&N in a 2003 VW Jetta 1.8t. I drove it from 2003 until 2015, every day, over 80,000. Never removed, cleaned or even looked at the filter. I did all my own oil changes and never had a single problem with the vehicle. The only thing I ever replaced was a thermostat. The filter works better as it accumulates some dirt and particles because the filtration holes become smaller. A paper filter would surely clog if never changed for some many years.