Has anyone here tried using a K&N air filter?

I would love to try one but, last time I looked, they weren't available for the Prius yet.

 

I've heard good things about K&N products but I can't seem to find anything but an oil filter made by K&N for the Prius, on their web site.

 

One caveat if your car/truck has a Hot Wire or Hot Mesh mass air meter: there will be oil carryover from the K&N and this could damage the mass air meter.

A friend of mine in St George, UT, with a 2002 Ford PowerStroke wanted to put in a K&N filter but they warned him not to, due to the oil issue.

 

K&N only has an oil filter for the Prius. Part HP-1003
$12 / perhaps one of the best oil filters on shelves.

The air filter is not available yet. I have already sent an email suggesting it.

Definetely worth purchasing...even if it's $50 since it lasts 1,000,000 miles (with the K&N recharger $10).

Regular paper filters cost $15-20 and technically need to be replaced every 30,000 miles.

 

how about a filter that doesnt need oil plz

 

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Personally, I think 30,000 miles on a paper filter is way too long. I checked the air filter on our Highlander after only 20,000 miles and it was filthy.

 

Does anyone know how an oiled air filter affects the car's emissions?

 

I think a K&N will benefit only if you're replacing the entire airbox assembly, due to it being too restrictive.

My 1990 Toyota 4Runner V6 had a very restrictive airbox that sucked in all it's air around the driver side headlight gap. I once drove in sleet through NorthWest Ontario and the ice buildup choked off so much airflow the engine became very sluggish.

I put in a K&N kit from Downey Offroad and it really made a big difference in performance. It was a replacement mounting bracket that the mass air meter bolted to, and a large cone filter right at the mass air meter. That Toyota used a vane-style mass air meter.

An even bigger improvement was in ditching the stock headers and rear crossover pipe. I put in ceramic-coated Downey headers, Downey crossover, and Y pipe. Also a high-flow catalytic and Borla cat-back. That 4Runner really came to life then.

There was slight oil residue on the vane meter despite the fact I carefully followed the K&N instructions. It never seemed to bother the vane meter though.

Industrial and agricultural applications may use an oil bath pre-cleaner combined with the regular paper main filter, primarily to extend the service life of the paper filter in high dust environments. It can be a pretty disgusting mess cleaning the pre-cleaner.

I saw no need for a K&N on my 2000 GMC Sierra and see no need for one on my Prius.

 

Yes, No change, Yes see how to install K&N at
http://priuschat.com/forums/air-filter-upg...200volts+filter

 

[font=Comic Sans MS:d1fd6ebd05]Does it make any difference that the Prius doesn't use the Otto cycle? Doesn't the Prius ICE "exhale" a little fuel vapor back into the air filter box?[/font:d1fd6ebd05]

 

On 2001 Prius, I have been using the K&N air filter for about 40k miles thus far. I noted no obvious effect on fuel economy. Have cleaned and reoiled it once, and was careful to blot off any "excess" oil with paper towels before reinstallation.

No problem with the mass air flow sensor. Engine oil analyses have shown that road dust is not getting past the filter.

Every few thousand miles I remove the filter and tap the bugs out.

My purchase was motivated by not wanting to buy/discard air filters.

 

has anyone figured out what the stuff in the top of the air cleaner is? i have had the dealership check and they say its not replaceable on its own and is part of the top(cover). i would wonder if its able to become restrictive and be the cause of decreased mpg. also with this here is a k/n filter really going to help that much? also if it is for fire/flash related then replacing the airbox would not be advisable. any thoughts??? :roll:

 

Myride,
The thing in the top of the air filter box is a charcoal filter. This is there to catch "exhaled" fuel vapor when the engine is stopped, thus allow "zero" emissions status.
A friend of mine pryed out the plastic rivets and removed this with no ill effects(it was about 50% plugged based on the hold it to the light test). This seemed like the logical thing to do with the K&N air filter installed as any oil from the K&N would plug the charcoal filter right away.

 

Anyone look into the AirHog by Fram? See if they make one that fits the Prius?

 

[font=Comic Sans MS:ea111457c2]Well, gents, and you of unknown gender, no one responded to my question about the difference an Atkinson ICE, which the Prius has, would be. The Wiki article on Atkinson ICE says, "The Atkinson cycle may also refer to a four stroke engine in which the intake valve is held open longer than normal to allow a reverse flow into the intake manifold."

As you know, the Prius is an exceptionally low-emissions, Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emission Vehicle. It's only zero emissions when running EV Stealth mode. Ripping up your air box, as 200V's "friend" did, would probably violate federal law by tampering with the emissions control system. You need that activated carbon to absorb fuel vapor when the ICE is running.

My question is, how will a K&N oiled air filter hold up when subjected to regular fuel-vapor reverse flow in the intake manifold? Will the oil absorb the fuel, thin, and wash out of the filter media?

You may have used K&N air filters in every car you've owned up to the Prius, but the Prius is a different kind of car. I'm just curious. I like the idea of a renewable filter. But it doesn't look like either K&N or Fram makes one for our cars.[/font:ea111457c2]

 

With the previous model Prius (it lacks the activated charcoal filter in the air box, but is subject to the same reverse flow) I have seen no evidence of filter oil escape or loss from the filter. I have examined the air intake past the filter, both visually and by wiping with absorbent towels. Keeping the filter oil off the air flow sensor is a priority, and it seems to be working.

IMO the charcoal filter in the new model does not necessarily imply that there is more reverse flow in them. But along with you, I hope that this will get scrutinzed by users of oiled aftermarket engine air filters.