Don't Buy a 3rd Gen Prius! - Blown headgasket at 233k

They were doing so -- quickly -- for a while anyway. The 1GR V-6, the 4.0L version of the 3.5L used in Camry and Avalon, first had a spin-on filter, up on a tray right under the hood. It couldn't have been easier (well, it had some slop potential when removed, but there was still the tray). Then out comes the 2GR 3.5, and the filter has disappeared to the underside of the car in that abomination of a canister. For what? After 12 years of exploring under the Avalon's hood, it's very, VERY plain that they could have done the clean up top filter in the Avalon and Camry, just like they did in the 4Runner and FJ.

Shoot, my old 60s vintage VW had a sloppy goopy oil-bath air filter right under the "hood" and that thing, mess that it was, was still better than the Avalon's setup!

 

Yes, the conversion was flawless and trouble-free. I did it out of necessity, and the spin-on made more sense at that point.