Best to buy maintenance items (oil and air filters, etc)

Given how much you run on EV only, why would you be changing the oil and filter twice a year?

Oh, that would be VERY bad!! I use "winter" blades on the Gen IIs (obviously in the winter) since the articulating parts of the stock blades ice up. Always have the "off season" blades in the rear of the car.

 

I'm pretty sure that our trip next month to Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, and lots of other states will require considerable HV driving.

 

Yap! Change was already made in 11/2017.

 

Oh, I was ASSUMING (sorry) that you expected to change the oil and filter twice a year as long as you own the car. Even with the Gen IIs I only did oil changes every 10K miles after the basic warranty ran out. I did the Blackstone oil analysis at 7,500 miles after the warranty expired on the '04. They said it could go to 11K. Went to 10K and sent in another sample, said I could go 13K. I stick to 10K. Mobil-1 all the time. Given my normal driving pattern, I won't have 10K miles on the ice for probably close to 2 years. But of course, there is no way to know since there isn't an engine hour meter on the car. They really should have one so you could change based on actual use/wear on the ICE.

 

So far, I'm 91% EV. Even so, I don't think I'd go more than a year w/o an oil change. I'm a little OCD when it comes to that and I like to think that that has something to do with never having had an oil burner.

 

The older style oil filter, where only the paper element is replaced, is easier on the recycle stream. OTOH, if Toyota is moving back to "disposable" metal sheathed filter, maybe it's due to problems, feedback from dealerships?

 

Seems like the "replaceable element" oil changes would be a lot messier in the home environment where we are working under the car barely off the ground.

 

I'm doing both styles, not a lot of difference. Both are kinda messy.

 

Metal filters are routinely recycled, every place I've ever turned in oil for recycling has a filter bin.

 

Here too, you can put any and all types in a bin. What happens then is iffy, and the process of extracting waste oil from a simple paper filter is much easier, no metal and rubber.

 

I'm really liking the Rain-X brand wiper blades on my other car, so will switch the Prime when time comes or even before. They supposedly apply Rain-X as they wipe.
I like Mobil-1 20K (don't worry, I always change filter because why not given PIA of getting under for oil change, and oil looks dirty at 5000K so change long before 10K spec) mile filters (M-103m) for $9.95 at Walmart because I figure its worth an extra $4 given PIA involved. Wouldn't it be nice to design a car where both the filter and drain plug could be accessed from a "straight shot" reach of arm from ABOVE with hood open and you just position the drain pan? Oh, I forgot, the plan was for dealers to make less money on sales and more on service, and shade tree auto repair is becoming illegal.

Anyways, any recommendations for engine AIR filters? I'm only at 23K but we had that ash blizzard last year in CA. Is Toyota factory the best or is anything else better. I'd want the best due to PIA factor. Does K&N re-washable a better FILTER or its higher flow, less filter for RACING? Do you gotta re-wash at shorter intervals? Rather not due to PIA factor.

PS-Toyota dealers have huge stacks of unwanted paper filters and tried to sell me when I told them I have a 2020 Prime. SMH.

 

I strongly recommend that you buy the Toyota air filter. K&N? Never for a street vehicle. Good reading here - K&N Air Filter Review - Debunking the Myths (and why OEM is better)

 

thx, kinda what I figured but not said in K&N adds. Got a K&N filter for my old Ford Escort and put the sticker on the air-box. When the Escort was stolen then returned by police, the K&N filter was gone.