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

Arrow on aftermarket cabin air filter

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

Page 1 of 2
  1. luckyflyer

    luckyflyer Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2011
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    NM
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Anyone know which way the arrow points on an aftermarket cabin air filter such as say a wix or fram or other? I'm told that the arrow on an aftermarket filter indicates airflow direction . That would mean that on my 11 prius the arrow would point down instead of up as with the oem filter. The wix filter that I have does not address the arrow direction anywhere on the box.
     
    #1 luckyflyer, May 25, 2013
  2. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    3,193
    2,319
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    The arrow should point down. I am using a Wix charcoal filter from an IS250, and the charcoal side is facing up.


    iPhone ?
     
    #2 The Critic, May 26, 2013
  3. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    5,131
    1,338
    0
    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    +1

    I am using a Fram. The charcoal side is also up and the arrow is pointing down.
     
    #3 jdcollins5, May 27, 2013
  4. luckyflyer

    luckyflyer Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2011
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    NM
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Thanks, the wix filter that I have (24483) is not a charcoal filter. Both sides look the same. You would think that wix would mention the arrow somewhere on the box.
     
    #4 luckyflyer, May 27, 2013
  5. Bill075

    Bill075 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2009
    22
    7
    0
    Location:
    Central Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I called Wix Customer Service last week at 704 864-6748 and was told the arrow points up.
    Everyone should call and see how many ups & downs we get, or does it really matter on the wix
     
    #5 Bill075, May 27, 2013
  6. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    5,131
    1,338
    0
    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Part of the confusion comes from the Owner's Manual that shows the cabin air filter arrow pointing up. IIRC even the outer plastic cover has the arrow pointing up. But the manual also shows blowing air to clean in the direction of the arrow indicating that any dust and particles would be on the top side of the filter ;)

    The air flow is actually down as it is drawn from the outside, down through the filter and then blown into the cabin. When looking at the air filter when removed the dust and particles will be on top of the filter indicating air flow in the downward direction.

    There has been many threads on this subject when the Gen III first came out.
     
    #6 jdcollins5, May 27, 2013
    Fostel likes this.
  7. luckyflyer

    luckyflyer Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2011
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    NM
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    So I guess the big question is does the arrow indicate air flow direction on aftermarket filters? Based on what others have said I must conclude yes to that question. Thanks for all of the input on this.
     
    #7 luckyflyer, May 27, 2013
  8. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    5,131
    1,338
    0
    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    IIRC the Fram filter actually states "Air Flow Direction" next to the arrow. Also, if IIRC, the OEM filter did not have any markings next to the arrow to indicate the meaning of the arrow.
     
    #8 jdcollins5, May 27, 2013
  9. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Just checked the filter today and it says "UP" next to the arrow.
     
    #9 El Dobro, May 27, 2013
  10. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    5,131
    1,338
    0
    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    What filter do you have? OEM?

    What does UP mean, other than the arrow needs to point up? It is not a good indication of air flow direction.
     
    #10 jdcollins5, May 28, 2013
  11. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    OEM filter and to me, UP means to stick the filter in the slot with the arrow pointing up.
     
    #11 El Dobro, May 28, 2013
  12. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    5,131
    1,338
    0
    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    This is where the confusion comes in for someone using non-OEM filters with air flow direction arrows. The air flow direction is actually DOWN and not UP.
     
    #12 jdcollins5, May 28, 2013
  13. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    If I bought an aftermarket filter, unless it had the word airflow and an arrow printed on it, I would put it in with the arrow facing up.
     
    #13 El Dobro, May 28, 2013
    Fostel likes this.
  14. Bill075

    Bill075 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2009
    22
    7
    0
    Location:
    Central Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Why try and second guess what the manufacture means... if no clear instructions are given call or email the manufacture tech dept.
     
    #14 Bill075, May 28, 2013
  15. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    5,131
    1,338
    0
    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    You can always do that.

    The easiest way though is to pull the air filter and see what side has the dust and particles. This will be the upstream side of the air flow. In the case of the Prius this will be the top side of the filter, indicating air flow is in the DOWN direction.

    Another way to look at this is that if the air flow was in the direction of the UP arrow, then every time the blower motor stopped the particles would fall back down into the blower motor :(
     
    #15 jdcollins5, May 28, 2013
  16. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Looking at the filter, I don't see what difference it makes on how it goes in.
     
    #16 El Dobro, May 28, 2013
    tpenny67 likes this.
  17. ian2002525

    ian2002525 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2015
    22
    1
    2
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Arrow points down and charcoal side face "down" too !!!!
     
    #17 ian2002525, Mar 25, 2015
  18. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2013
    1,333
    317
    0
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    I was unable to figure it out. Just one of the reasons why I use OEM filters. Not worth all that hassle to me.
     
    #18 Okinawa, Mar 25, 2015
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,679
    48,931
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    some plain filters are directional. and it's impossible to know which way by looking at them. an arrow is useless without 'airflow' stamped next to it.
     
    #19 bisco, Mar 25, 2015
    Okinawa likes this.
  20. ian2002525

    ian2002525 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2015
    22
    1
    2
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    So what direction of flow is for our prius? From top to down?
     
    #20 ian2002525, Mar 27, 2015
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2