Help! Dirty Permanent Carbon Engine Air Filter

Could it be just a sound damper, not a filter? Not familiar with second gem, just winging it.

 

Picture please?

 

That filter should not affect your MPG. You can try and vacuum it, it's not suppose to be replaced. 43mpg in the winter is very respectable mpg. Not sure many of us do better during winter.

Also the Prius engine requires very little air, even if the air filter is not that new, it still shouldn't cause a significant drop in MPG.

 

As you noted, that carbon filter element is not replaceable.

I guess you have two options:
1) new air intake cover (which will probably include a new carbon element filter); $101.57 at Camelback Toy. LINK.
2) attempt to clean it and see what happens.

If you are still averaging 43MPG, my buddies in the Great Lakes area (MI, IL), hate you! They get mid to high 30's now.

When was the last time the throttle plate was cleaned?

POST #5, from a different thread asking nearly same thing as OP above. Link.

Worry not. The modern computer controlled engine will still be efficient (negligible impact on MPG), even if air intake is SEVERELY RESTRICTED. Link to 2009 EPA study.

 

I took mine out...

 

I agree that the engine will remain efficient. However "efficiency" does not mean that engine power output will remain unchanged as the engine air intake is reduced. As the dirt in the engine air filter builds up and it becomes difficult for intake air to enter the engine, it will produce less power. That reduced power will be produced at an efficient blend of air and fuel.

 

The (non-replaceable) carbon filter element attached to the cover of the air intake (NOT the engine air filter) is there to absorb any residual fumes after the engine is turned off. It should have absolutely NO effect on MPG. Can't tell you how yours got "gunked up", though.

 

You do know that carbon IS black........right ??

 

Has it been resolved: does air flow through this secondary "filter", or is it just attached to the cover, and it's function is to absorb fumes or something?

 

Through

 

it is diy. you get some carb cleaner (they call it something else now since there's no carburetors anymore) and a soft lint free rag. remove the air box, push the throttle plate open, spray the cleaner on the rag and wipe all the grime off. do not hose the throttle body down with the cleaner even though it says to on the can.
btw, most of us over inflate the tires to get better mpg, about 40psi.

 

Avoid Carb Cleaner (may not be O2 sensor safe; this was from a post by Galaxee)! Link, post #10. You can buy throttle plate cleaner and MAF sensor cleaner from auto parts stores, Amazon, and Wrongmart (has the pair for $8).

Use search function of Priuschat, "throttle plate," to find appropriate threads covering this topic with details of how-to.

YouTube has lots of videos covering this on cars in general; possible someone loaded a Prius how-to.

DO NOT USE paper towels, napkins, etc. Only use a clean, lint free rag; use an old cotton shirt w/o print work if need be.

What is you tire pressure? Manufacture recommended tire pressure of 35/33 is too low. Many here do more, such as: 40/38, 42/40, etc. Perhaps all four of your tires are severely under inflated?

Do you check your oil level regularly? You should get into the habit of regularly checking your oil (every gas fill-up, once a week, every other week, etc). There are many first post by people alarmed that their Prius is suddenly consuming a lot of oil or they noticed the low oil pressure light. Check on as flat as ground as possible, with engine off for a few minutes (so oil can drain back into oil pan) or after hours/overnight (if possible).

Spark plugs should have been changed at 120K miles. We're these changed out and the correct NGK or Denso plugs installed.

Minimal junk in the trunk too?

 

I didnt see it mentioned, but if you are cleaning the throttle body, you might want to consider cleaning the MAF sensor too. That requires MAF sensor cleaner, available at most auto parts stores. Cleaning my MAF sensor (mine was all funky) resulted in a much smoother idle and slightly better mpgs.