When Do I have to change my engine air filter? ('07)

User manual says Check Air Filter at 15k miles; Replace Air Filter at 30k miles for 2nd gen in the US. This can probably be stretched if you take the air filter out and blow it out with an air gun periodically.

Obviously this is for normal service - if you drive a lot of dirt roads I'd probably replace every 5-10k miles.

 

When it starting turning black. I blow it out then i wash the car

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

If it is a pleated paper filter, you should NOT be blowing it out.
That only removes the BIG particles and imbeds the tiny ones even tighter.

If it LOOKS dirty, then it IS and should be replaced.

 

I check mine every 5,000 miles and change it if/when necessary, it takes all of 30 seconds, and I hate paying the dealer $35 for such a simple job. Same goes for the ICE air-filter! (hint: sometimes it helps to RTFM! )

 

I've yet to change ours, at 70K kms, nearing 7 years ownership, it still looks near-new.

But yeah, this is something I would only do when it's getting fairly dirty, and best not to blow it out. Tapping is ok I'd say.

 

so, has it not been changed in ten years?

 

I think I'd agree (…and so would Adam Fulara, I bet! )

 

scary.

 

Wow

 

Sweet!!

 

yes, yes it does.

 

Remove the pleated paper air filter and hold it up to the sun. If you don’t see light coming through the filter then replace it. Compare to a new filter if any doubt.

 

It is pretty small, but the engine is too and does not run much compared to non-hybrids. All-in-all, it depends on your driving. If you live in a urban area the filter will easily last 60k miles regardless of time. If you live in a rural area with dirt roads, plowing of fields or Las Vagas with dust storms, about half of that, maybe less.

It is SUPER important to understand that a dirty filter *might* reduce mileage a little, but they FILTER better! So over-servicing the air filter is the WORST thing you can do to an engine aside from not changing oil. Also, not all filter are created equal, numerous quality tests have been performed by highly motivated folks with NO BIAS and generally OEM or ACDelco trap the most dirt yet have the lowest restriction.

High Flow air filters do a TERRIBLE job of trapping dirt, it is not what you CAN see on the filter that matters, it is what made it thru that counts.