How often do you change yout air filter?

Whenever it is really dirty

Seriously, abound here we have major rodent problems, and probably once a year I'll find that a rodent has turned the airbox into a fluff palace in one of the cars. But cleaning all that out and replacing the filter has no noticeable effect on fuel economy. A conservative schedule may be an annual or every 30,000 miles kind of thing, about the same frequency as a cabin air filter change.

 

JUST replaced mine approaching 31K. It was a bit dirty. I always read that you should replace when you have trouble seeing light through the filter.

Well, I drive mostly backcountry dirt roads, and while dust is not much of a problem from Sept. through May, the summer is hellish.

So, at about 31K I could still see some light, but it was looking a bit gross, so I bit the bullet and spent the $9 at NAPA for an OEM equiv.

BTW, I have mucho "meece" problem, but the furry little monsters seem to end up partying on the cabin filter. I have replaced the cabin filter I think three times because of "meece" damage. Only had minor evidence of them at the engine filter. Once they left a few Shredded Wheat biscuits in the engine filter box. I DO hate "meeces to pieces."

 

$75??? Just leave it until the car won't run anymore!

 

Regarding light through the filter -- this is Oregon USA -- the Pacific NorthWET.

We get a few hours of unobstructed sunlight about July 31.

I don't like going into the house with dirty hands, so I have a flashlight I hold behind the filter. If the light shines in, the filter is good. Then comes the "well, I can see the light, but can I see it enough" debate.

As for Aussie filter prices: Can't you mail order from the USA? Prius filter prices dropped like a rock here in my area in the last year. Cabin Filters were in the $30USD range and now are going for $8USD and change.

 

I change my air filters every 20k miles it may be a little excessive but at 11 dollars a piece how can it hurt. Ebay has air filters cheap and awesome carbon cabin filters super cheap as well

Air filter:
AIR FILTER TOYOTA PRIUS 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 | eBay

Carbon cabin filter:
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Prius CARBON Cabin Air Filter | eBay

 

What cars need is a filter restriction gauge. An OEM filter in a car driven on paved roads in an area that isn't particularly dusty can easily last over 50k miles before there is any reason to change it.

If you ae changing your engine air filter more frequently than necessary you aren't gaining anything but are increasing the possibility of getting dirt in the engine while changing the filter or mis-seating the filter and having a leak.

If you are using cheap Brand-X filters, they usually don't filter as will as an
OEM or major brand name filter.

 

Yes but you could contact the sellers and see if they will sell you more than one to save on shipping. May be a good option for you with oil filters you see quite often someone selling a case of oem oil filters for 5 to 6 dollars a piece on ebay maybe at 25 or 30 dollars shipping that still would work out to less than 10 dollars a filter for an oem one.

 

You are supposed to inspect every 15k miles, but I just go ahead and change it at that point. My cabin air filter has always been dirtier than the engine one so far.

 

Non-paper filters can be washed to enhance longevity if they are not to abused. I generally use Simple Green for the engine filter and soap then Fabreeze for the cabin filter.

 

Just buy a furnace filter and cut out the size you need! Hal

 

Changed my cabin filter at 20K and my engine filter (today) at 25K. Maintenance schedule says to replace both at 30K. Both filters cost me $50. Cheap insurance.

 

Cheap insurance for what? I guess it does help keep the interior clean. What did we do up until the 2000 yrs.?

 

I change the filter every day, whether it needs it or not!

 

I change mine twice a day, at lunch time and when I put the car away at night. It's cheap insurance and fits right in with my 500 miles oil change interval.