2016 Prius air filter

The number of pleats is not critical in itself. The filter mainly needs fit properly and to block airborne dirt without restricting air flow much. Other things being equal, more pleats are better.

 

Is this the cabin air filter, or engine air filter?

 

Friends don't let friends buy Fram.

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But if you compare filters from various manufacturers, they will change the numbers of pleats. Less pleats means less material used, so a cost-savings for the manufacturer, and usually an air restriction for the end-user.

In my pickup truck I went to a Wix intake air filter, and was pleasantly satisfied that the pleats were many, were uniform, and were deeper - so even more surface area than the OEM one (i think I had done research before ordering it, so was expecting it to be better). For the Prius I went with the OEM intake filter as I thought the original one looked like a good design to me.

 

That's the problem.
Buy OE Filter and it should have the same number of pleats.

 

I approve Wix filters.

 

I approve your approval.

 

Wix, Bosch, Filtron, Meyle, Mann, Mahle, Napa are great. Fake Toyota filters are the worst. Always get it from actual dealership with real address and phone number. Supertech Walmart brands are often better than FRAM.

 

OP hasn’t posted in about two weeks, didn’t clarify which air filter (cabin, engine?) he’s talking about.

 

11426 model appears to be the engine air filter. All after markets manufacture the number of pleats, material, and allowance of air flow to what they believe is acceptable for the vehicle. More pleats may catch more particles but could be more restrictive. OEMs are the only one that claims if you use their parts and have an active warranty, strong argument to maintain honoring the warranty whereas using aftermarket’s may void warranties. It’s possible an after market provider can make a better product. You really need a test that requires usage for multiple years to know a product is better or worse than OEM.

 

I don't think it will void any warranty. Any warranty rejection must proof directly it it is the cause of the problem. You can put any aftermarket parts anywhere as long as it does not change the specs like rising the wheel, change the tire size excessively, tuned the ECU, etc. Air filter is just a media and will never cause any damage as long as it is there.

 

A bad filter certainly can cause damage if it allows more dust to enter the engine, whether by having inferior media, or a hole in the media, or poor sealing on the perimeter.

 

that’s where I said it “may”. It’s a stronger argument if you use oem parts but if the dealership decides to be sticklers, and you have some issue with your engine and the usage of aftermarket parts, then it becomes an argumentive situation. I think for the most part, you could be correct that most vehicle warranties are in the early mileage stage and a reasonable technician wouldn’t state that your engine stopped working because you used some Fram filter.

 

No matter how cheap the filter is, if the filter is not folded, no hole, no excessive dusty or sandy area, and there is no strong reason for claiming FRAM filter cause it. Besides that, FRAM is a giant reputable company that Toyota dealership will not claim such a thing. Yes, FRAM is not the best but it is still enough as a filter. Even people who use KNN stupid reusable filters cannot be blamed that easily.

 

As long as they are changed, frams are good. Fram orange can is enough for cars that are changed at 3-5k miles.

 

I just ordered the Wix air filter. If I have the time, and good weather, I'll try to compare it against the OEM Toyota filter that I'll be pulling out.

 

I usually change them every other oil change. When I don't change them; I pound them on the sidewalk and shake them out. You'll be surprise how much junk falls out of them. Visible soot, sand, and dirt.
I'm thinking about pushing it to every 3nd oil change; because I'm running 75% on EV exclusively. The filters are only around $9 on ebay; with the same amount of pleats as OEM. Yea, I saw the cheap Fram filters @ Wally's world and decided to go online.

 

Air filter is a very relative interval. I change every 4 years/schedule by Toyota and yet still not so much dirt nor sand. Just not bright brown but slightly darker. I don't see any dust either when shaking it.

In the other hand, i change cabin air filter every year because of the amount of pollen in my area and I have allergy.

 

Here we have the seeming dichotomy of Gen4 Prius air intake filters. Some folks find them to remain clean for a long time. I'm much like BiomedO1's experience - mine gets very clogged up.

I have theories: people whose gen4 air filters remain clean a long time either drive very easily, or happen to live in areas that have cleaner highway-air (this could be areas that have higher... or any... clay content in the soil). I checked mine with the last oil change, and yet again it was really full. I did tap it out on the sidewalk to get the mass of debris out, but we all know that the smaller areas are still clogged up - hence me ordering my second new air filter before the car hits 60,000 miles.

I do know that my area has a lot of silica / sand in the air on the highways, so that all gets sucked in - and I'm driving in ways that I'm just about always using the engine. The air conditioner has to run just about every time I'm using the car, so that helps to keep the IC engine running.