Engine Filter replacement procedure - Prius Gen 3

I dont. It is harder to take the hose off and put it back on than it is to unclip the upper housing and slip the filter in. There is plenty of room for me vacuum the housing also.

 

I've pulled mine out a couple of times (it's a 6 mo or 8000 km item in the Canadian Schedule, but once a year seems sufficient). After popping off the clips on the filter cover it seems like you would need to remove more, what with all the hoses still connected. But if you just grab the cover and wiggle it upwards a little, it can be raised enough to slip the filter out.

 

Just unclip the top and pull it a little forward, so it clears the retainers at the back. I check it now and then to make sure no nests are being built inside.

 

I wonder if mine is even doing anything useful besides blocking the occasional bee. After 26K miles it still looks clean.

 

That just means you aren't driving fast enough down the dirt roads. Also gotta stop every once in a while and let that dust cloud catch up

Mike

 

I've had my 2011 for 30K miles, but can't find info on changing the cabin air filter. Where is it?

 

The info is in your Owner's Manual along with instructions of how to change it. It is located behind the glove box.

 

^ Actually in the smaller, suplemental book, forget what it's called: has the warranty info and maintenance schedules.

 

In the US it is in the Owner's Manual, page 457. For the 2010 anyway.

 

Here you go.

 

My bad: read too fast, thought the question was the filter change interval.

 

I've found the interior air filter to get filthy faster than the engine air filter. I change mine at each 10K oil change.

 

^ Even the Owner's Manual suggests just blowing air through, in the opposite to usual direction, to clean and reuse, at least a few times.

(Edit: meant to use "^" symbol in above, not "*", pointing to the post above. Made the change in red.)

 

I agree, most times a quick shot of air is all that mine needs to remove the small amount of dust and bugs from the upstream side of the filter.

 

That's what I do. I also run the vacuum in the housing, in case anything's floating around in there.

 

I have blown out the junk on the cabin filter. The engine filter I've checked yearly (per our Canadian schedule) and it's looked pristine both times. I'd be less inclined to use air to clean the engine filter, especially considering how clean it's looking so far. With the engine filter I'll likely just replace at the proscribed interval, there's more riding on it.

But the Cabin Filter is more secondary, seems more prone to picking up stuff, and not that critical.

 

I think the engine air filter in all Toyota models can be changed in 15-30 seconds.

I just helped a friend replace the air filter in her Chevy Traverse. It required removing 6 Torx star bit screws and detaching the air intake house to access the last screw. What a PITA!

Seems like new GM cars are engineered for "see dealer" maintenance.

For example, another friend's Malibu required dropping the front bumper to access the headlight bulb. There was literally no other way to get to the bulb. Crazy!

 

There's a lot more than that to change an air filter in a VW Jetta.