I'm coming up on my 100k, about 92K right now. Needed an oil change and fluids check and while I was at it I checked the engine air intake filter, mainly I wanted to see if there was any indication that mice or rodents were storing up for the winter in there (heard those stories). Even though the car had been serviced 14k miles ago when I purchased it. I expected this filter to be clean but it was obvious that no one had bothered to even dust it off. Since it was a Denso/Toyota PN, it must have been the original. Time to replace it. Since I was going to Walmart for oil and filter, I picked up this filter as well. I was surprised at the price, $11.92. I got to thinking about this since I had expected to get just the filter element without the rubber seal. When I notice the size of the box, I had opened it to make sure I was getting the correct filter element. Surprise! It comes with this elaberate gasket/cover seal. Before going to get the filter element, I had observed that the element comes right out of the gasket. I'm sure that gasket cost is a large part of the Fram filter price. There sure would be an opportunity for some 3rd party parts supplier to sell to the frugal mechanic who is willing insert the new filter element into the cover gasket. Has anyone noted any other sources that might sell just the element alone?? My thoughts FWIW Steve
The Prius DIY market is way too small to design any products around. The local garage wants something quick and easy to install.
Why is it not possible that the correct Toyota-branded filter was installed as a replacement? The filter should be replaced at 30K mile intervals.
11.92 is actually quite a reasonable price for a filter. Personally I buy my filters ahead of time on Rock Auto.
On my gen2 I put a K&N engine filter on, just wash and go, the incabin filter is also washable, let it dry and reinstall.
This is a fairly simple DIY, I put some 1/4" mesh over the engine air intake: A little more involved, requires taking off the wiper and cowl, to cover the cabin air intake:
not sure i want to trust my $30,000. car to a $3.00 air filter anyways, i've never noticed that the paper and gasket are separable.
cheap price or quality? i cannot judge quality other than seeing and touching, so i stick with oem. they last so long, it seems foolhardy to take a chance.
Car manufacturers are funny like that. The manufacturer for the water pump in my 4 runner sells them. They just grind the Toyota name off them. You can see where they grind the name off. My friend has a Jaguar from when they were owned by Ford. He needed a fuel pump. Jaguar wanted 800 dollars for it. I look at it and asked if saw where they had ground the ford logo off it. Wound up it was a fuel pump from a Mustang GT. 60 bucks and the job was done.
The Fram filter for my 05 Toyota Corolla LE was $21.00. My Fram filter for my 09 Toyota Prius was $14.37(on Amazon).
This is not a 30 grand car anymore. 3 grand yes, maybe. I have 6 priuses as rental fleet, they runs on this filters for like 2years in row. More then 100k total milage on them. Have no issues with them at all.
My perspective: it is a 30K vehicle, if it'll cost 30K to replace it. I have one car, and I want it to last, and being fixed income: don't want to gamble, save a few bucks. Sure the cheaper filter may be ok. With low miles and an original engine air filter that will easily make it to the first decade, the $'s involved are infinitesimal.
