When I replaced the air filter a couple weeks ago, I noticed that the filter element easily pops out off the gasket. This got me thinking of the possiblilty of finding a normal gasket filter with the equivalent element and swapping out the gaskets. Since I change the filter at 10K miles, this might save me a few bucks. If not, this hypothetical filter surely would be easier to hunt down than one gasketed for the Prius. Any ideas on how to find this filter, if it exists?
I found a Fram air filter that almost works. It was listed in the Fram catalog as working with a 2005 Prius, though the Fram website can't find it. It's square with rounded corners and fits in the Toyota gasket. It didn't fit when I put it in the air box. A close examination of the Toyota filter and the airbox showed that the Fram filter had to have a bit of the plastic "skirt" nipped out at the sides of the top and bottom. There are three lands in the corner of the airbox that keep the Fram filter too high. I elected to edit the filter rather than the airbox. PM me if you can't find the right size and I'll pull mine and read the number. I like to change the air filter more frequently that Toyota recommends too.
I remember the Fram site used to give a number awhile back. Maybe I misremembered. Eitherway, if it's the Fram filter I found then, then it's easier and cheaper for me to get the Toyota part. I was hoping that the filter element was one Toyota used on another, more common, vehicle.
Yes I would like to have the number if it isn't to much trouble. I have checked the Fram web site and the catalog in one store and can find no listing for any Prius air filter.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tumbleweed @ Jul 20 2006, 11:14 AM) [snapback]289470[/snapback]</div> It is Fram filter #CA9501. I too bought it and then realized that I needed to trim down those "nibs" on the bottom of the filter. Pretty easy job to do...and since the filter was around $8.00, it sure beats an OEM one! I got mine from Autozone, but they had to special order it (it only took 2 days for them to get it).
I'm leery of using any air filter that is a "loose" fit or that you have to trim to fit. I'll use such an approach to trim Canadian Tire "Supreme" furnace filters to use as a replacement for the cabin filter. If the engine air filter is even slightly loose, expect to ingest some dust/dirt. That can have a severe impact on rings, causing rapid wear. Just taking the filter out and putting another back in can result in dust ingestion. I used to be in the habit of taking out the engine air filter every 2-3 weeks and tapping it to dislodge loose dirt. My used oil analysis had Si (Possible air filter or intake duct leak) of 17-20 ppm. For the last 2 oil changes I resisted doing that until the oil change itself, the Si went down to 10 ppm.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jayman @ Aug 18 2006, 06:44 PM) [snapback]305678[/snapback]</div> Jayman, It is a perfectly tight fight. You do not have to trim the filter at all, just a small piece of the plastic on the underside (maybe 1/4 inch or less) in 3 of the corners. I used a pair of tin snips as the plastic is really soft and cut them in about 5 seconds. Otherwise the filter is exactly the same as the stock one. If fits in the same gasket and is a snug as can be.
