Anyone else is running K&N filter in GenIII?

Can you describe the method you used to reach this conclusion?

 

I am also running a K & N air filter on my Gen III and do notice a difference in the performance of my Prius. It has also improved the MPG that I am getting by 2 to 3 miles per gallon.

 

Brilliant!

 

So crap, after this heated debate, it seems like we have no definitive conclusion?! The performance I'm trying to achieve is better mpg and by allowing more O2 to get into the ICE should allow better combustion due to a better air to fuel mix ratio and therefore better MPG?

What kind of dirt or dust particle are we talking about that could create a catastrophic engine failure? In a turbo car, I wouldn't take a chance but in our Gen3 Prius, it makes sense to me. I was hoping for more instantaneous throttle response, reduce rubber trim-paper-metal mesh at landfill and a gain in MPG.

So consensus sounds like to me is that K&N work fine, just don't oil the crap out of it and on both sides (only the outside of the filter) and only oil it lightly don't soak the dam thing after cleaning, don't expect your Prius to again 1000HP after installing this filter, and don't expect a gain of 100,000,000MPG improvement in fuel economy?

 

Go pull out your clean oem filter and run it around the block and on the freeway. That will simulate max flow. If you like it then try out a k&n. Don't expect miracles. I ran with and without the filter at the track and didn't observe any changes.

 

lets assume they perform the same. Has anyone done the lifetime cost of replacing normal filters verses oiling costs of the lifetime K&N?

 

The K&Nwould be cheaper.

 

And cause problems with your MAF sensor and other sensors because of the oil.

Horsepower increase ??? You're imagining things. If it was that easy to give the car more horsepower, Toyota and all the other manufacturers would have done it decades ago.

REV

 

Not really, manufacturers try to balance comfort, cost and performance. You notice people mention increased noise which may contradict product goals especially if they hit their performance and emissions goals. Also paper is cheap, more advanced filters cost more $. I personally prefer amsoil ea filters which require no oil (which injen seems to partner w). Not all cars benefit aftermarket intakes. Some cars do maybe toyota purposefully made the intake restrictive for emissions reasons which is why people see a difference? Dyno is the right way to Determine this and injen claims to have dynoed it. Hopefully ill have some extra cash to dyno test. Need to wait for a dyno day somewhere. Lol I need a prius first =p.

Samsung Epic ?.

 

Well...looks like the jury's out on this one. Both sides have their valid points. I'll call it a tie for now.

 

Haha there's no winner until this dyno tested and we have long term results =). You can even prove mpg in a controlled test. Like cruise control same speed for a distance same day, same car, same road and see what it averages =p. We can prob think of a better test.

Oh also the cel is prob more o2 then expected and not oil. K&n comes properly oiled ootb and people who mess up are the ones that use the cleaning kit. Again I like amsoil > k&n for that reason. More tech lower risk and easier to clean.

Samsung Epic ?.

 

:cheer2:

 

I'm starting to lean towards the Amsoil Ea filters now after reading all the controversies...

 

Too bad they are not available for our cars.

 

So .... are you supposed to send the K&N back to the factory to be cleaned and oiled ?? I'd venture that almost every person using the K&N is going to clean and oil it themselves. Also, I referred to MAF problems due to the oil from the filter, which can RESULT in CEL issues. They don't cause the CEL directly, they damage or contaminate the MAF sensor, which then triggers a CEL.

THe Toyota factory filter or an equivalent replacement is the one to use if you don't want to risk problems. I change mine twice as often as factory recommended ... in other words ... every 15,000 miles.


REV

 

No Prius, yet, but we do use K&N air filters on the car, truck and bike. All fuel injected. The bike even has a Cobra fuel manager. Not that it would be damaged by an oiled filter, just saying that I use a K&N air filter in a fuel injected vehicle that I make fuel:air adjustments to. So there's one that can be maximized to take full advantage of any increased air flow.

My own butt in the seat opinion is that the claims of increased horsepower, fuel mileage and any other selling points of K&N 'performance enhancements' are overstated.

It is still a good filter. We've used them for 10s of thousands of miles now and have not had a problem from them. Nothing fouled from oil and our air boxes don't look like sand boxes. Follow the directions for cleaning and oiling and they are fine.

 

I just installed K&N filter... definitely did not take away the delay ....

 

I tried K&N (and similar) air filters in a few vehicles. Results were:

- Increased intake noise (sometimes a good thing)
- No performance or MPG improvement beyond a normal air filter change
- Evidence of more dust getting past the filter, especially since we have many dirt roads
- One vehicle cooked a mass airflow sensor.

I grew up and now stick with factory intakes and filters.