Filters...questions...

cabin filter, check, clean or replace very 15k.

engine filter, same at 30k.

you can use k&n, but there's no benefit. you can't beat the oem filters.

 

Look in your Warranty Booklet for the filter intervals. Keep in mind though: you inspect it; there's no point in replacing filters that are still in good shape. Lifetime can vary greatly depending on your air conditions.

Considering the infrequency of filter changes, the risks inherent in oiling a K&N filter improperly, the lack of any "performance" advantage, I would stick with the OEM Toyota filter.

 

I'm running k&n in 2011, agree, no benefit, going to replace it with paper filter next time. Its not worth the extra cost, seen no improvement in gas mileage.

 

No advantage with the Prius to using a free flow filter, the MAF will compensate by enriching the mixture then the 02 sensors will detect a rich mix and lean out it out. Depending where the 02 sensors are on the catalytic converter, after or before, you could be damaging the cat with the rich mix if they are after it..

 

I don't know if the cabin is in the same location as my gen 2. But it's behind the glove box. It was in the owners manual. Drop the arms on the box and slide out the filter. Like a air conditioner filter. They get clogged with leaves, etc quickly. The engine air filter could get bad if you drive on dusty roads. A few minutes to change. Filters and oil changes were my only maintenance for 200K.

 

Yes. It is.

 

1. http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/omms-s/T-MMS-Prius/pdf/2016PriusWSG.pdf
2. You may, you shouldn't, but you may,
3. No.

 

Cabin air filter I would knock the debris off, hit with air in the reverse direction, carry on until hopeless, then change.

Engine air intake filter I would replace when it's significantly dirty. The car's computer will adjust fuel to match air flow, so you don't have to be obsessive about it. On the other hand, I wouldn't try to clean it, like the cabin filter.

 

High flow rate filters won't make it a race car and they let too much dirt go by destroying the top piston ring. Why would you want to do this? How much time do you really spend with your foot glued to the floor anyway? Do you need the extra half horsepower that badly?

 

Also a good idea to check cabin filter for rodent damage. I have had mine for a year and just checked it for the first time and found a mouse nest. I think it had been in there a while maybe even before I got it. It was certified and the dealer was supposed to check it but who knows if they did. I have been rechecking it since I replaced it and there is no sign of it coming back. I just used the Walmart fram filter.

 

You're putting 50,000 a year on a 2016 for work?
Wow.

You're a little early for filters, but I would recommend against the K$N filter.

There's no benefit.
Sometimes people say that there's a small ecological benefit, but I would submit that paper filters in a landfill might not be a net benefit compared with the impact from the cleaning and re-oiling procedure. YMMV.
There's no horsepower gains that are real-world measurable in a Prius and there are no MPG gains either.

I've never peeked inside a G4 but I'm thinking that you have a throttle body and a Mass Air Flow Sensor in there somewhere.
K$N have a bad habit of oil fouling some of these components if you use too much oil in the gauze, and if you don't use enough the K$N has the same filtration ability as a gym sock - because that's pretty much what it is.
At your depreciation trajectory your car isn't going to be worth much in 5 years, so yeah...the K$N filter might theoretically save you some money in filters but perhaps not so much if it costs you an extra service visit or two along the way, and after you factor in the costs of the oil cleanings.

Good Luck!

 

I would agree to not using a KN air filter because they have commonly messed up mass air flow sensors in other cars

Nexus 6 ?