Air filters
 

I am currently running a k&n in my air box of my Aveo. Would stock filter be better or is there not much difference in how much the car takes in? It will only allow so much anyway... I bought the upgraded filter to get away from buying new ones all the time.I commute pretty far adds up. Just wondering if stock would be better or not.

You won't notice a difference in mileage from switching filters.

Why is that Daox? They rave about there product and then I come to ecomodders and other sites and they say no difference??? Did I waste my 50 bucks 3 years ago? Why no diff? Computer related?

The K&N will allow more air to flow through it. However, the stock filter doesn't become a restriction until you are really trying to pull a ton of air through it (if it does become a restriction at all). In order to pull that much air through the filter you need to have the pedal mashed to the floor and your rpms need to be near redline. If you are in this situation often enough to effect mileage I highly doubt you are worried about your mileage. If you redline through the gears on occasion its not going to kill your mileage drastically. I occasionally have fun in my Paseo and still manage decent mileage I'd say.

Was it a waste of money? Eh, you don't ever have to change the filter, and you don't have to go buy new ones so that is a plus.

Thanks,Just wanted to know if I would be better off stock... At least I don't have to remove the air box lid for a while. K&n will stay

Btw,Why haven't you gotten that great of numbers with the prius? Wifes car? jk

Haha, actually it is. But, its also much harder to beat the EPA rating with hybrid vehicles since they automatically do a lot of what hypermilers do.

Do you have any mods to the prius to help you out? Can you explain the kill switch mod to me? Or a place for me to read it? Does it just take the place of physically turning the key off ?

K&N High Performance Lifetime Aftermarket Air Filters - Automotive and Motorcycle Air Filters
It seems kind of sneaky and backhanded to me.

The Prius is basically running w/o mods right now. I have done a few things to it, but nothing is currently in the car. A list of my mods are in the garage, but as I said, most aren't on the car right now. Theres no grill block, no phev, the block heater isn't being used, and the EV switch really doesn't help w/o the phev. So, I basically have a new set of LRR tires on it. :)

The kill switch mod is just to make it easier to kill the engine. Most people do it with the key by turning it off and back on (need the car powered up for airbags and some odometers). The kill switch just makes it easier by pressing a button. There are lots of threads on how to do it.

I was wondering if it would be a good idea or not.I key off alot and don't want to wear out the switch. Unless it's not worth it...

I don't have a kill switch in my Paseo. I've been keying off for many thousands of miles as have many others here. I think I've heard of one person having a problem.

At one point my ignition switch did get a bit sticky. I sprayed some powdered graphite lubricant in there and it fixed that problem.

A higher flowing air filter gives the potential for increased power, and thus using more fuel. However, if you drive the same way you did before, you will notice you can have the same power output from a lower throttle position. The change in economy or performance rests with the driver.
In another thread somewhere, we went over air filters in detail, and found they don't have much of an effect on fuel injected cars, but a clogged air filter on a carburated car will hurt both power and efficiency.

In the long run, a cleanable air filter can save money and reduce waste, provided you don't damage the filter. I run a K&N in mine.

Thanks for the input. I think it has paid for it's self in replacements already.

The K&N should have about paid for itself by now. A lot of throw away paper filters are $10-$15 so you after 3 years it should have paid for itself. The K&N does flow higher I might be wrong but I think the computer compensates for the higher flow and adjusts for the proper air fuel mixture. Just make sure when you clean and reoil the filter to check you air intake sensor after a few hundred miles or so. I have heard stories or the filter oil plugging up the sensor and making mpgs worse. they do sell a cheap sensor cleaner for around $5 at most local part stores.

The K&N high flow filters WILL give you a couple of miles to the gallon more. The engine on the intake stroke is able to suck in the Air Fuel mixture easier so less energy is lost or required thus make more energy going to the wheels. The K&N are made out of cloth, not paper and come with a 1,000,000 mile warranty. You only have to clean it once in a while. Better fuel economy and you do not have to replace the paper filter two three times a year, saving you more money. AFE is also a really good filter, but are not always available for certain cars.

No it wont.

Your engine is throttled by the throttle plate angle, not by the air filter.
No, K&N uses a foam filtering medium, not cloth.
I've never heard of anyone replacing air filters 2-3 times a year. A paper filter is good for at least 20-30k miles depending on how dusty your driving environment is.

Don't waste your money on K&N.
http://www.max-boost.co.uk/max-boost...er%20tests.htm

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm

Maybe I'm flirting with disaster, but I usually just blow the dirt out of the paper filter, check it over to make sure it isn't perforated anywhere and put it back in. Does that make me a bad person?

I do the same thing at every oil change.

Yes, most can get along with changing the Air Filter only once a year, but if you live in a dusty area, or drive a lot on dirt roads it will get dirty pretty quick. Most of the O'Riley's auto parts stores I have been to usually show a comparison between factory paper filters and K&N cotton filters. They are not foam, I take it you do not have one from reading what I have that you have posted, I have one in my Harley Davidson, Impala SS, C20 truck, Honda Insight, Honda Civic, and VW Touareg. All improved my fuel economy if only a little. I still am usuing the same filters I bought when I bought the vehicles. The Harley I have had since 2000, same air Filter. Honda, since 2004 and same filter. It's alright, do as you want I was just trying to help out. If you do not believe me, go to Shucks/O'Rielies and see if they have the K&N filter display.
If you are looking to save some more money, look into AMS oil products. They claim a once a year or 25,000 mile oil change. Unless extreme like my last location (Alaska) then once every 15000 mils, or which ever comes first. I have been using AMS just as long as the K&N Air Filters as well. The AMS oil makes a big difference when it gets down to -40 and you have a standard transmission. It shifts a lot easier than it did with factory gear lube.

Oh well, I was just trying to help out. I will leave.

No one has denied that a K&N will let the air flow better. Its just that for the purpose of increasing fuel economy, there is little to no effect because you don't need to exceed the airflow a paper filter provides during 99% of driving.

So clean out the paper filter. Hit it against the pavement a couple of times and you'll be amazed at home much dirt you can remove from it.
I would be interested to see the silica content in your oil. K&N can increase engine wear dramatically because of its poor filtering ability.
Yes, and they have vested interest in selling you the most expensive air filter.

Not exactly confidence inspiring.
http://63.240.161.99/bitog/airfilter/final1.jpg
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest3.htm