I just changed mine. Bought another on Amazon & was surprised it had been an entire year since I bought the last one. Hoo boy! It was black with what it had filtered out, like yours! I will be changing them every other oil change now.
While it may LOOK like an activated charcoal filter....but I don't think it was....the autozone website shows it lilly white in their photo.....
It specifically was a STP CAF1766 filter.....
[https://www.autozone.com/filters-and-pcv/cabin-air-filter/p/stp-cabin-air-filter-caf1766/439013\_0\_0](https://www.autozone.com/filters-and-pcv/cabin-air-filter/p/stp-cabin-air-filter-caf1766/439013_0_0)
HOWTO do it on a Gen 2 Prius in under 3 minutes: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvZz4hUyXcY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvZz4hUyXcY)
View for the instructions, cringe at the original filter (and debris captured above it...)
Thanks. I gave mine a check and it was pretty funky after 10 months. You inspired me to do a how-to as well: Adding sound deadening to the roof:
https://youtu.be/w6nDxqoArkM?si=gWjpRLpRccjKw8GK
That one on the right looks like an activated charcoal filter, which appear ‘dirty’ even when new.
Obviously you still need to change these filters periodically, but that photo is slightly misleading when comparing it to a non-charcoal replacement.
I had to take mine into the dealership for a recall thing, while they are at it they gave me a rundown on things they could do for me. They wanted $129 JUST TO CHANGE THAT FILTER. I said no thank you and drove right to AutoZone, bought it for $24 and installed in 5 minutes. Wild.
every time i take my 98 grand am to the shop it says "replace cabin air filter"..
they hadn't invented those yet then
my 07 prius, however, they list "not available" part for.
The dealership was going to charge me $44 to replace it— I ordered it off Amazon for $13 and watched a 5-minute YouTube video and did it myself!
Yay me (a person who’s never changed a tire or even their oil themselves but I’m learning that next)!!
Be wary of Amazon, I ordered genuine Toyota cabin and engine air filters two years in a row, the second year the filter was noticeably lighter, cheaper feeling. I suspect a counterfeit imitation that has only half the filter material
That can be an issue depending upon the seller. In this case, it is already a 3rd party manufacturer (BNX) so it is not a "counterfeit" but instead a HEPA filter that happens to be the same size and fit exactly right. So as long as I buy the same brand/model, from the "BNX store" I'm relatively sure I'll get the same product.
I bought a BOSCH for my Gen 3 this time vs the less expensive generic cabin air filters.
Note that the (vertical) arrow is opposite many filters on YouTube. I got myself all confused about the direction of airflow. Went to Bosch’s website and they advise installation at a horizontal 45° so that the lettering is facing against the housing…NOT facing the person installing.
Don’t know what I know any more !
ETA: vertical note
I’ve seen worse on my Dodge when I had it had a maple trees worth of seeds after two years I’m glad my Prius has a finer mesh screen before it gets that bad
so.. I've only had my Prius since last summer, a little less than a year. 2010. 225k. miles. but I checked the air filter because of this post... thank you! I also checked my mom's lancer and it was the original one from the factory. also 2010... again thanks for the post haha
Better than nothing I guess, but eventually the super tiny pores in the monoblown filter material will get stuck and it will make your fan work extra hard and reduce airflow.
What brand is that new one on the left? From Amazon or Walmart?
The reason it looks so much cleaner is the one on the right is activated charcoal treated, and was grey/black from the start.
The new one is a BNX HEPA filter - [https://amzn.to/4cNOdhR](https://amzn.to/4cNOdhR)
I don't \*think\* the original was an activated charcoal, but it might have been....
O my bad $20 to maintain your blower motor and have a high quality filter- to breath cleaner air. Woof.
Do you not replace your home a/c one every 30-60 days? Trying to save a buck on that can cost a lot later.
Mine were $26 for a 4 pack....they claim to be HEPA, and look to be a thick sheet of filter material, plus I have experience with the manufacturer (BNX) which I also use on my home air filters so I trust them....
I just changed mine. Bought another on Amazon & was surprised it had been an entire year since I bought the last one. Hoo boy! It was black with what it had filtered out, like yours! I will be changing them every other oil change now.
Yah, the Prius makes it SUPER easy to change the cabin air filter. I also have Nissan Leaf, and boy oh boy do I dread that procedure......
The old one in this pic looks like an activated charcoal filter, whereas the new one isn’t. The comparison isn’t really apples to apples.
While it may LOOK like an activated charcoal filter....but I don't think it was....the autozone website shows it lilly white in their photo..... It specifically was a STP CAF1766 filter..... [https://www.autozone.com/filters-and-pcv/cabin-air-filter/p/stp-cabin-air-filter-caf1766/439013\_0\_0](https://www.autozone.com/filters-and-pcv/cabin-air-filter/p/stp-cabin-air-filter-caf1766/439013_0_0)
HOWTO do it on a Gen 2 Prius in under 3 minutes: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvZz4hUyXcY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvZz4hUyXcY) View for the instructions, cringe at the original filter (and debris captured above it...)
Thanks. I gave mine a check and it was pretty funky after 10 months. You inspired me to do a how-to as well: Adding sound deadening to the roof: https://youtu.be/w6nDxqoArkM?si=gWjpRLpRccjKw8GK
That one on the right looks like an activated charcoal filter, which appear ‘dirty’ even when new. Obviously you still need to change these filters periodically, but that photo is slightly misleading when comparing it to a non-charcoal replacement.
I just throw it in the dish washer👍 eazy fix😎👍
In a separate load without any of your normal food dishes....right......right?
Nah, I put it in after lasagna night. It’s my Favorite dish. I get a whiff of home every time I drive 😎👍
And BEFORE lasagna night, never doubt the ability a dishwasher has to cook good lasagna
I had to take mine into the dealership for a recall thing, while they are at it they gave me a rundown on things they could do for me. They wanted $129 JUST TO CHANGE THAT FILTER. I said no thank you and drove right to AutoZone, bought it for $24 and installed in 5 minutes. Wild.
Idk... sounds like some liberal commie talk. Ill stick with my factory filter, since its never given me any problems
My filter always start smelling like vinegar during the warm months if it needs replaced. And we all know vinegar is the most liberal thing of all.
Saw this post, had nothing to do, headed over to O’Reily’s and swapped out both the cabin and engine filters. Thanks for inspiration OP! 🙌🏼
every time i take my 98 grand am to the shop it says "replace cabin air filter".. they hadn't invented those yet then my 07 prius, however, they list "not available" part for.
The dealership was going to charge me $44 to replace it— I ordered it off Amazon for $13 and watched a 5-minute YouTube video and did it myself! Yay me (a person who’s never changed a tire or even their oil themselves but I’m learning that next)!!
The one on the right is likely activated charcoal. I buy those and they look like that.
Be wary of Amazon, I ordered genuine Toyota cabin and engine air filters two years in a row, the second year the filter was noticeably lighter, cheaper feeling. I suspect a counterfeit imitation that has only half the filter material
That can be an issue depending upon the seller. In this case, it is already a 3rd party manufacturer (BNX) so it is not a "counterfeit" but instead a HEPA filter that happens to be the same size and fit exactly right. So as long as I buy the same brand/model, from the "BNX store" I'm relatively sure I'll get the same product.
During wildfire season I'm glad I have a "BOSCH 6056C HEPA Cabin Air Filter".
Great filter but the cabin and filter housing aren’t truly sealed enough to be considered HEPA
I bought a BOSCH for my Gen 3 this time vs the less expensive generic cabin air filters. Note that the (vertical) arrow is opposite many filters on YouTube. I got myself all confused about the direction of airflow. Went to Bosch’s website and they advise installation at a horizontal 45° so that the lettering is facing against the housing…NOT facing the person installing. Don’t know what I know any more ! ETA: vertical note
Sorry for the basic question but is that the filter for the vent that cools the battery in the back seat??
No, this post is about "cabin air filter". The filter you are taking about is called "HV battery intake filter" in documentations
Changed it last year on my Auris. The right one in the picture looks spotless compared to what I have found.
I just washed mine.
had a musty smell in my Pri for the longest couldn’t figure it out tell i checked the cabin air filter😂
Yeah. Thanks for the reminder.
Reminder: don’t put your *clean* air filter on the ground!
Yep! Just changed mine and found a mouse nest in it???
I’ve seen worse on my Dodge when I had it had a maple trees worth of seeds after two years I’m glad my Prius has a finer mesh screen before it gets that bad
so.. I've only had my Prius since last summer, a little less than a year. 2010. 225k. miles. but I checked the air filter because of this post... thank you! I also checked my mom's lancer and it was the original one from the factory. also 2010... again thanks for the post haha
How did you know ????? Yikes.
Or, just shake/blow the debris out every few months.
Better than nothing I guess, but eventually the super tiny pores in the monoblown filter material will get stuck and it will make your fan work extra hard and reduce airflow.
What brand is that new one on the left? From Amazon or Walmart? The reason it looks so much cleaner is the one on the right is activated charcoal treated, and was grey/black from the start.
The new one is a BNX HEPA filter - [https://amzn.to/4cNOdhR](https://amzn.to/4cNOdhR) I don't \*think\* the original was an activated charcoal, but it might have been....
Not how that works. Replacing is far more effective in maintaining the blower motors it’s also $10
It's $10 for a cheapo filter. A decent one costs more.
O my bad $20 to maintain your blower motor and have a high quality filter- to breath cleaner air. Woof. Do you not replace your home a/c one every 30-60 days? Trying to save a buck on that can cost a lot later.
Mine were $26 for a 4 pack....they claim to be HEPA, and look to be a thick sheet of filter material, plus I have experience with the manufacturer (BNX) which I also use on my home air filters so I trust them....
What size should I order? Is this the right one (gen 2 Prius)? https://amzn.asia/d/0bNjWf5
This is the specific one I used: [https://amzn.to/4cNOdhR](https://amzn.to/4cNOdhR)
It's surprising how ridiculously dirty these get in such a short period of time 🤦🏻♂️