[ccasanova34]

This may be old news by now, but just a couple weeks ago K&N had nothing for the 2012 TCH on their website. Now they have an air filter and an oil filter. Here's a link: http://www.knfilters.com/search/app...12&make=TOYOTA&model=Camry+Hybrid&engine=2.5L

I'll be purchasing an air filter as soon as I find the best price, or find a coupon to Autozone. I doubt the oil filter will be worth the cost, so I'll stay away from it until someone else suggests otherwise.

So, you folks gonna get one, too?

 

[lncshib]

what is wrong with the OEM denso filter that made you decide K&N is better?

 

[ukrkoz]

go for it. Good choice. Also, take a nylon stocking, stretch it, and secure over the air intake above the grill. See what it, actually, does:

that is dirt that DID NOT get into the filter/engine.

 

[jcoop]

Thanks for the link. I did not know it was available already. I just ordered both the oil and the air filter. I've always used K&N air filters and have experienced improvement in performance ALL the times I've used them.:thumbsup:

 

[doznI4SE]

go for it. Good choice. Also, take a nylon stocking, stretch it, and secure over the air intake above the grill. ....

Would you recommend doing that for the conventional non-hybrid I4? No performance issues due to the impeded airflow :dunno: ?

 

[WhiteSands]

Being a hypermiler for the hybrid I seldom ever accelerate over 1/4 throttle. The K&N may add horsepower at half or full throttle which I would never use.

I think toyota is starting to use the new synthetic oil filters that are now available from Purolator made just for synthetic oil. Costly, about $21 each from Amazon. I ordered 2 and hope these are the same as the toyota parts uses. I will compare them to the oem from parts once it's time to change oil.

Some points about Purolator and why Toyota may be using them as their filter supplier.

Wire-backed media for today's high-tech engines provides increased durability
100 percent synthetic media engineered for synthetic motor oils
99 percent efficiency equals better engine protection
Wired backed pleat support technology provides 10,000 mile protection
100 percent textured grip control equals ease of installation and removal

Part # PSL25608 synthetic cartridge filter if your interested. Might check to see if this is the correct purolator oil filter number for these '12 hybrids, with the 2.5 L engine.

 

[WhiteSands]

what is wrong with the OEM denso filter that made you decide K&N is better?

A toyota tech once told me that Denso makes the electric AC compressor and all the hybrid and many other parts for Toyota. Denso no doubt is one of most precision manfactures ever. This reminds me of my '94 Corolla, which the trouble free Denso alternator lasted 185,000 miles till I sold the car.

Back in '07 a toyota parts man once told me that purolator made all the filters for toyota. That may have changed, I never checked again. Purolator is the only full-flow oil filter that has 99% filtering efficiency. I say this and haven't compared filters in the last 5 years.

 

[venzoid]

oil filters

Has anyone done an oil change on a 12 TCH?

Does it have a spin on oil filter?

 

[cohland]

This may be old news by now, but just a couple weeks ago K&N had nothing for the 2012 TCH on their website. Now they have an air filter and an oil filter. Here's a link: http://www.knfilters.com/search/app...12&make=TOYOTA&model=Camry+Hybrid&engine=2.5L

I'll be purchasing an air filter as soon as I find the best price, or find a coupon to Autozone. I doubt the oil filter will be worth the cost, so I'll stay away from it until someone else suggests otherwise.

So, you folks gonna get one, too?

No. I would only buy a Toyota OEM filter for the car. If Toyota sells an oiled, K&N type filter for this car, then I think it would be OK. They do sell such a filter for the FJ Cruiser, for example (the TRD air filter).

Although K&N thinks they have debunked it, there is a popular belief (K&N calls it a "myth") that the oil in the filter can foul the MAS (Mass Airflow Sensor, sometimes called the MAF) on fuel-injected cars, causing problems.

While I did tinker with other cars that used K&N Filters (a Miata, the FJ Cruiser) I am pretty well intimidated by the electronics of the TCH, so it will not be getting any parts that could even remotely be suspected of causing warranty objections by Toyota.

I can tell you from experience that the K&N filter does give you a little more power on conventional fuel-injected engines, and that it certainly will give you more intake noise.

Considering the cost and need to maintain the K&N filter, and because I did not buy the TCH to enjoy more noise, I will be using standard Toyota parts.

 

[cohland]

... Also, take a nylon stocking, stretch it, and secure over the air intake above the grill. See what it, actually, does:...that is dirt that DID NOT get into the filter/engine.

Interesting idea. Your stocking prevented dirt from getting TO the filter, not INTO it, and there is a difference there. The filter would of course have stopped all that dirt. I can see how your stocking would extend the life of the air filter, and as long as you maintain the stocking I think that would be a Good Thing.

That said, I wonder if your stocking has any effect on fuel economy or performance. Have you noticed anything different?

 

[Ron AKA]

There are two basic requirement of an air filter. One is to provide unrestricted air flow, and the other is to remove dirt. They tend not to be mutually exclusive, as the finer the filter the more pressure drop. Also as a filter starts to plug air flow goes down, but filter efficiency (particle removal) likely goes up.

There are some test results posted at the Bob is the Oil Guy site, which suggest K&N filters (cotton fiber) tend to pass more air, but collect less dirt than a paper filter (Fram, OEM, and many others). So if you want ultimate air flow when the filter starts to get dirty, then the K&M might provide some very slight advantage. But, it may be at the price of poorer air filtration. Air flow at very high engine output levels might affect engine HP. However, with clean or reasonably clean filters it is likely to be insignificant.

Does the air filter restriction or plugging cause fuel economy to suffer? Tests done by the Oakridge National Laboratory indicated there is a loss of fuel economy on older vehicles that use a carburetor. However, newer vehicles with fuel injection and closed loop combustion control, do not lose fuel economy as the filter plugs. This is because the control system adjusts for the air flow and keep the mixture ideal. They in fact found that the clogged filter itself collapsed from the pressure on it before there was any significant effect on fuel economy.

Conclusions?

1. Fuel economy is not a filter issue with the Camry or Camry Hybrid
2. Engine protection is likely better with a paper filter of the OEM type or many quality replacements like Fram and the like.
3. HP loss if you replace the filter as recommended is an insignificant issue.
4. It is just a person opinion, but I think you likely can get get more efficient dirt removal with a lightly oiled paper filter than a non oiled. Some offer it.
5. Just me, but I can't see myself cleaning the filter and reusing it. Seems like a pain in the butt if you follow K&N's elaborate procedure.

Just my thoughts. I will likely stick with the OEM air filter if it is a reasonable price. The Toyota (Denso) oil filter is priced well, and also based on some filter area comparisons it is very good quality. Much more area than a Pure 1. Seems to me if you are going to go 10,000 miles on an oil change, you want lots of area.

 

[doznI4SE]

Ron,
Thanks for the above post. What are your thought on ukrkoz's stretched stocking idea and the air intake? Do you think that would affect performance and would you do it?

BTW, I just checked may air filter today, and there was a bit of dirt sitting in the bottom of the airbox and some on the bottom of the filter ..... not surprising I guess - I vacuumed it out of the box and filter.

Do you plan on sticking with the OEM oil filters too? I am for now, since I bought ten already.

 

[Ron AKA]

Ron,
Thanks for the above post. What are your thought on ukrkoz's stretched stocking idea and the air intake? Do you think that would affect performance and would you do it?

Do you plan on sticking with the OEM oil filters too? I am for now, since I bought ten already.

I don't think it can hurt. However, not sure it will increase the life of the filter. It will catch large particles, but they typically don't plug the filter. It is the small stuff.

For sure I will stick with the OEM oil filter. It looks well made and is much larger than the Pure 1, which would have been my first other choice. The Toyota filters cost $8 here from the dealer. I'm currently paying $13 for my Pure 1 spin on filters. In any case part of the deal on the car is they are to provide free oil and filter changes for 150,000 km, so if that works out, it will be the factory filter and oil (Toyota Synthetic 0W-20).

 

[ccasanova34]

I've always had good experiences with K&N air filter products, and at first glance would highly consider switching air filters. However, I need to research it more for the TCH. Also, I don't want it to void the warranty. Just wanted to spread the news that these K&N products were out there now.

 

[ukrkoz]

Would you recommend doing that for the conventional non-hybrid I4? No performance issues due to the impeded airflow :dunno: ?

none. look at it as a pre-filtering:naughty:. it's too air transparent to reduce air flow. :clap:

 

[ukrkoz]

Interesting idea. Your stocking prevented dirt from getting TO the filter, not INTO it, and there is a difference there. The filter would of course have stopped all that dirt. I can see how your stocking would extend the life of the air filter, and as long as you maintain the stocking I think that would be a Good Thing.

That said, I wonder if your stocking has any effect on fuel economy or performance. Have you noticed anything different?

Yes. Here in Seattle, a "friendly" city, every time I put white nylons on, I become real g-y magnet.:naughty::lol:

 

[ukrkoz]

I enjoy scientific posts. Prolly, cuz I have little respect to official science to start with.

Anyhow - and I do apologize for caps, no yelling intended

BASED ON METICULOUS MILEAGE LOG, DONE ON SEVERAL VEHICLES WITH K&N AIR FILTER, VS OEM ONE, HIGH AIR FLOW FILTER ADDS ABOUT 1 MILE TO A GALLON FUEL ECONOMY, UNDER OTHERWISE CONSCIENSCIOUS DRIVING STYLE.

Btw, 10oz acetone per 12 gall refill added 10 solid % mpg improvement on Honda CR-V and brought 99 Ranger average to 27mpg; had no influence on 99 RX 300 or 00 Silverado.

Go ahead and post more scientific opinions. I have LOGS proving that.

 

[lncshib]

http://www.fuelsaving.info/acetone.htm

why not put it on your TCH and post the results?

my 2007 TCH could go 99.9 MPG and I have a picture to prove that

 

[Guest]

So, you folks gonna get one, too?

Yes.

 

[WhiteSands]

http://www.fuelsaving.info/acetone.htm

why not put it on your TCH and post the results?

my 2007 TCH could go 99.9 MPG and I have a picture to prove that

I put 4 oz of acetone in the 17 gallon tank on my '07 TCH for 6 months during one summer. I usually got 1 and some times 2 mpg more by using it. I figure it was not worth the effort so I gave it up. I was and still am using phillips 66 regular at 86 octane. It's listed as top tier gas