Your Toyota Prius uses two air filters -- one for your cabin and one for your engine. They're both essential to how well a motor and HVAC work. What does an air filter actually do, though? Generally, it's a trap for airborne particulate. Air filters use specially pleated fibers made of foam, synthetic paper, or cotton to catch dirt, allergens, and other contaminants. Your cabin air filter, for its part, helps keep crud from building up in your heater and air conditioner. Your engine air filter helps keep muck from choking your air intake and accumulating on other components, like fuel injectors and spark plugs. If that hybrid you love didn't have both types of filters, those pollutants would start to wear out auto parts across all sorts of systems, and double quick. Unfortunately, though, even the best air filters clog or break down with age. When they fill up, more problems follow -- everything from engine stress and misfires and higher emissions to lower gas mileage. Your heating and air conditioning systems can even malfunction. The best way to keep all this from happening? Change your air filters regularly.

What Are the Signs a Car Needs a New Air Filter?

There are several, and they're easy to spot. You can look for a lit Check Engine light, but it's better to keep an eye out for dirty or decayed surface fibers, listen for odd engine noise, smell for an unclean cabin, and look for excessive exhaust. If you see these symptoms, it's probably time to replace your car air filters. Otherwise, check the schedules in your owner's manual; they'll usually recommend you change a filter every 12,000 to 15,000 miles or so. When it's time to buy new ones, be sure to order genuine OEM. What comes from the Toyota factory will fit your Prius best. You can order what you need online, right here at our auto parts store. Buy now!