Change the engine air filter and then leave it alone?

[Motor oil rookie]

I read somewhere that when you open the air box to clean the air filter, you introduce more dirt into the engine then the filter would have done in its entire life? So should I put brand new air filter and then leave it alone for 1 year?

 

[mrsilv04]

I change my air filters every 30,000 miles. Other than that, I leave it alone. I don't even open it up to take a peek.
My UOA's tell me that this schedule is working just fine for me.

 

[FastLane]

I change mine every two years in my truck.

 

[KGMtech]

If you spin the engine backwards when the filter box is open, the risk of dirt being ingested is much less, well because.

Some amateurs will attach a leaf blower to exhaust pipe, same outcome.

Just kidding on both ideas.

 

[f355spider]

I read somewhere that when you open the air box to clean the air filter, you introduce more dirt into the engine then the filter would have done in its entire life? So should I put brand new air filter and then leave it alone for 1 year?

I'd be curious to know the source. And even beyond that, how significant this introduction is.
I have replaced the air filter on my BMW approximately every 15k miles since new, only because the factory filter is very inexpensive, about $10 for the Hengst German filter. I'm currently at 377,200 miles...even IF changing the filter introduced dust or dirt to the intake...I question how significant this is. I change the air filter with a factory Denso on my Tundra every 24k miles since new, and is currently at 383,000 miles. I'm not seeing a problem with my sample of two very high mileage cars.

 

[factorytuned2012]

I read somewhere that when you open the air box to clean the air filter, you introduce more dirt into the engine then the filter would have done in its entire life? So should I put brand new air filter and then leave it alone for 1 year?

seriously?

 

[fdcg27]

I think you should just change it and then leave it be.
Unless it tears, not likely given the small pressure differential, it can only become more efficient as time passes and air with whatever debris load passes through it and loads it.

 

[Motor oil rookie]

I'd be curious to know the source. And even beyond that, how significant this introduction is.
I have replaced the air filter on my BMW approximately every 15k miles since new, only because the factory filter is very inexpensive, about $10 for the Hengst German filter. I'm currently at 377,200 miles...even IF changing the filter introduced dust or dirt to the intake...I question how significant this is. I change the air filter with a factory Denso on my Tundra every 24k miles since new, and is currently at 383,000 miles. I'm not seeing a problem with my sample of two very high mileage cars.

377,200 miles on a BMW People say BMW is a money pit.

 

[factorytuned2012]

377,200 miles on a BMW People say BMW is a money pit.

Sure beats a car payment + interest

 

[Motor oil rookie]

Sure beats a car payment + interest

If a BMW can make it that high my lil Jeep can too

 

[Chris142]

I don't touch them until time to replace which is about every 6 months here

 

[f355spider]

377,200 miles on a BMW People say BMW is a money pit.

Oh it is, but I love the way the car drives, so I deal with it.

 

[Motor oil rookie]

Oh it is, but I love the way the car drives, so I deal with it.

You do the surgeries on it yourself?

 

[f355spider]

You do the surgeries on it yourself?

Nope, I use the BMW dealer and a trusted independent BMW specialist. The past 7 years or so, is mostly the Indy, as he is typically half the cost or less.

 

[Oliveoil2]

Don’t touch them until 70-80k.

 

[Motor oil rookie]

Nope, I use the BMW dealer and a trusted independent BMW specialist. The past 7 years or so, is mostly the Indy, as he is typically half the cost or less.

But what goes wrong with them? Or you're just doing preventative maintenance?

 

[Motor oil rookie]

Don’t touch them until 70-80k.

It's a Jeep, goes offroad a ton. Last time I found bugs in it

 

[edyvw]

But what goes wrong with them? Or you're just doing preventative maintenance?

BMW’s are all about preventive maintenance. Nothing you wouldn’t do on other cars, but they are less forgiving if you don’t.

 

[dnewton3]

People change air filters WAY too often ... and it can be detrimental to do so.

This is an article written by one of our members (Jim Allen; writer of various automotive articles and published in many magazines and books).

A few key takeaways ...

- 90% of the particulate that a filter will pass happens in the first 10% of it's lifecycle (meaning the more often you change it, the more particulate you allow in).
- as the filter loads, it becomes much more efficient
- the average car filter may have a capacity able to hold many years worth of normal particulate loading; sometimes up to 150 grams
- etc ....

https://www.rv.com/rv/towing/the-truth-about-engine-air-filtersinternal/


Just like changing oil too often is costly, so it changing air filters. And with the added risk of inducing more dirt into the engine.

If you want to mess around with your car, give it a wash instead, and leave the air filter alone!

 

[Patman]

I’m in the camp of not changing my filters too often. I just did the first air filter change in my Corvette at 107,000 km and I typically only change the filter in my Civic about once every 70-80,000km.