Ford Ranger air filter - about 80k miles in service

[jagdriver727]

During my oil change today it occurred to me I ought to check the air filter. Purolator A35192 which I think I put in there in mid-2017. Maybe somebody can decipher the date code.

(see attached photos. I tried to insert the images here but the mobile site is impossibly difficult to work with on my iPad)

Filter itself was pretty well loaded with fine dust but what concerned me was the dust on the clean side of the air intake. I think this may be due to a Firestone tech I encountered when I had a flat on a road trip last year; during the “courtesy check” which I asked them not to do they left the filter housing unclipped. Was weeks before I noticed.

I cleaned the housing out with a tack cloth followed by compressed air, replacement filter was an American made Champ I had on the shelf. Been impressed with their quality lately, especially as one of the cheapest jobber filters available.

 

[Chris142]

The old filter is so dirty that dirt is getting pulled through it.

 

[xgmad]

The old filter is so dirty that dirt is getting pulled through it.

if it is dirty, it shouldnt let even that much air in it, hopefully it should trap it
there seems to be a gap or something.

 

[Rand]

The old filter is so dirty that dirt is getting pulled through it.

if it is dirty, it shouldnt let even that much air in it, hopefully it should trap it
there seems to be a gap or something.

Did you guys miss in the OP's post he said the housing wasnt clipped for weeks?

Dirty usually filters better and unless the filter is ripped doubtful the dirt is coming through the filter.

 

[xgmad]

Did you guys miss in the OP's post he said the housing wasnt clipped for weeks?

Dirty usually filters better and unless the filter is ripped doubtful the dirt is coming through the filter.

Yep unless its ripped

 

[ripcord]

Or the rubber edge is ripped or deformed.

 

[Dave9]

Another reason why if you let anyone else touch your vehicle, you have to go over everything they might have screwed up!

 

[Rand]

Another reason why if you let anyone else touch your vehicle, you have to go over everything they might have screwed up!

On my brand new 2017 cherokee with 5000miles they stripped out an airbox screw with impact driver.. after I asked them to leave it alone... why? because why would it need changed at 5000 miles...

 

[ZeeOSix]

Date code is the same format that Purolator uses on their oil filters. So F10K02B1 is: Oct 2, 2018. You must have put it in later than mid 2017.

The "10K02" is the date code part. K is 2018, 10 = Oct and 02 = 2.

 

[jagdriver727]

Date code is the same format that Purolator uses on their oil filters. So F10K02B1 is: Oct 2, 2018. You must have put it in later than mid 2017.

The "10K02" is the date code part. K is 2018, 10 = Oct and 02 = 2.

Good to know, was just estimating on the date. Probably late 2018 to early 2019 then. Still, it was in for well over 60,000 miles.

 

[Job]

How does a filter get dirty on the clean side when the air is always flowing away from the clean side? Maybe it is dirt deep inside the media and it goes from pure white to looking dirty. Shops checking air filters too soon just allows more dirt in every time. I guess they follow a required routine, but if a car has 5k or the owner says don’t do that, they can use some discretion.
I think the member may be right the extra pressure caused by dirt is starting to pull dirt through. It may be a sign of a not so good filter?