Notwithstanding the vehicle manufacturer's recommended schedules, what are the opinions here on the best schedule for changing a car's air filter for normal driving, i.e. paved roads as opposed to unpaved dusty conditions? Generally, I have followed the practice of changing the air filter on my cars once per year and I drive about 32,000kms (20,000 miles) per year.
How Often To Change The Air Filter
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I say most can go at least 30K. Most are replaced to soon.
JHZR2
Staff member
On my turbo engines, they seemto get dirty quicker. So I replace them more often (10-15k). On non-turbo engines, they can go longer, I usually take them out and knock them every few oil changes or at least once a year. Depending on how dirty it is, how old it is, and how anal Im trying to be, itll be replaced sooner or later. Probably on average 25k.
JMH
JMH
If you check out the "Motor Oil Bible" found at www.TheMotorOilSite, he goes into depth about air filters. It's about a 175 page read but according to the author, they are responsible for allowing more contamination into the engine than anything else by a long shot and well worth the effort to keep up. Amsoil's foam filter is highly recommended as it filters out more particles than a paper filter ever could. K&N's on the other hand is more performance oriented and as such allows large air flow (read; more particles of contamination) in order to increase engine output.
"...they are responsible for allowing more contamination into the engine than anything else..."
file this under "well, duh.."
Exactly what other large volume intakes are there in an engine?
I visually check it when I change oil, it usually winds up lasting between 6 months and a year depending on conditions. My car sees more dust and dirt, so it lasts less than my wife's who doesn't drive nearly as much and does so in much better conditions.
PS: I use a sharpie to write the date/miles on the filter frame when I install a new one. It's easier than using the door sticker. If it gets to be 1 year old, it gets replaced regardless of how it looks.
file this under "well, duh.."
Exactly what other large volume intakes are there in an engine?
I visually check it when I change oil, it usually winds up lasting between 6 months and a year depending on conditions. My car sees more dust and dirt, so it lasts less than my wife's who doesn't drive nearly as much and does so in much better conditions.
PS: I use a sharpie to write the date/miles on the filter frame when I install a new one. It's easier than using the door sticker. If it gets to be 1 year old, it gets replaced regardless of how it looks.
Good question and heres another; what do you want from your air filter, best filtering or optimum balance between filtering and air flow ?
Using low cost spectro oil analysis you can determine that optimum balance so that wear control,combustion efficiency and filtration efficiency are all considered.
"Generally" speaking 10,000 -15,000 miles is loading a normal paper filter up pretty well in todays dusty conditions. Enough that MPG is dropped and if the seal leaks or the media is damaged dirt is ingested at a high rate too.
Watch out for recent cheapo seals on paper filteres as they are dried, damaged or poorly made that they leak new. Your air flow will be wonderful but that darn Si eating the engine sux !
Using low cost spectro oil analysis you can determine that optimum balance so that wear control,combustion efficiency and filtration efficiency are all considered.
"Generally" speaking 10,000 -15,000 miles is loading a normal paper filter up pretty well in todays dusty conditions. Enough that MPG is dropped and if the seal leaks or the media is damaged dirt is ingested at a high rate too.
Watch out for recent cheapo seals on paper filteres as they are dried, damaged or poorly made that they leak new. Your air flow will be wonderful but that darn Si eating the engine sux !
Here in Michigan they use salt on the roads! I choose to change my airfilter once a year after the spring thaw starts. I do not like the idea of leaving an airfilter contaimanted with chemicaly treated salt in the car any longer then I have too. I usualy get 10,000-15,000 miles a year on a filter! My filters to date have looked like new when I throw them out! They are so cheap i just can not see pushing them any farther then you need to!
A lot of diesel blow turbocharger and turbo charger seals due to filter obstructions. Never mind that they have a little obstruction indicator on the filter houseing telling you when to change it!
A lot of diesel blow turbocharger and turbo charger seals due to filter obstructions. Never mind that they have a little obstruction indicator on the filter houseing telling you when to change it!
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