Mahle LX1607/1, 8 Years, 28.5k mi

[fantastic]

Pretty sure that Mahle brand is OEM for my 2008 Volvo XC90 3.2L

This was run for 28,550 miles and according to the receipts I have from prior ownership it was put on in 2017.

Explains why the filter has a 9 year old 3/2016 date printed on it and the black foam was very brittle. What you see was torn during use as far as I know.

I put on a standard STP brand air filter and will probably change every 25k. Manual states 37,500 air filter interval though.

 

[shortyb]

Actually doesn't look all that hateful. The foam is a "snow filter" or prefilter to keep water off of the paper element and getting soaked.

 

[fantastic]

Actually doesn't look all that hateful. The foam is a "snow filter" or prefilter to keep water off of the paper element and getting soaked.

I think the learning part for me was if left in for this long the foam will get too brittle & tear causing anything to get into the filter media (potentially reducing it's useful life).

You could be right about the water separator but it seems to function also as catching all the big pieces, bugs etc, before it reaches the filter media (the side folds were filled w/junk b/c the black foam didn't extend to the edges like it should).

The filter media looked & felt just fine but a 9 year old filter will not be happening under my watch again. I had recorded the date in my maintenance spreadsheet but really didn't don on me just how old it really was until I removed it the other day. We picked this CUV up in fall 2023. Thanks for your comment.

 

[JohnnyG]

Did the new one come with a new foam pre-filter?

 

[SC Maintenance]

Actually doesn't look all that hateful. The foam is a "snow filter" or prefilter to keep water off of the paper element and getting soaked.

Darn thats a good idea especially here in the extremely wet south. I wonder if I can add one to mine somehow.

 

[shortyb]

Darn thats a good idea especially here in the extremely wet south. I wonder if I can add one to mine somehow.

Sure ya can. I bought a sheet of Uni filter foam (green) to make replacement filters on an old Shindiawa trimmer. Reckon you could cut to size and hot glue it in a couple places and accomplish the same thing. I know lots of Euro air filters have the option of a foam or mesh type material pre-filter. Manns I believe have an A or B suffix on the standard part number to denote HD/prefilter.

 

[VolvoZ]

It’s a MAHLE. It’s made in France. Looks pretty good. What’s not to like? As long as it was put into the air box properly (which it looks like it was).

The belt drive system is fun to service on these SI6 engines, by the way.

 

[fantastic]

Did the new one come with a new foam pre-filter?

Yes, although the picture shows orange rubber it was actually black rubber but it did have the prefoam filter on it as well.

https://www.autozone.com/filters-an...rregular-engine-air-filter-sa10785/108775_0_0

 

[fantastic]

It’s a MAHLE. It’s made in France. Looks pretty good. What’s not to like? As long as it was put into the air box properly (which it looks like it was).

The belt drive system is fun to service on these SI6 engines, by the way.

The serpentine belt has dry rot cracks and I've been spraying some belt dressing on it to get me a bit further. Cross my fingers it doesn't break anytime soon but I've put on 20,000 miles on it in the last 12 months so I need to find a reputable shop to do that job. Water pump etc

I did reseal the brake vacuum pump

 

[VolvoZ]

The serpentine belt has dry rot cracks and I've been spraying some belt dressing on it to get me a bit further. Cross my fingers it doesn't break anytime soon but I've put on 20,000 miles on it in the last 12 months so I need to find a reputable shop to do that job. Water pump etc

I did reseal the brake vacuum pump

Good to keep an eye on it. I am in the midst of a major refurb on an ‘08 XC70 (same engine and drivetrain bits for the most part). At over 240K miles, all the parts are original as far as i can tell. Belt was cracked badly on both sides, but still holding up well. My daughter bought the car with around 170K several years ago and I acquired it last year, so i know that the engine has been pretty much untouched except for the PCV and plugs. Putting in all new drive belt components (these cars have overrunning drive pulleys with a clutch), water pump, belt, seal for drive pulley, idlers, all cooling system hoses, motor mounts, alternator, thermostat, and so on.

We can trade stories on the Volvo SI6 adventures.

 

[fantastic]

Good to keep an eye on it. I am in the midst of a major refurb on an ‘08 XC70 (same engine and drivetrain bits for the most part). At over 240K miles, all the parts are original as far as i can tell. Belt was cracked badly on both sides, but still holding up well. My daughter bought the car with around 170K several years ago and I acquired it last year, so i know that the engine has been pretty much untouched except for the PCV and plugs. Putting in all new drive belt components (these cars have overrunning drive pulleys with a clutch), water pump, belt, seal for drive pulley, idlers, all cooling system hoses, motor mounts, alternator, thermostat, and so on.

We can trade stories on the Volvo SI6 adventures.

240k
Gives me a bit of confidence I have at least some time to get to it but will have the work done before 175k (currently @141k). I definitely will keep an eye on everything of course. When I need tires in about another 20k I'm moving to the OEM 19" wheels from the 17" I currently have. I called Volvo St. Louis to ask if I needed any software changes & they said it will need an update for MPH correction. It had the right front lower control arm replaced for some reason, I had the air compressor pressure switch replaced to get the A/C working again, a few fuses but otherwise nothing much yet. Good luck to you on your XC70.

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