Oil and Air Filter Maintenance

[MiKn67]

I just changed my engine air filter. It had 13.3K on it. In the image you can see it has definitely done it's job over the past 7 months. But I was hesitant. After watching the Motor Oil Geek video with the guys from Donaldson, and a video by Freedom Worx talking about cold air intakes; and how air filters can go 30K. I wasn't sure I shouldn't have left the filter in for another 5 months 5K miles. I'm trying to do the best by my 3.7 liter Powertech (160.5K miles); 5K mile OCI's, fresh air filter every 7 months or 12K miles are the things I do on a regular basis other than tire rotations and other general maintenance. These so called influencers are really muddying the waters for me and casting doubt on much of the information I've come to rely on. I'm learning a lot too.
I'm currently wondering if I should leave the oil filter on at my next oil change. Thoughts? It's a WIX Racing Filter. I'm sure it's rated for at least 10K miles. I'd be changing the oil at 5K.

 

[shortyb]

Oh man, that filter is just getting started. Easily last twice as long if not much longer. The treated paper, bazillion pleat filters like those are VERY long life. I change mine between 45 and 60K. If you haven't thrown out the old one, put it back in and save the new one for a change at 30K+. Now oil filters I change every time the oil is changed. These filters are cheap enough for every 5K.

 

[TCL]

Which one is the new one?

 

[gman2304]

I’d pick that pine needle? off and run it a couple years longer. Put the new one on the shelf until then. No need to throw good money after bad. I’ve been changing my oil filter every other 5 thousand mile oil change for a couple of decades and I keep my vehicles a loooong time.

 

[jjblbi]

Unless you frequently drive on dirt roads, follow the manufacturer's recommendation (or maybe 5k less) for replacement intervals. As filters get dirtier they actually collect finer particles. Large trucks have air filter restriction gauges to optimize filter life.

 

[doitmyself]

It does seem that the OP has his ideas mixed up. An air filter increases in ability to keep abrasives out of your engine as it ages, so your premature air filter changes did not extend the life of your engine.

Wix Racing Oil Filter? Their website states: "Racing filters are not intended for street use and often void new vehicle and equipment warranties. Installation on a street- or highway-driven vehicle may be a violation of state or federal law. " I'm going to guess that they excel at oil flow at the expense of fine particle filtering.

 

[NiwradND]

Air filters at least should be good for 25,000 unless you drive in dusty conditions. If you want to save money on oil filters buy Supertech at Walmart and change every oil change. The racing filter isn't helping your engine as its basically a rock catcher. Supertech is a lot better filter at a cheaper price.

 

[RobbS]

Make it a rule now, early, always change your oil filter every 5k mile interval

 

[MiKn67]

Make it a rule now, early, always change your oil filter every 5k mile interval

I have been religiously. I was just pondering whether it would be considerable considering air filters should stay in longer.

 

[Lubener]

That air filter has some life left. I go by appearance and throw the mileage and time interval out the window.

 

[Donald]

I agree no need to change that air filter. But good to check it. It could have gotten a tear or mouse made a home.

Slap it on the inside of a trash container to see if any dirt/dust falls off and put it back in.

 

[Johnny248]

Congrats on your 3.7! I literally just changed the oil on mine a few min ago. '09 with 64k. They are fine engines. Just make sure to keep the oil fresh and don't overheat it.

Wix racing oil filter? Is there a reason for that? I think those things are rated at like 70 micron or something?

 

[MiKn67]

Congrats on your 3.7! I literally just changed the oil on mine a few min ago. '09 with 64k. They are fine engines. Just make sure to keep the oil fresh and don't overheat it.

Wix racing oil filter? Is there a reason for that? I think those things are rated at like 70 micron or something?

View attachment 310874

No. I was looking at Wix on Amazon and that appeared to be the standard filter compared to the XP. I read the XP allows for higher oil flow. Similar to the K&N filters I had been using. It seems I went in the wrong direction and purchased higher performance.
I’m looking at a Purolator premium for my next oil change.

 

[RaymondP]

Envy you the accessibility of your engine air filter. Terrible access on a Mercedes GLC300 requiring several hours to complete the task as a DIYer. No wonder it costs a fortune at the dealership.

Agree with many, you have a lot of life remaining on your old filter. If not yet discarded, I would keep it for the next swap out. If it makes you happy give it a quick vacuum with a shop vac and you will be fine.

 

[MiKn67]

I just changed my engine air filter. It had 13.3K on it. In the image you can see it has definitely done it's job over the past 7 months. But I was hesitant. After watching the Motor Oil Geek video with the guys from Donaldson, and a video by Freedom Worx talking about cold air intakes; and how air filters can go 30K. I wasn't sure I shouldn't have left the filter in for another 5 months 5K miles. I'm trying to do the best by my 3.7 liter Powertech (160.5K miles); 5K mile OCI's, fresh air filter every 7 months or 12K miles are the things I do on a regular basis other than tire rotations and other general maintenance. These so called influencers are really muddying the waters for me and casting doubt on much of the information I've come to rely on. I'm learning a lot too.
I'm currently wondering if I should leave the oil filter on at my next oil change. Thoughts? It's a WIX Racing Filter. I'm sure it's rated for at least 10K miles. I'd be changing the oil at 5K.
View attachment 310821

So, I recovered the filter from the trash. I’m gonna run it for another 12 K at least. It seems the consensus is that oil filter filters should be changed at every OCI, I will continue on that path. I’m just gonna downgrade my filters a little bit. Looking at my purchase history it looks like I’ve been buying high-performance filters for the past couple years. I’d be interested in seeing the results of the UOA after I use the standard filter.

 

[4wd]

Air filters at least should be good for 25,000 unless you drive in dusty conditions. If you want to save money on oil filters buy Supertech at Walmart and change every oil change. The racing filter isn't helping your engine as its basically a rock catcher. Supertech is a lot better filter at a cheaper price.

That’s about what I do … and we only put 7k-10k a year on any of them - so not allot of time or money

 

[Johnny248]

No. I was looking at Wix on Amazon and that appeared to be the standard filter compared to the XP. I read the XP allows for higher oil flow. Similar to the K&N filters I had been using. It seems I went in the wrong direction and purchased higher performance.
I’m looking at a Purolator premium for my next oil change.

Check out the CarQuest Premium/Microgard Select/PG filters.

 

[Jay73]

I replace my oil, air and cabin filter every oil change=6 months. Overkill=yes but the air and cabin filter I use are washable so I bought 2 of each so I just pop the clean one in and then I got 6 months to clean the dirty one before it's needed again. If I was using disposable filters yeah I probably would have left your air filter in for another round before replacing it. The oil filter I would change at 5k as compare the cost of a motor versus an oil filter and it's cheap insurance. Also in my case I'm driving a direct injection, turbo vehicle with a ton of stop/go so the oil starts to smell enough like gas at 5k miles. If I did more highway miles then maybe I would loosen my replacement standards.

 

[JustinH]

I keep it simple. 5k oil changes, and once a year cabin and air filters in the fall, regardless of condition.

If i'm taking the time to take it out of the airbox, i'm putting a new one back in.

 

[Kestas]

People change their air filters too often. They should be changed only as needed. I used to change them every 12K when I could get Casite air filters for $1. Now they're more expensive, and fuel injected engines aren't as sensitive to restriction as carburated engines.

For reference, I once let an air filter go 110K miles until the computer set a code. It looked good, but sure enough, I couldn't see light through it.