That filter (remember it's a syn media which has higher capacity than cellulose) is rated to carry around 29 grams of material. The statistic I was given is that the "average" filter (rated for ~15g) in the "average" car at the "average" OCI (7.5K) is loaded to less than 50% of capacity at the time it's changed. So lets make it 7.5g/7.5K mile, or 1g/1000 miles to make it simple. Stretch that out to 20K and you have 20g of material in that Puro filter, roughly 70% loaded. That's well within my safety factor. The laws of averages are better than WAGS any day. You really can't tell much by looking.
20K IS pushing the envelope in some ways, not the least of which is running the filter well past the mfrs "warranty" period. In the unlikely event of a failure, the mfr could deny a claim, stating their 10K mile rating. Even though it's silicon, the ADBV could begin to harden due to heat aging. Bypass spring could fatigue, yada, yada. The syn media is pretty safe from deterioration.
All that said, I still think this filter was within its safety factor... just a lot closer to than most people take it. He got his money's worth outta that filter and then some.
20K IS pushing the envelope in some ways, not the least of which is running the filter well past the mfrs "warranty" period. In the unlikely event of a failure, the mfr could deny a claim, stating their 10K mile rating. Even though it's silicon, the ADBV could begin to harden due to heat aging. Bypass spring could fatigue, yada, yada. The syn media is pretty safe from deterioration.
All that said, I still think this filter was within its safety factor... just a lot closer to than most people take it. He got his money's worth outta that filter and then some.
