Re-oil filter or just replace?

[Klutch9]

My Focus come with one of those "lifetime" air filters from the factory. It had something to do with emissions and the PZEV regulations. Anyhow, when I bought the car I removed the factory air filter box and tubing and clamped on a Spectre air filter. Basically just a factory intake with a cone-style filter on the end; a cheap and effective CAI, and a very popular mod on the Focus forums. Anyhow, the filter itself is tucked up nicely behind the driver's side splash guard, and is barely visible when you look through the lower grille (although if you look hard, you can see a little bit of it). I'm thinking that every now and again, dust/water spray can find its way through the grille and right to the filter media... Which leads to me wondering if I should buy the $10 oiling kit, or just spend $20 on a new filter? The filter is pretty nicely tucked away, yet it's still exposed, meaning that it probably takes a decent amount of abuse. Knowing how I over-do everything, I'd probably end up over-oiling the filter anyhow. Should I just buy a new filter and forget about it? I plan on replacing the filter and cleaning the MAF every 20,000 miles.

 

[semaj281]

If you're going to replace it anyway at 20k then it probably does not need to be oiled, as long as it comes pre-oiled out of the box.

 

[Klutch9]

Originally Posted By: semaj281

If you're going to replace it anyway at 20k then it probably does not need to be oiled, as long as it comes pre-oiled out of the box.

It does come pre-oiled out of the box. Spectre, along with K&N, recommend re-oiling every 10,000 miles. I realize that this is probably a very conservative recommendation (just like oil changes every 3,000 miles), which is why I have no problem using it for 20k miles.

 

[4x4chevydude]

I wouldnt worry too much about it, just leave it and replace it when you want.

 

[semaj281]

I would think that re-oiling every 10k would lead to a contaminated MAF sensor.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Klutch9

My Focus come with one of those "lifetime" air filters from the factory. It had something to do with emissions and the PZEV regulations. Anyhow, when I bought the car I removed the factory air filter box and tubing and clamped on a Spectre air filter. Basically just a factory intake with a cone-style filter on the end; a cheap and effective CAI, and a very popular mod on the Focus forums. Anyhow, the filter itself is tucked up nicely behind the driver's side splash guard, and is barely visible when you look through the lower grille (although if you look hard, you can see a little bit of it). I'm thinking that every now and again, dust/water spray can find its way through the grille and right to the filter media... Which leads to me wondering if I should buy the $10 oiling kit, or just spend $20 on a new filter? The filter is pretty nicely tucked away, yet it's still exposed, meaning that it probably takes a decent amount of abuse. Knowing how I over-do everything, I'd probably end up over-oiling the filter anyhow. Should I just buy a new filter and forget about it? I plan on replacing the filter and cleaning the MAF every 20,000 miles.

So you replaced a Donaldson PowerCore filter (the best filter ever made) with a K&N knock-off? Congratulations

 

[Klutch9]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL

Originally Posted By: Klutch9

My Focus come with one of those "lifetime" air filters from the factory. It had something to do with emissions and the PZEV regulations. Anyhow, when I bought the car I removed the factory air filter box and tubing and clamped on a Spectre air filter. Basically just a factory intake with a cone-style filter on the end; a cheap and effective CAI, and a very popular mod on the Focus forums. Anyhow, the filter itself is tucked up nicely behind the driver's side splash guard, and is barely visible when you look through the lower grille (although if you look hard, you can see a little bit of it). I'm thinking that every now and again, dust/water spray can find its way through the grille and right to the filter media... Which leads to me wondering if I should buy the $10 oiling kit, or just spend $20 on a new filter? The filter is pretty nicely tucked away, yet it's still exposed, meaning that it probably takes a decent amount of abuse. Knowing how I over-do everything, I'd probably end up over-oiling the filter anyhow. Should I just buy a new filter and forget about it? I plan on replacing the filter and cleaning the MAF every 20,000 miles.

So you replaced a Donaldson PowerCore filter (the best filter ever made) with a K&N knock-off? Congratulations

I thought that only the PSD has/had the PowerCore technology in the Ford lineup? Either way, I just don't like the idea of a 'lifetime' air filter. I like to be able to inspect & replace when necessary. Plus, the mod is known to add a few HP, sound quiet under cruising, while sounding quite good under load

 

[Jim Allen]

Klutch, may I point out that the best way to "inspect" any air filter is via a restriction gauge.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Klutch9

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL

Originally Posted By: Klutch9

My Focus come with one of those "lifetime" air filters from the factory. It had something to do with emissions and the PZEV regulations. Anyhow, when I bought the car I removed the factory air filter box and tubing and clamped on a Spectre air filter. Basically just a factory intake with a cone-style filter on the end; a cheap and effective CAI, and a very popular mod on the Focus forums. Anyhow, the filter itself is tucked up nicely behind the driver's side splash guard, and is barely visible when you look through the lower grille (although if you look hard, you can see a little bit of it). I'm thinking that every now and again, dust/water spray can find its way through the grille and right to the filter media... Which leads to me wondering if I should buy the $10 oiling kit, or just spend $20 on a new filter? The filter is pretty nicely tucked away, yet it's still exposed, meaning that it probably takes a decent amount of abuse. Knowing how I over-do everything, I'd probably end up over-oiling the filter anyhow. Should I just buy a new filter and forget about it? I plan on replacing the filter and cleaning the MAF every 20,000 miles.

So you replaced a Donaldson PowerCore filter (the best filter ever made) with a K&N knock-off? Congratulations

I thought that only the PSD has/had the PowerCore technology in the Ford lineup? Either way, I just don't like the idea of a 'lifetime' air filter. I like to be able to inspect & replace when necessary. Plus, the mod is known to add a few HP, sound quiet under cruising, while sounding quite good under load

From what I recall, the "lifetime" filter on the Focus is a version of the PowerCore. Just a much smaller one than what is found on the PSD.

 

[MysticGold04]

Yup, got one of those in my Focus too. That is the first "mod" that I found while searching. I just plan to replace the lifetime one when it gets restricted. Not sure when that might be though.. personally I have too many other things to worry about it seems as I get older.. lol