I stay with 30k change interval of my vehicles as well.
Should I change my engine air filter?
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Originally Posted By: toneydoc
If it appears clean, I would put it back in and use it. Just keep checking it periodically. Have a beer instead of a filter.
+1
If it appears clean, I would put it back in and use it. Just keep checking it periodically. Have a beer instead of a filter.
+1
I used to change waay too often! The Napa Gold in our ol 2.4L Malibu has 57k and two years on it now. I've checked it a few times and "shook" the bugs out of it. But compared to some I've seen on here, the eyeball test says it's about halfway loaded. (But with no gauge I'm only guessing.)
It's a good sized filter for that size engine (3.1L uses same one, and it seems similar in size to some larger [double displacement] engined vehicles I've worked on). But 100k? I'm thinking it's possible. Perhaps instead of a filer change this spring, I'll invest in a gauge instead.
It's a good sized filter for that size engine (3.1L uses same one, and it seems similar in size to some larger [double displacement] engined vehicles I've worked on). But 100k? I'm thinking it's possible. Perhaps instead of a filer change this spring, I'll invest in a gauge instead.
Originally Posted By: Virtuoso
Perhaps instead of a filer change this spring, I'll invest in a gauge instead.
This is what I was thinking about. I used to change once a year but haven't for almost 2 years now. That will pretty much pay for the Filter Minders.
Perhaps instead of a filer change this spring, I'll invest in a gauge instead.
This is what I was thinking about. I used to change once a year but haven't for almost 2 years now. That will pretty much pay for the Filter Minders.
Originally Posted By: johnachak
Originally Posted By: toneydoc
If it appears clean, I would put it back in and use it. Just keep checking it periodically. Have a beer instead of a filter.
+1
I agree, with modern engines that have an air flow sensor the fuel economy is not effected by a dirty air filter. There is no real set service interval for an air filter and because they are much more efficient when dirty it is not good to change them too often.
A lot of folks cut corners by buying cheap air filters because they don't understand just how important an air filter is and just how harmful Silicon contamination of engine oil is.
I just check my air filter every 10K km OCI and it seems good for about 50K km, although I live in an area where the air and roads are clean.
Originally Posted By: toneydoc
If it appears clean, I would put it back in and use it. Just keep checking it periodically. Have a beer instead of a filter.
+1
I agree, with modern engines that have an air flow sensor the fuel economy is not effected by a dirty air filter. There is no real set service interval for an air filter and because they are much more efficient when dirty it is not good to change them too often.
A lot of folks cut corners by buying cheap air filters because they don't understand just how important an air filter is and just how harmful Silicon contamination of engine oil is.
I just check my air filter every 10K km OCI and it seems good for about 50K km, although I live in an area where the air and roads are clean.
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My Mazda 3 just recently turned over 100k and it's on a second air filter. I did install a filter minder, but it hasn't moved one bit. I did inspect the filer last year and everything looked fine and the intake tract was clean on the filtered side. The current filter must have close to 60k on it.
I have an OEM air filter sitting on the shelf right now and will change it next spring despite no shown restriction, as the seals may be getting dry.
Most people truly are changing them too often.
I have an OEM air filter sitting on the shelf right now and will change it next spring despite no shown restriction, as the seals may be getting dry.
Most people truly are changing them too often.
So I'm bringing this up from the dead...
At what amout of restriction does someone change the filter? I'm thinking my 1.7L civic doesn't need to show as much restriction before it's time to change the filter as a 6.0L Chevrolet truck. So, where should I draw the line on my civic?
At what amout of restriction does someone change the filter? I'm thinking my 1.7L civic doesn't need to show as much restriction before it's time to change the filter as a 6.0L Chevrolet truck. So, where should I draw the line on my civic?
I am very glad to have found this thread. Jim, I had never heard that you can change filters too often. For the simple economics, I changed mine with the oil every 5k. Over the OCI, I only needed the fuel milage to buy me 2-3 gallons of gas to make it worth my while. I'm going to let it ride another 5k and keep reading...
Old habits die hard
First post to BITOG, BTW. Been stalking for research over the years and just jumped in. Cheers and Aloha! /John-TK
Old habits die hard
First post to BITOG, BTW. Been stalking for research over the years and just jumped in. Cheers and Aloha! /John-TK
Mitsu: Restriction is restriction. Engine size is not a part of the consideration. They are all affected in the same way at largely the same amounts of restriction.
Remember, your highest restriction comes at WOT - Wide Open Throttle. Right after installing the gauge do a little "Italian Tuneup" (all due respect to Luigi) and let the engine rev to it max rpm in one of the middle gears... often second or third. Check the gauge. That it your clean filter restriction. Periodically reset the gauge and do it again until your max restriction is achieved. It will start slow and you won't see much movement for a long time but when you reach 75-80 % of max restriction, you can expect it to increase rapidly, so check a little more often at that point.
How much restriction?
Gassers: 15-20 inches at WOT
Diesels: 20-25 inches at WOT (Light truck and many others, though some HD diesels are rated for 30 inches).
Note: While gassers do not gain any fuel economy by keeping restriction low, some diesels do. This applies mostly to old school mechanical diesels, which are unthrottled, where the injection is calibrated to a certain amount of air. The injection system will inject the same amount of fuel whether there is enough air or not. There is evidence that these older diesels will deliver slightly better fuel economy if you keep 20 inches as the max restriction. Apparently the difference is slight but noticable.
Torqueking: Glad this was the thread that inspired your first post
Remember, your highest restriction comes at WOT - Wide Open Throttle. Right after installing the gauge do a little "Italian Tuneup" (all due respect to Luigi) and let the engine rev to it max rpm in one of the middle gears... often second or third. Check the gauge. That it your clean filter restriction. Periodically reset the gauge and do it again until your max restriction is achieved. It will start slow and you won't see much movement for a long time but when you reach 75-80 % of max restriction, you can expect it to increase rapidly, so check a little more often at that point.
How much restriction?
Gassers: 15-20 inches at WOT
Diesels: 20-25 inches at WOT (Light truck and many others, though some HD diesels are rated for 30 inches).
Note: While gassers do not gain any fuel economy by keeping restriction low, some diesels do. This applies mostly to old school mechanical diesels, which are unthrottled, where the injection is calibrated to a certain amount of air. The injection system will inject the same amount of fuel whether there is enough air or not. There is evidence that these older diesels will deliver slightly better fuel economy if you keep 20 inches as the max restriction. Apparently the difference is slight but noticable.
Torqueking: Glad this was the thread that inspired your first post
Originally Posted By: TorqueKing
I am very glad to have found this thread. Jim, I had never heard that you can change filters too often. For the simple economics, I changed mine with the oil every 5k.
Remember, though, that was very tempting with some of the older vehicles. Filters weren't as well protected as they are today, they'd get dirty with blowby, grass, straw, bugs, grease, and so forth. A filter, under the wrong conditions, could look pretty shot back in the day with rather low mileage.
On my G, the air filters have a 24,000 km interval. They still look brand new when I take them out.
I am very glad to have found this thread. Jim, I had never heard that you can change filters too often. For the simple economics, I changed mine with the oil every 5k.
Remember, though, that was very tempting with some of the older vehicles. Filters weren't as well protected as they are today, they'd get dirty with blowby, grass, straw, bugs, grease, and so forth. A filter, under the wrong conditions, could look pretty shot back in the day with rather low mileage.
On my G, the air filters have a 24,000 km interval. They still look brand new when I take them out.
I have over 60k miles on the filter on my Honda S2000 and the restriction is still under 10"(of H2O). We just got back from a 11 state, 6300 mile drive and I don't know how many miles I'll get on the filter before I have to change it. I might have to change it out because of time(years) and not mileage.
ROD
ROD
Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: TorqueKing
I am very glad to have found this thread. Jim, I had never heard that you can change filters too often. For the simple economics, I changed mine with the oil every 5k.
Remember, though, that was very tempting with some of the older vehicles. Filters weren't as well protected as they are today, they'd get dirty with blowby, grass, straw, bugs, grease, and so forth. A filter, under the wrong conditions, could look pretty shot back in the day with rather low mileage.
On my G, the air filters have a 24,000 km interval. They still look brand new when I take them out.
That, and there was another reason filter replacement was more frequent then.
V8 engines with a carb or TBI would have a 14x3 round filter, but the tube(s) that directs air into the air cleaner would be about 10%-30% the size, making most of the filter useless. Other Carb and TBI air cleaners weren't all that great either.
Most multi-port injection engines would have a much better air cleaner design.
Originally Posted By: TorqueKing
I am very glad to have found this thread. Jim, I had never heard that you can change filters too often. For the simple economics, I changed mine with the oil every 5k.
Remember, though, that was very tempting with some of the older vehicles. Filters weren't as well protected as they are today, they'd get dirty with blowby, grass, straw, bugs, grease, and so forth. A filter, under the wrong conditions, could look pretty shot back in the day with rather low mileage.
On my G, the air filters have a 24,000 km interval. They still look brand new when I take them out.
That, and there was another reason filter replacement was more frequent then.
V8 engines with a carb or TBI would have a 14x3 round filter, but the tube(s) that directs air into the air cleaner would be about 10%-30% the size, making most of the filter useless. Other Carb and TBI air cleaners weren't all that great either.
Most multi-port injection engines would have a much better air cleaner design.
That, too. On the propane conversion taxis, the inlet tube was history, but the entire air filter was exposed to the underhood elements. Things have come a long way.
Arnt you supposed to wait till you can see only a little light comeingthrough filter, then change them? the dirtier a filter gets, the mroe efficient at trapping partcles it is. It depends on how dusty or clean the air is. In other words..if the filter still looks ok or white it still usable. If its brown black, its time to change them. Isnt that how its supposed to be? Not at intervals?
Originally Posted By: ziggy
Arnt you supposed to wait till you can see only a little light comeingthrough filter, then change them? the dirtier a filter gets, the mroe efficient at trapping partcles it is. It depends on how dusty or clean the air is. In other words..if the filter still looks ok or white it still usable. If its brown black, its time to change them. Isnt that how its supposed to be? Not at intervals?
Short answer, NO
You can not tell how "good" or "bad" a filter is by looking at it. That is where the air filter restriction gauge comes into play. It tells you when to change the filter out. I've seen air filters that looked good(almost new) but have very high restriction because of the type of dust that the vehicle drove in.
ROD
Arnt you supposed to wait till you can see only a little light comeingthrough filter, then change them? the dirtier a filter gets, the mroe efficient at trapping partcles it is. It depends on how dusty or clean the air is. In other words..if the filter still looks ok or white it still usable. If its brown black, its time to change them. Isnt that how its supposed to be? Not at intervals?
Short answer, NO
You can not tell how "good" or "bad" a filter is by looking at it. That is where the air filter restriction gauge comes into play. It tells you when to change the filter out. I've seen air filters that looked good(almost new) but have very high restriction because of the type of dust that the vehicle drove in.
ROD
I see! Interesting! So regardless, it would be ok, ior wise, at 12-15,000 miles to change them? or 30,000 miles? Usually its 12,000 miles, auto and car books.
Without a air filter restriction gauge, you'r just guessing. Change it to soon and let more dirt into the engine change it to late and well, not much will happen on a modern car. Just get a air filter restriction gauge and know when to change it out.
ROD
ROD
My 2003 Silverado 4.8 L uses the same large filter as a 6.0 engine. The capacity of this filter is likely intended for possible higher RPM duty for hard work such as towing. It appears to be beyond the needs of my smaller engine and the light duty use it sees. The filter change interval is I think 30K miles, which may not happen until next year. At the current rate of use, my two spare filters should last me until 2035.
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