Originally Posted By: AlanCanada
I had no idea that changing a pleated paper filter early could harm your engine. I also learned that pleated paper filters permit more dirt into your engine when they are new, therefore changing your filter before it needs changing is actually going to allow more dirt into your engine.
We have discussed here before that an air filter gets more efficient as it gets "plugged" up. I don't understand why all filters don't have the cheap plastic restriction gauges on them.
Here, from another thread:
http://www.mombu.com/ford/engine/t-2007-ford-focus-air-filter-schedule-2864515.html
""The SAE paper by Marty Barris (SAE Technical Paper No. 952557 titled:'Total FiltrationTM: The Influence of Filter Selection on Engine Wear,Emissions and Performance' ) offers two important conclusions:
"The level of ambient dust concentration can easily overwhelm other factors in terms of influence on engine wear. It is therefore important to match the air intake filtration system design to the anticipated ambient exposure. And here's an interesting one-:
"Too frequent air filter change intervals can double engine wear rate,especially if changed within the first 30% of the air filter's life.
"The practice of removing an air filter element to blow it clean is plain stupid. This malpractice, which can lead to engine wear rates being trebled, still occurs on the false economy basis of trying to extend the service life of the air filter element. A well meaning but badly trained technician thinks he is being thorough in servicing the air filter, or replacing it prior to reaching the optimum life of the
element. This happens in workshops without supervisors even being aware of it."
I CAN'T BELIEVE WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME ON OIL FILTERS HERE, AND SO LITTLE ON AIR FILTERS.