What is everyones air filter change interval?

[Carnoobie]

So i wont bother changing my air filter right now, maybe wait another 6 months if I can. I forgot who was the one who told me every 6 months it should be replaced or blown out. But blowing it out with a shop air compressor is bad can ruin it.

I wouldnt mind replacing it every 6 months if it wasnt $30 for it!
What a rip off.

 

[Eddie]

My Mazda owners manual states every 30 months or 30K miles so that is what I do. If it looked really bad at the first change I would shorten the time. I use to blow my filters out with compressed air but, this car is such a nuisance that I don't bother. Changing very early is a waste of time and dollars as filters get better with age. Ed

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: abycat
My nissan say to inspect every 6000km or 3 months and replace every24000km or 12 months. The service manual actually says to blow it out with air. Kinda strange.


Very strange, I agree. The G's FSM and OM say 24,000 km, by distance only, specifically warning it is not necessary to use any time based interval for air filter changes. No inspections are listed, other than the warning that early changes might be necessary under very dusty conditions, of course.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: chiks
less air...less fuel...better mileage.....har har

Not when you work with carbs that are not controlled by O2 sensors.

The increased pressure drop pulls more fuel from the carb jets which leads to a richer air fuel mixture.

 

[mva]

Originally Posted By: Carnoobie

Afterall a dirtier filter actually filters better than a brand new one.


+1

Changing air filters too often is actually counter productive and results in more dirt particles getting into the engine. Unless you are in a very dusty area 2 years should be fine.

 

[hattaresguy]

Every 30k-50k, and I drive my truck on dusty job sites just about every day.

 

[supton]

40k. I think, I might have missed one... But on my turbo car, I wouldn't notice for 99% of my driving. The turbo would work just a bit harder.

Heck, at a recent clutch job the airbox had to come out. It was packed full of acorns! I never noticed a power loss. Maybe I just drive hard enough or something.

 

[crinkles]

40,000 or 4 years, per toyota

 

[xBa380]

I have a cold-air intake with an AEM dry-flow filter on the end of it. I remove and clean it every other year or so, around 25-30K miles.

 

[bigmike]

This has been discussed here:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2547621#Post2547621

 

[Jim Spahr]

Does anyone here tap out their pleated paper filter when inspecting it? Does anyone vacuum out the pleats in a paper filter and reuse it? I do. I still change the paper 20k to 30k as cheap insurance against engine wear. I know there is a bias here against the Fram oil filters. How about the Fram paper air filters? Or is it just the oil filters that are a problem. I see in the Purolator oil filter ads on TV they are hitting the Fram oil filters hard for their use of cardboard end caps. Good ads.

 

[George7941]

The air filter element on my truck has been in for 5 years/80k kms and the restriction gauge still shows no restriction. I will replace the element in a couple of years. I plan on keeping my truck for 15 years, so that will make it a total of 2 air filter elements (one OE and one store-bought replacement) over the entire life of the truck.

I never open the air box since that creates the risk of dirt falling in. It is best to leave the air box alone.

 

[Samilcar]

Originally Posted By: Jim Spahr
I know there is a bias here against the Fram oil filters. How about the Fram paper air filters?


Fram air filters are generally still well regarded (I use them in some applications). They have very compliant sealing surfaces which guard against air intrusion around the filter, even in slightly ill fitting air boxes.

 

[wander2039]

No interval for us just depends on mileage/time. This thread reminded me to check the Focus log. Haven't been changed since since 03/08 and 66k.. now at 104k. It's not to terribly dirty most likely I've cleaned it a few times. Pick up a new one this week I guess. Sad I remember when I did alot of work on the Focus in 08 when my sister was living with us and still alive.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Jim Spahr
Does anyone here tap out their pleated paper filter when inspecting it? Does anyone vacuum out the pleats in a paper filter and reuse it?


I don't bother with passenger vehicles. In farming days, I did. It was pretty much a daily occurrence on some equipment at harvest time. Some of the equipment had a foam pre-filter, which made life much easier.

 

[ted s]

WHERE did u ever see a 6 month change interval?????????????

 

[Volvohead]

If it's straight paper, 5 yrs or 30k miles in this man's garage. That's for the newer drop-in styles. The old circular element ones ('60s to late '80s) were lucky to go two years.

The paper ones DO degrade over time, regardless of mileage. Still better than the ones we had to spray with oil years ago.