Its not at all dusty where I live and I do mostly low throttle driving...resulting in over 134,000km or 83,750mi in almost 4 years. I might splurge and get a filter this fall...maybe.
What is your air filter change interval?
- Thread starter Doog
- Start date
- Status
Originally Posted By: synthetic_crazy
Once a year, which comes out to about 10-11k miles. It is cheap insurance for your car.
Keep in mind that a dirty filter will filter air better than a clean one. So unless it is to the point of causing a restriction, the dirty filter is actually better "insurance". And it saves you money.
Once a year, which comes out to about 10-11k miles. It is cheap insurance for your car.
Keep in mind that a dirty filter will filter air better than a clean one. So unless it is to the point of causing a restriction, the dirty filter is actually better "insurance". And it saves you money.
I learned my lesson with changing it every 12k because mine weren't even beginning to get dirty and realized it was a big waste of money and will only be changing them every 50k from now on no matter what unless I see a big drop in gas mileage.
Originally Posted By: TLY
Keep in mind that a dirty filter will filter air better than a clean one. So unless it is to the point of causing a restriction, the dirty filter is actually better "insurance". And it saves you money.
And - with EFI at least - once it does get to be a restriction it starts to save you even more money with increased gas mileage.
Keep in mind that a dirty filter will filter air better than a clean one. So unless it is to the point of causing a restriction, the dirty filter is actually better "insurance". And it saves you money.
And - with EFI at least - once it does get to be a restriction it starts to save you even more money with increased gas mileage.
Kestas
Staff member
Originally Posted By: synthetic_crazy
Once a year, which comes out to about 10-11k miles. It is cheap insurance for your car.
A person can go broke following all the 'cheap insurance' advice on this board, especially if their family has many vehicles. I prefer the informed decisions one can make participating on this board. A person needs to maintain a balance between spending and prudent maintenance.
Once a year, which comes out to about 10-11k miles. It is cheap insurance for your car.
A person can go broke following all the 'cheap insurance' advice on this board, especially if their family has many vehicles. I prefer the informed decisions one can make participating on this board. A person needs to maintain a balance between spending and prudent maintenance.
Ya I was a once a year guy too. After reading some of Jim's posts about restriction gauges, I realized that was over board. I looked at gauges, expensive around here, and the manuals for my cars, which recommends 80000 km. That will be 3-4 years for me probably and what I'll do if I don't get gauges for them.
The manufactures recommendations seem to be very good for those who don't drive in sand storms and such. My vehicles state 30,000 miles or xx years. The filters come out dirty but, reasonable at replacement time. Filters get more efficient so changing them extra early is not the good way to go even though some filter makers would love to see us change every 6 K miles.
Here is the Wix gauge I use and its cheap at $13.95
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WIX-24801/
ROD
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WIX-24801/
ROD
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
1yr regardless of miles.
+1
1yr regardless of miles.
+1
Once a year for me. Their only around 10 bucks, cheap insurance.
Originally Posted By: MuzzleFlash40
Once a year for me. Their only around 10 bucks, cheap insurance.
Originally Posted By: nleksan
At the risk of repeating myself:
Given that an air filter filters better as it loads up a bit, that fuel economy isn't effected with a dirty filter, that there is at least a 20-40 percent overage in flow capacity in the average filter to account for dirt loading, please explain how changing more often than necessary is beneficial? Except to the filter manufacturer and the retail outfit where you bought it, of course. How is it "cheap insurance?"
Before you attempt to answer, please read all the posts above. If your answer boils down to, "Because it makes me feel good," 'nuff said and fair 'nuff. It's your money. They are your cars to maintain as you choose.
I'm just trying to educate you enough to understand the difference between "need" and "want." If you want to argue the need part, I'm interested to hear your arguments.
Once a year for me. Their only around 10 bucks, cheap insurance.
Originally Posted By: nleksan
At the risk of repeating myself:
Given that an air filter filters better as it loads up a bit, that fuel economy isn't effected with a dirty filter, that there is at least a 20-40 percent overage in flow capacity in the average filter to account for dirt loading, please explain how changing more often than necessary is beneficial? Except to the filter manufacturer and the retail outfit where you bought it, of course. How is it "cheap insurance?"
Before you attempt to answer, please read all the posts above. If your answer boils down to, "Because it makes me feel good," 'nuff said and fair 'nuff. It's your money. They are your cars to maintain as you choose.
I'm just trying to educate you enough to understand the difference between "need" and "want." If you want to argue the need part, I'm interested to hear your arguments.
Well not to be argumentative, but by your logic of "educating me" how would your average person know when the filter needed to be replaced? Just wait until it's completely black? Because i'm not willing to put it under a microscope to see if every hole in the filter is plugged to then decide it is time to replace. lol
Is a year to soon for most people to change the filter? Yes it is. But, every year I change the air filter and fuel filter. Every other year I change the PCV valve. I also change the plugs between 50-60k. I do a trans pan drop and filter change every year as well. Last but not least I do a coolant flush every other year as well. These things might be over doing it but, it does make me feel good to it. I've always over done stuff on my cars.
Is a year to soon for most people to change the filter? Yes it is. But, every year I change the air filter and fuel filter. Every other year I change the PCV valve. I also change the plugs between 50-60k. I do a trans pan drop and filter change every year as well. Last but not least I do a coolant flush every other year as well. These things might be over doing it but, it does make me feel good to it. I've always over done stuff on my cars.
Last edited:
Well, the average person could know that by following the normal interval, unless you live in a really dusty, dirty area, you would be getting a modicum of value from the filter using some objective criteria. A loss of power prior to that would be another. While looks can be deceiving, something that looks ready to plant veggies could be another way to tell.
In any case, you explained yourself (not that you really had to). You want to do it. No argument from me on that level.
In any case, you explained yourself (not that you really had to). You want to do it. No argument from me on that level.
Originally Posted By: MuzzleFlash40
Well not to be argumentative, but by your logic of "educating me" how would your average person know when the filter needed to be replaced? Just wait until it's completely black? Because i'm not willing to put it under a microscope to see if every hole in the filter is plugged to then decide it is time to replace. lol
Is a year to soon for most people to change the filter? Yes it is. But, every year I change the air filter and fuel filter. Every other year I change the PCV valve. I also change the plugs between 50-60k. I do a trans pan drop and filter change every year as well. Last but not least I do a coolant flush every other year as well. These things might be over doing it but, it does make me feel good to it. I've always over done stuff on my cars.
You could get one of these
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WIX-24801/
or you can keep good records of your gas mileage and when it drops 8% to 10% over 3 or 4 tanks put a new air filter on.
I like the gauge myself.
ROD
Well not to be argumentative, but by your logic of "educating me" how would your average person know when the filter needed to be replaced? Just wait until it's completely black? Because i'm not willing to put it under a microscope to see if every hole in the filter is plugged to then decide it is time to replace. lol
Is a year to soon for most people to change the filter? Yes it is. But, every year I change the air filter and fuel filter. Every other year I change the PCV valve. I also change the plugs between 50-60k. I do a trans pan drop and filter change every year as well. Last but not least I do a coolant flush every other year as well. These things might be over doing it but, it does make me feel good to it. I've always over done stuff on my cars.
You could get one of these
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WIX-24801/
or you can keep good records of your gas mileage and when it drops 8% to 10% over 3 or 4 tanks put a new air filter on.
I like the gauge myself.
ROD
10k carquest air filter (wix)
Originally Posted By: rrounds
or you can keep good records of your gas mileage and when it drops 8% to 10% over 3 or 4 tanks put a new air filter on.
I like the gauge myself.
ROD
Rod- Have you read this: Air Fitlers & Fuel Economy
Gas mileage won't drop that much. On a modern EFI engine, it only loses a couple of percent of mpg even when it doesn't have enough air to do much more than idle.
or you can keep good records of your gas mileage and when it drops 8% to 10% over 3 or 4 tanks put a new air filter on.
I like the gauge myself.
ROD
Rod- Have you read this: Air Fitlers & Fuel Economy
Gas mileage won't drop that much. On a modern EFI engine, it only loses a couple of percent of mpg even when it doesn't have enough air to do much more than idle.
Yes, I've read that paper. On my S2000 my gas mileage does drop after I get to about 15" to 20" of water. If all I did was cruise down a flat highway I know I could run more in. of water but I drive my car in the mountains(up to 10k ft. and up to 28% grades) and that does make my little 4 cyl.(2.2L) work hard and I'm up in the rpm's(7500+) so it does tax my air filter. When I put the air filter gauge on my S I found that I have 8 in. of water restriction even with a new air filter but if I took the lid off of the air filter housing(all the air still had to go through the air filter) I got none. So I ran a 3" hose off of the end of the air filter housing down to the fender well and that took care of the restriction from(what I think) is the stock opening that is to small right from the factory.
Here are some pic's on where I put the filter gauge
http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z38/rodrounds/Honda Intake/
ROD
Here are some pic's on where I put the filter gauge
http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z38/rodrounds/Honda Intake/
ROD
Interesting findings rrounds. So by doing this you have determined that the filter does have some restriction, but very little compared to the pre filter box plumbing in your model of car. By completing the additional intake pipe did you notice any increase in power when WOT compared to before? Also, what size is your throttle body?
Last edited:
- Status
Similar threads
