Air filter change? When?

[marinedad]

My 2004 PSD 6.0 has 46k miles. The filter minder has not moved indicating the need to change the air filter. Should i change it anyway at 50k or wait till the idiot minder tells me it is time. Thanks for any advice. Just joined the site. I am amazed and thrilled i have found a place to learn much more about my first diesel truck. Thanks again., Marine dad.

[ZIsbell]

Check out this post: http://forums.thedieselstop.com/foru...17#Post1356417


Zack

[MT765]

First off, welcome to the site. I take it you are probably not in really dusty conditions. In this case, these stock filters will last a long time. You can take it out and see what it looks like. When they are dirty they get pretty heavy and you should be able to tell. They are a bear to change the first time and they're also rather pricey so the longer you can go the better. Or you can be on the safe side and change it now.

[Texrob1]

Welcome to the site Marinedad! As far as the filter minder goes,it supposedly works according to everything I have read on the subject,once it starts to move though, the filter is getting pretty clogged,If I am not mistaken Ford recommends changing it at 30K,but it will all depend on driving conditions (lots of dirt roads etc)

[69cj428]

I agree with Texrob. Some people here and at FTE have claimed 80,000 miles before the filter minder indicated that it was time to change the filter. The techs on both sites claim that the gauge does work and that the filter can hold as much as 3 pounds of dirt before being changed.

[marinedad]

I drive some dusty roads here in texas. I will remove the filter and check it just to be sure. Thanks again for the help.

[Albin]

Welcome to the site.

Couple suggestions: Take a look at everyone's reply, especially the bottom of their posts, then take a look at yours. Yep, see if you can add your vehicle so us old farts don't have to relearn how to use this mouse doo-hickey-thingie finding out what vehicle you have that you're talking about.

Good question, btw. I've got the '06 6.0 with 24.5K and I'm starting to wonder when I need to change mine out. I've also heard that it's a) a pain to change and b) expensive. However, my understanding is that a "dusted" engine is even more expensive. The other good news is that the air filter on the 6.0 is supposed to be the cat's meow, so we have the best, at least according to some of the knowledgable techs here; good.

Thanks,

Al

[krieghoff]

Filter minders work. If you question yours, just push the button to reset it. It will go back to the amount of restriction it detects when you run the engine and you should know it's doing it's job. We have been using them in the heavy truck industry for more years than I can count and with great success.

If you do decide to R&R the filter, I might suggest getting a new one to put in because you are not gonna want to tackle that job a second time!! Just make certain it's in correctly to save dusting an engine.

[PowerStrokeHD]

Ford does not specify a exact mileage for when to replace the air filter. It only states that the filter minder should be checked at each oil change and to replace the filter when necessary.

Taking out the filter and just looking at it is inaccurate way to determine if a filter needs to be replaced. This is due to the way the filter is constructed. Although weighing a new filter vs. a used filter may be a good comparison.

Anyway, I can tell you that the filter minder does work and the OE filters do last a long time. My filter currently has 85K on it and will need to be replaced soon, the minder did not even start moving till around 80K.

[FlyingColors]

Dear DieselStrokers,

When I bought my 2005 F-350 6.0L, I ordered filters for the first 30,000 miles from FleetFilter.com. I will hit the 30,000 mile mark soon and am preparing to replace the air filter.

When I opened the box, I found that the NAPA filter from FleetFilter has a yellow paper element, rather than the blue filter media that I have read about here on TheDieselStop.

Should I discard the $32 air filter that I bought in 2005 and buy a new one with the blue filter media? FleetFilter products seemed to be a recommended and affordable option at the time. Thanks!

[MDub707]

My filter minder worked on mine and I replaced my OE filter at about 42k miles. I dont drive in dusty conditions. I've since upgraded to an AFE stage 1, since the filter is reuseable. I went with the proguard 7 dry filter. I have since done the zoodad mod as well.

[FMTRVT]

I had replaced my OE with another blue at 30k. I was at work and we had a very accurate scale so we could measure rotor wear by weight. There wasn't any appreciable difference in weight between the new and old filter, but I put the new one in. Now at 122k, my filter monitor hasn't moved. I still have the OE one to put back in whenever it's "replacement" gets too dirty. In my environment, the OE filter was probably good for the life of the vehicle.

[lincster]

I had my first one changed at the dealer at 30k miles. They gave me my old one and I weighed it, no difference between old and new. I then cut it apart, hardly any dirt inside. I drive to the sand dunes all the time and off road. I will leave the new one in there for at least 50k miles this time and watch the filter minder.

[OT]

MD..if your a DIY 6.0L Power Stroke Air Filter Removal May appear intimidating, but not really. Good luck!

FColor..IIRC..only diff. between blue/white powercore filter media is..blue suppose to resist water better. But, both can freeze up under certain/harsh conditions. White is ok.

As mentined..weight..changed my new oem around 18K. Wt. diff. new/old "1/2 oz". I put bug screen behind all of front grille + stops those big suckers going in intake. I put new one in, but kept old for spare when I realized the significance of this type filter. At the time..noticed no running diff. between old/new.

[69cj]

One word of caution. do not try to blow out or bang out the dirt from your filter and then put it back in. If you dislodge some dirt and it gets on the wrong side of the filter you can dust your turbo. All of a sudden that expensive filter is pretty cheap.