When are you guys changing your air filter?

[CHARRC]

I have been doing my fuel filters every 15k miles, oil and filter every 5k miles. Truck is a toy and doesn't tow or work in dusty conditions. (most of the time) When are you guys changing the air filter? That thing is huge! My truck is an 05 bought last year with 10k on the clock. (currently has 20k miles) The truck saw its fair share of dirt roads in VT before I bought it. Should I change the filter? I haven't torn it apart not that you can really "see" how dirty the filter is anyway. Thanks for all your help!

[601HP]

I guess that depends on your driving environment. I changed mine with 15,000 miles on it, and felt like I did it too soon. The original looked nearly as clean as the new one I put in.

My next change will be somewhere between 20,000 and 25,000 miles.

David

[chadjones99]

i change mine when it gets dirty

[AllOutFirefighter13]

<span style="color: blue"> The manual says that one should do it every 30K miles. I currently have just over 75K on the truck, and I've changed mine at 30K and 60K miles, as required. On the back of the filter housing, there is a Filter-minder gauge, but I don't go by that. There is also a light on the dash that will illuminate, but I have only heard of maybe one or two instances of it coming on.

Some people go by the book and others go by the Filter-minder, so it's really up to you. I have heard that this filter (made by Donaldson) can hold quite a bit of dirt, but the main goal is to keep it out of the engine.

It would be nice if someone had data showing that the Filter-minder worked as it was designed to and that we could go by that...IMHO it would maximize the filter change intervals and potentially save money for the owner in the long run.

Later, </span>

[torino73]

I changed my first at 15K. MISTAKE! They're expensive, and if it is the original blue-media filter, I have heard of intervals as high as 60K. Remember- a dirty filter will not allow dirt to pass through it any easier. It will actually filter better, but will restrict air flow eventually. The computer will compensate for this to a point, but even that convenience will go away over time. Stuff will begin to soot up, causing you inconvenience more than anything else. If your filter has been changed and it is the white -media filter, I wouldn't go much past 30K with it. Most folks I have seen on this site use the filter minder as a guide. I never bought into that myself, but there are many knowlegable folks that are doing it that way.

[Black05]

I've changed mine every 35K miles. I drive in dusty dirt road conditions every weekend. At each change, the filter minder had not moved (even though it works)and I could have waited longer. My personal take is that 35k in dusty conditions is long enough, and I would rather err on the side of cleanliness!

[PowerStrokeHD]

I have seen a number of people talk about it, but I have never seen a 6.0L manual that states you should change the filter every "X" number of miles. Every manual I have seen says you should check the filter minder at every oil change interval and to replace the filter as necessary.

As far as taking it apart to "see" if it is dirty, well that is impossible by the design of the filter unless you want to get out a knife and literally start cutting it apart. The only real way to tell if the filter is dirty would be the filter minder or to do a flow test on the filter.

With all that said, I can assure you that the average person will get at least 60K - 80K out of the filter. Myself, I currently have over 97K on my filter. It will need replacement soon though.

All I can say is trust your filter minder, they do work. Here is a explanation on how the filter minder works and why it never seems to move.

http://www.filterminder.com/hfmw_air.asp

[kyjeeper]

your truck sounds like my 2006. I can tell you if you get this filter out when you put it back in make sure rubber is around the inlet tube, instead of in front of inlet blocking air. I had a ford dealer's shop do mine after motor change. Also if you take filter off I took clips all the way off because they get knock off while you are fighting this thing and they are really hard to find again.

[Going_Going_Gone]

I had new filters installed at 25,000 miles and again at 60,000 miles. This latest time, I weighed the new filter and the used one was less than a quarter pound heavier. I probably could have safely gone another 15,000 miles, but it is such a pain to install that I left the new one on. I think that I read somewhere that the factory filter will hold over 2 pounds of dirt.

[Lightningfast01]

I have 65K plus on mine. I was thinking it was a 50-75K filter depending on your environment. The minder will do its job if you get a real clog. My truck still pulls 30 lbs of boost and burns clean and clear so I figure it is getting enough air. At 80 bucks a pop I am getting all the miles I can.

[Supercrew632]

Did mine at 10k, but had driven in a sandstorm and got worried----Supercrew632

[PowerStrokeHD]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Going_Going_Gone</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think that I read somewhere that the factory filter will hold over 2 pounds of dirt. </div></div>

It will hold 1300 grams or just shy of 3 lbs.

[JIM_C]

I changed mine at 40k and that was way too soon.

[wawrd1]

37500 on mine and no sign of restriction, still running the factory blue media

[BLEnt]

Check Mine at 15K. Air hose on white paper. Very litte and again at 30K. Same time just a little more.

As to coming out. Take out in one piece, by the Maps first big clamp, and it's know big deal. Re move return water hose and presser gauge on the back. Lift up for pins on the bottom. Comes right out. 3 min tops.

As fast has many after market. A better filter then most. Cheaper at 59.00 every 60k vs 400 after market box and filter. Plus warranty guys love it. Never any dirt in turbo pipe intake, and this is a winner on 6.0L. Zoodoo open open up in the grill for more flow.