fishbone Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 We're talking stock intake. I know it varies very much based on driving style, conditions, paved vs gravel/dusty road, etc. But for the life of me this one particular item ... I can never tell when it's dirty and needs replacement or I'm overdoing it. My shop explained it to me pretty simple. Grab a flashlight and shine it through the filter. If you can easily see the light, it's good to go. If not, swap it. Yesterday was a particularly sunny day so I did just that, I took out my air filter and looked through it and a clean one for comparison by holding them up to the sun. The clean one obviously let a lot of light through, the other one none whatsoever. There was hardly debris stuck in it but it was a dark gray, charcoal-looking almost. By flashing light through it, I could only see light at the bend points, nowhere else. I put 8 thousand miles on it, replaced it last on October of 2007. I do live out in the country so every now and then I get stuck behind another car in a cloud of dust. I'll watch my mpg average and see if it improves. Thoughts? How much do you guys go on one air filter and what kind of conditions do you drive in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesA Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 About every 15,000 miles, which works out to once a year for me. I drive in suburban and rural areas with fairly clean air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fonts Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Or you could get a drop in panel filter like the AVO, Perrin or K&N. Clean and oil whenever necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesuby Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 About every 15,000 miles, which works out to once a year for me. I drive in suburban and rural areas with fairly clean air. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waxiboy Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 I clean my Blitz every oil change Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 7500 miles. UOA have shown 15k miles is bit too long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbone Posted March 21, 2008 Author Share Posted March 21, 2008 UOA = oil analysis I am assuming? So about 8k miles would be on the safe side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pillboy Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 For the freakin AIR filter!?!? It is still ugly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbone Posted March 22, 2008 Author Share Posted March 22, 2008 Yes, air filters influence oil quality. Who'd'a thunk it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franklin Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 Thats how the silica gets in your engine. Like having sandpaper in your motor. BTW does anyone have any data about paper air filters compaired to fabric and oil / dry fabric filters as to silica getting in your engine. The only thing the non- paper filters seem to talk about is airflow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 edmundu had good UOA results with his AVO intake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pillboy Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 Yes, air filters influence oil quality. Who'd'a thunk it I am sure they do, but I am not changing my air filter that often. It is still ugly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbone Posted March 23, 2008 Author Share Posted March 23, 2008 It doesn't seem to be often for my situation. It was pretty clogged up and as I said, I live in an unpaved road area. My average mpg has also started to climb slightly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerMan Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 Once a year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qikslvr Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 Fishbone, I change the air filters in my cars that us the stock style panel filter in the spring and in the fall. That way you clear out all the salt, sand and grime from winter driving in the late spring after they sweep the roads off. And since you commute down our dusty backroads all summer long; you will have a clean filter for the wet season when you change it out in the late fall. BTW we still need to get together and go for a ride or actually schedule a local meet sometime this year!! Let's kick this pig! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbone Posted March 26, 2008 Author Share Posted March 26, 2008 Dude, I'd be up for that, you just let me know when and where I haven't been following Nebraska-Subaru.com to be honest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qikslvr Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 I only check that site about once a month too. Let me figure out what my schedule is and we will make a plan to get together. Let's kick this pig! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outahere Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Once a year, or every 7500 miles, whichever comes first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spect2k Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Isn't that a little overkill? 7500 miles? Do you find that necessary? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Fan Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I know this has been posted before, but it is always worth another read http://home.stny.rr.com/jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Condor Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Replace it whenever it looks dirty...it's easy enough to check. PS - 7,500 is overkill in my opinion... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbone Posted April 19, 2008 Author Share Posted April 19, 2008 Well, I just got my first oil analysis back done by Terry at Dyson. He recommended that for my application I should try to change my air filter as low as every 5000 miles since there's been some contaminants in the oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franklin Posted April 19, 2008 Share Posted April 19, 2008 ^^ I went with the washable non oiled AVO. I plan on washing when ever I do an oil change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f1anatic Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 For the urban environment of Chicago I find it that every oil change (3000 miles) may be a tad too early but every other oil change may be a tad too late. I mean when I do pour water on it (counter current to the air flow) the sink gets black. I did it in April...i will likely do it again in June. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.