Air Filter at 30K

[LandShark]

Was giving the truck it's first bath of the year and decided to check the air filter for the first time since new. Was surprised at all the big debris in the bottom of the air box: mostly bees and large flies. Far more than I ever saw in my 95 RAM. Filter was quite black, so I went ahead and replaced it with a Fleet Guard that I had on hand, even though I had never had an EVIC message the filter. Truck has 30,000 miles, with about 25,000 towing a 11,000# fifth wheel. Here's a pic:

 

[gsbrockman]

That's typical for 30k miles of use. On a sidenote.....the recommended service interval is 30k miles or sooner if the EVIC alerts you. I inspect mine every 13.5k to 15.0k (my oil change and fuel filter replacement intervals) and have historically replaced the air filter every other oil change.

 

[RVTRKN]

Check out this filter near 30K miles and no less than two dealers serviced it at the time. Needless to say I was ****** when I looked at it. And a fastening clip was missing for how long I don't know. I never rely on the dealers anymore to alert me of any simple issue at service. Only Dodge has serviced my vehicles, except for some DIY work I did. Never again will I rely on a service tech, no matter how much I trust them to check my filter. The worst part was, when I had the hood open and checked the filter minder, it had never moved. I asked at the time with 15K miles on my new truck, why the filter minder wasn't moving? I was told the filter surface is much larger (bigger filter) with the new 6.7 and not to worry.

 

[sag2]

Just from looking both of those filters (Especially Landsharks) are still good. While they look bad, they are able to safely hold lots of dirt. Up to a point the dirty filter does a better job of filtering fine debris better than a clean filter. Think of a sieve that the larger holes get plugged with debris. Pressure differential is the only perfect method to determine if a filter (oil, fuel, or air) is no longer good. The filter minder isn't perfect, but with a little common sense it can be used reliably to determine filter changes. The newer trucks determine it by using intake pressure readings and relaying it to the cluster. That method is using pressure differential as the basis for filter change and is very reliable.

 

[kthaxton]

My air filter typically looks like the first one posted. Even though I'm sure it has plenty of miles left on it (because there is a LOT of surface area there still letting in air) I just change it once a year for peace of mind.

 

[RVTRKN]

Just from looking both of those filters (Especially Landsharks) are still good. While they look bad, they are able to safely hold lots of dirt. Up to a point the dirty filter does a better job of filtering fine debris better than a clean filter. Think of a sieve that the larger holes get plugged with debris. Pressure differential is the only perfect method to determine if a filter (oil, fuel, or air) is no longer good. The filter minder isn't perfect, but with a little common sense it can be used reliably to determine filter changes. The newer trucks determine it by using intake pressure readings and relaying it to the cluster. That method is using pressure differential as the basis for filter change and is very reliable.

A lot of good points, but a tech should have alerted me to this condition, regardless of the filter minder. I'm an HVAC contractor and understand airflow and pressure drop across filters, but that filter was beyond its use.

 

[GrantP]

I also had a airbox clip unattached after the "courtesy inspection" at the dealer so I began asking them not to give me that courtesy. My air filter looks a little better than the first one posted after three years and my silicon numbers keep going down with each oil analysis (to sag2's point). Filter minder doesn't budge. Can't really judge these on looks but it does make you feel better to see a clean one in there.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I just do my oil, fuel filters, and air filter every 15K. I'm in da mode so I get er dun!

 

[sag2]

The trick the oil change shops do is show the customer the old and new filters side by side. Then they ask "which one would you like to have in your vehicle?" Almost everyone says the new one. The shop never gets blamed for "selling" the customer a filter that was not needed as the customer made the decision.

 

[rashwor]

I won't take my cummins to a "oil change shop"; I would rather do it myself and know what I got. Also gives me a chance to look things over and catch problems early in the shop instead of on the road. Years back I did use one shop because it was convenient (less than a mile from work and I could get it done on my lunch break) and they let me bring my oil and filters and I stood there and watched them do what I wanted with my oil and filters. One day they changed owners and I drove in for a oil change and was told they would use their oil and filters. Drove off and started changing it myself again.