Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Air Filter Minder

[Ramtough]

I now have 34K miles on my 02. The air filter minder is showing 0% of the filter used. Truck mechanics and the dealer are still telling me not to disturb the filter until the minder shows the need for a change. I have tried resetting the minder from 0% to 0% and a week later it still has not moved.



Questions:

What do you think the possibility is of me having a bad minder?

Should I ignore the minder & go ahead with an air filter change?



Thanks in advance.

 

[Deezul1]

Most of them never move on a stock truck, when I installed my 370s mine went from never ever moved to suck it all the way with 1 full throttle pass through the gears.

 

[George D]

I have about 23,000 miles on mine and had the same concern. It recently looks like it has moved ever so slightly. About half of my mileage is towing at an average of about 10 mpg (heavy trailer)so I have pulled a lot of air through it.

 

[andrewkoperdak]

just leave it be. I have more than 30k on mine and it hasn't moved. The theory of operation dictates it will move when it should. If you have owned a gasser before then you have been brain washed to replace your filter more often than was necessary. You don't believe? Take your filter out on a sunny day, hold it above your head pointed at the sun. If you see light, put it back in and consider your Filter Minder as your best buddy. WHen you start pulling a vacuum on the filter, the Filter minder will move. We have the same indicators on our pair of 3450 HP marine diesels. I trust them there and I trust them under my hood.

Regards,

Andy

 

[Fireman Dave]

Hi, this is the dinosaur talking here. I'm stuck in the old days of maintenance. When the filter looks dirty - I replace it. My filter minder never moved. After 18 months, and about 24,000 miles, I finally couldn't take it anymore. I opened it up and looked at it. It was dirtier than I liked, so I replaced it. Maybe I replaced it too soon, but for the little it cost, I have peace of mind that there's a nice clean filter in there. Yeah, I could also get away with wearing the same pair of underwear two days in a row - sometimes. :-laf But don't you just like the feeling of knowing you're clean?

 

[andrewkoperdak]

Your filter minder is not there to say "Im not dirty" it is there to indicate airflow restriction. If you want to change your filter more often I can't hold that against you. But ... . you might as well stop washing you truck when it gets dirty looking and just throw it away. You still drive you truck don't you?

 

[Pit Bull]

I changed the one on my 2000 at 52,000 miles and the minder had not moved. Filter was dirty, but I also understand that a dirty filter filters better