Hello All,
I replaced my air filter on my truck when I got it. Used a Ford Motorcraft air filter... Now, 5,000 miles later, I think it needs to be replaced. I'm kinda shocked by this - I mostly do freeway driving, and never am out in the dust/mud/water or anything like that. But my MPG has significantly dropped, and the gauge on the air filter housing is down to the replacement levels, and the filter has quite a bit of dirt in it.

I'm looking for a good reusable air filter, and I'm looking for your opinions. I found a couple different styles of air filters from AFE, but I'm not sure which one is better - oiled or dry? Proguard? This Style? or This Style?..... Or, can you guys recommend a good company that makes a good aftermarket washable air filter?

 

Would be nice to know what you are driving? Did you also change the pre-filter? I wouldn't use an oiled filter on a truck with a maf/map sensor. JMHO. I'd stick with the OEM's.

 

Sorry.. I'm in a 2011 F-250 6.7L 2WD. I have changed the prefilter, also used a new motor craft part.

 

Something isn't right here. I would have it looked at. My 2011 has over 80,000 miles. the air filters are changed at about 20,000 mile intervals . My filter indicator never moves . The filter gets a little dirty but not too bad . Never enough to show a change in my mpg. I also drive only highway. I wonder if you have a rat building a nest in there or something , dirt dobber wasp?

With that much dirt in such a short period of time there has to be something adding the dirt to the filter. Do you see a lot of dirt around the inlet to the air filter? It's behind the passenger side headlight

 

I checked the inlet, it's clean. I've checked everything, and besides the filter, it's clean. After 5,000 miles, the filter is back to what it looked like when I first replaced it.. I was getting around 24mpg, and now i'm getting 16mpg during my 140 mile round trip freeway driving to work. Really not sure where all this dirt came from. I've attached pictures of the filter (after I knocked a lot of dirt out of it) and the gauge.

 

Your Gauge is fine, Still way in the green, So you are not restricted.

Your filter is just starting to show dirt. It's mostly just dirty on the tips of the pleats. When they get really dirty, you cover the inner surfaces of the pleats

You are just wasting money to be changing filters at this stage

Here is one of mine after 15,000 miles of use. A lot of dirt roads.

 

You're perfectly fine. That green section on your vacuum gauge is perfectly acceptable. Now when the yellow works its way down to the red, it's time to replace that filter. My air filters on my cars look much dirtier when I change them out, similar to Painted horse or worse. Don't psyche yourself out with the tricks that quick lube places pull to sell you an unnecessary new air filter. In fact, it's good to have a little bit of dirt on your filter, as that actually improves filtering efficiency and you keep more particles out of your engine. Stick it back in and go with it .

 

I am a boot diesel truck owner, so am I reading this right there are 2 air filters on this truck? the one that is pictured above, and another one. or just that one

 

Your air filters look fine. Just like everyone has said . Your gas mileage probably dropped because your diesel particulate filter was being cleaned . 16 miles per gallon is about average 24 miles per gallon is well above the average.

 

Yes, a paper main filter and a foam pre-filter.

 

JRD,

How long have you owned this truck? Poor mileage can be caused a number of things. When did you last regen occur? Or is it possible you noticed when a regen was occuring? I had a EGT sensor that was starting to fail, that caused really poor mileage.

As others have mentioned, most are not fond of the washable, oiled filters. the stock configuration is pretty much the best.

 

Here is a picture of mine after 15000 miles.



I want to know how you get 24 mpg....The best I can do is 17 to 18 mpg on the interstates in MS & LA.

 

I changed mine at 30 thousand and my filter did not need changing. Look between the pleats, From you picture it still looks good.

Once the vacuum gauges start to move change it.

Now on MPG. 16 MPG is not a bad over all. I don't get that if I am on San Diego HWY and roads. My truck is a 4x4 and Crew Long, so not on the upper end of the mileage. I get between 15-16 driving to work.

I would stick with the stock filter unless you are going to tune the truck.

 

I changed mine at 30 thousand and my filter did not need changing. Look between the pleets. From you picture it still looks good.

Once the vacuum gauges start to move change it.

Now on MPG. 16 MPG is not a bad over all. I don't get that if I am on San Diego HWY and roads. My truck is a 4x4 and Crew Long, so not on the upper end of the mileage. I get between 15-16 driving to work. On long trips the millage vary with how heavy my foot is. So if I doing 85 I get less then 17 mpg. If I doing 40 I get 20 mpg and, I only do 40 in Wyoming at night with cops patrolling the area.

So I would enjoy the truck, you have one the best trucks made.

 

I changed mine at 20K. Although the minder said it was ok, a look at the pleats said otherwise when you flex the filter for a better look.


But mine does a lot of dirt roads sometimes.