So 6000 miles and just under 3 months ago I replaced my stock CAI with the S&B CAI. I went back and forth on which filter to use, and ended up installing the dry filter. But, I also have a brand new, unused, oiled filter sitting aside (however, it's not with me as I am traveling and will be for at least another month). My question is, when is dirty, dirty enough to change the filter out .(I admit, I never worried about it in other vehicles...) I keep popping the hood every so often and looking at the filter... it's white so any dirt on it makes it look quite dirty. I have removed it a couple of times and knocked the filter against a table to knock any of the big debris in it out, but nothing really comes out. I have been in Iowa, and one thing I realized about the area I am in, is that there are a lot of gravel roads... and a lot of wind... so I would say it's safe to say this is a dusty environment. So I'm wondering, when is the air filter dirty enough to warrant changing it out? Looking from inside the air filter, I still see plenty of light so I think it just looks dirty from the outside. I tried to take a pic too, but it never looks the same in pictures as it does in real life... So, what do y'all think about this filter? (Also, when I change it, I am going to stick with the dry filter and will run a sock on the next one. I don't think I should put a sock over this one at this point...)

And to add to this... I do imagine mine is still fine for now and I don't need to change this one out right now... but then again...? But I'm curious though, what makes everyone else decided that "now is the time" to change the filter, other than the generic, "xx" amount of miles or time. When do you look at the filter and say: "It's time!" (Also, FWIW the 22MY's do not have the little gauge indicator like the previous MY's...)

And how about parameters on the iDash? Is there one that I could set to monitor the air flow coming through the pipe?

 

Based on what I see after 3 months you should be able to go an easy annual filter change. That's what I do on a stock Motorcraft filter, and I don't even inspect it because I don't want to jeopardize the sealing surface and allow some contaminants to bypass the filter.

When the filter's shape becomes distorted that's a tall tell sign you probably went too far.

 

I would change annually or when the filter is completely black.

 

My diesel spends alot of time in off road conditions taking my 5th wheel into boondock locations on forest roads/ blm roads or desert roads and even in the dusty conditions after 5 1/2 years and 55k miles I've only changed it 3 times and even then it didn't look that bad. You would be surpised how dirty a filter can actually get and still be effective.

Don't loose sleep over it. That filter pic looks pretty clean in my book. I would worry more about all the bugs and debris that get packed in between the front radiators, a yard stick works well cleaning the debris out.

 

Thanks guys for the responses! I'll give it some more time before I change it! So, would throwing a sock on it at this point kind of be pointless? Like I said, I want to add one, but I was thinking I would just wait til I put a new filter on. Sure seems like it would help prolong the filters life, however, I wonder how much it would reduce air flow...