Air Filter Life Indicator

[Ape0r]

So I have an '04 5.3 equipped with the high-capacity air cleaner and the air filter life indicator.

 

The indicator has never indicated any restriction in the air filter. Ever. So I've never changed the filter. I changed the spark plugs and wires in my truck yesterday, because I just passed 100k miles.

 

I'd like to hear from others that have or haven't gone off of the restriction indicator - what are your thoughts? 100k seems like a lot of miles to use one air filter... although I did check my gas mileage around 90k, and was doing as well as ever (a little over 19 on the highway).

[VMax2007]

It's worthless.

[txab]

Never looked at it.

[emwolb469]

Open it and look at it....If it is dirty then change it. If you have gone 100k miles Ill bet its blacker than charcoal at this point.

[Ape0r]

It's worthless.

 

Actually, after opening it up, I have to disagree. The filter is blackened a little, but is certainly not charcoal-colored. See pic. I'm sure part of it is that I live in Virginia, which really isn't dusty at all, usually a decent amount of humidity in the air.

 

I also took out the restriction indicator and recorded this video. It was really easy to suck it into the red zone (no pun intended). In my experience, I can draw a vacuum of ~1 psi with my mouth (graduate students get bored too), I would say it took less than a third of that to pull it into the red zone. See youtube video. After playing around with it, my opinion as a mechanical engineer is that I definitely trust it, and I won't be changing the filter until it says to do so.

 

 

 

[txab]

[redvett]

Same unit thats used on semi & military diesel truck and works just fine.

[emwolb469]

It's worthless.

 

Actually, after opening it up, I have to disagree. The filter is blackened a little, but is certainly not charcoal-colored. See pic. I'm sure part of it is that I live in Virginia, which really isn't dusty at all, usually a decent amount of humidity in the air.

 

I also took out the restriction indicator and recorded this video. It was really easy to suck it into the red zone (no pun intended). In my experience, I can draw a vacuum of ~1 psi with my mouth (graduate students get bored too), I would say it took less than a third of that to pull it into the red zone. See youtube video. After playing around with it, my opinion as a mechanical engineer is that I definitely trust it, and I won't be changing the filter until it says to do so.

 

 

 

 

 

Thats actually pretty decent looking! I live in Cali and if you were here it would have definatley been black!!!!!!!

[CapitalTruck]

You would think that doesn't look too bad, but man, go inside and hold that thing to a light and see if you can get any through it, my bet would be that you couldn't. I, like you, had been using the restriction indicator until 92k then I decided heck, I'm going to spend the 13.00 and change this thing. When I took mine out it looked like yours (might have been a little blacker). I held it up and I really couldn't see light through it. Like yours, mine was the high capacity unit. I think my indicator is total junk. When I went to "reset" it it didn't move at all (stayed in the "ever so slightly clogged" range).

 

Additionally, isn't it possible that even the smallest leak could mess that whole indicator system up? (if it was able to draw vacuum from somewhere else if the filter started to get clogged?)

[brainpause]

I changed mine at 38K miles. Couldn't stand it any longer, even though the filter wasn't terrible.

 

My indicator, on reset, also stayed in the same position.

 

Larry

[GasHog369]

I would definately change it... And while you are, put a better one in there like a k&n.. Or just put a FIPK in.... i love mine.

 

[bwinter1]

Man, I must be weird. I replace my air filter every other oil change, whether it needs it or not. I have the stock sealed filter box with a TrueFlow tube and an AC Delco Filter.

[alaskajohn]

I just changed mine at 22k. (The engine had 74k when I bought it, now at 96k.)

 

No movement on the air filter life indicator.

 

Filter was pretty dusty, but not bad (photo below). I originally just knocked some of the dust off of it, but then decided for $15 why not replace it.

 

Air Filter Comparison (New v Old)

[05GMCZ71]

I replace it every other year.

[kawtoy_77]

from 43k miles to 84k miles, I have never seen the stupid thing move once. I am gonna out a K&N in there.