How often are we supposed to be changing our air filters? I'm asking because I'm delving into buying good quality oil filters in bulk, and realized I could do the same thing for air filters, then I realized I wasn't sure exactly how often they're supposed to be changed. How can I tell?

I have a crappy Fram air filter on my 1960 Valiant (don't ask, I didn't choose it) that was changed sometime around 6 years ago when I had the car revived, but now it's full of junk and needs a change (I don't drive the car often and hadn't noticed how dirty it was until now).

So how often is a good rule of thumb for our cars? I live in LA: the air is dirty here! My 63 Dart is driven way more frequently, and probably subjected to 'Severe" driving conditions, even though I do get it out on the freeway often enough.

It used to be the rule of thumb that if you couldn't see daylight through the pleats when you held it up to the sunny sky, it was time to toss it...I tend to change mine before it gets to that point, roughly about 30% dirty so it doesn't mess with my A/F ratio on the Hpak car (it's that sensitive...).

-D.Idiot

I remember that daylight rule too. Seems to me though that it's cheap enough to just replace once/year on a daily driver. If you're really curious, you could hook up a vacuum gauge to a port above the throttle plate, and replace the element when you get above say 1psi drop, or similar.

I seem to recall hearing that you should change the air filter every other oil change. I generally go by the daylight rule though.

_________________
'73 Scamp (the girlfriend): 225ci super/6 2BBL conversion (Almost done!)
'90 Subaru, wagon (the wife): H4-cyl 2.2L

1977 Mercedes-Benz 300D, 5cyl diesel(For sale!)

Thanks guys. I'll employ the daylight rule then.

Every 6 months on a daily driver, needed or not. But thats just me.

Yup which is basically the same as "every other oil change."

_________________
'73 Scamp (the girlfriend): 225ci super/6 2BBL conversion (Almost done!)
'90 Subaru, wagon (the wife): H4-cyl 2.2L

1977 Mercedes-Benz 300D, 5cyl diesel(For sale!)

Whenever I remember to. I know that is bad, though. This reminds me, I should probably change the air filters on my cars now.

_________________
Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Every other Wednesday during plowing season.
And,
The first sunny day of spring.



CJ

_________________
Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

Just before a smog test.......

_________________
Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

Has anyone else noticed that the EFI type panel filters seem to last longer than the round carb type filters?

_________________
Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

No, not really.

_________________
Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

"Before it gets too dirty." (Daylight Test)

_________________
1964 Dart GT

Absolutely. More surface area.

Guido

_________________
☼

The owner's manual in my 03 Impala recommends that the panel air filter be inspected every 25,000 km (15,000 miles) and replaced every 50,000 km (30,000 miles).

In comparison, my 1965 owner's and service manuals recommend inspection & cleaning every 6 months and replacement every 2 years.