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wealthwise's avatar
wealthwise
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013

Air Filter Question

I have a Wix Ecolite Air Cleaner old number 546755, there doesn't appear to be a way to check it since it's not transparent like other filters are, I don't want to go to the pain of taking it off just so I can look through it, other than airflow restriction minder(which I have read online don't work and are unreliable), is there any way to tell if it might be bad? I pushed the reset button in the minder and as you can see in the photo it doesn't go up. I don't have any reason to believe it's bad, but I have read horror stories about how if it deteriorates pieces can go into the turbocharger and that's not good not to mention the dreaded 1 oz. of dust that would require and engine rebuild. So I know it's best to err on the side of caution, I don't want to have to replace it if it doesn't need to, they run around $100 or so. I don't have much to go on as far as how old it is, since I can't any receipts for the filter.



FilterFilter C.U.
  • wealthwise's avatar
    wealthwise
    Explorer
    Aug 21, 2013
    Well I tested the filter minder by doing what was suggested and it went straight to the red line, so I guess it's fine, I'm not going to worry about the filter.
    Thanks
  • wealthwise's avatar
    wealthwise
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2013
    wolfe10 wrote:
    Three causes of low air filter minder readings-- two BAD:

    Low restriction in filter and all the air passages up to the turbo-- GOOD.

    Broken gauge-- BAD

    Tear in filter-- VERY BAD. You can "dust" the engine and think everything is just fine. The main reason to never try to clean a filter, particularly by banging it on a hard surface-- way too easy to cause a tear in the filter media.


    I can't imagine trying to bang this filter it's massive! What I was wondering, what does "Spin On" mean?
  • wolfe10's avatar
    wolfe10
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2013
    Three causes of low air filter minder readings-- two BAD:

    Low restriction in filter and all the air passages up to the turbo-- GOOD.

    Broken gauge-- BAD

    Tear in filter-- VERY BAD. You can "dust" the engine and think everything is just fine. The main reason to never try to clean a filter, particularly by banging it on a hard surface-- way too easy to cause a tear in the filter media.
  • wealthwise's avatar
    wealthwise
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2013
    That thread seems to have a consensus that old filters are better providing that the minder hasn't moved at all, well I guess I need to test that minder 1st.
    Thanks
  • wealthwise's avatar
    wealthwise
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2013
    oldbeek wrote:
    Old filters clean better than new.


    So I guess then if the filter is older but still good, it would be better to not change it.
  • oldbeek's avatar
    oldbeek
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2013
    I operated a fleet of 300 vehicles from pick ups to D-8s. We never changed or even looked at a filter until the filter minder pulled 18 inch. The reason some say they do not work is the minder will not be showing anything but lots of dirt will be on the filter. That is normal. We also did oil sampleing and the more dirt on the outside of the filter the lower silica in the oil sample. Old filters clean better than new.
  • wealthwise's avatar
    wealthwise
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2013
    I will try that and see what it says, I guess if it works that way then the reading that's on there now is fairly accurate and the filter is good?
  • wolfe10's avatar
    wolfe10
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2013
    How old is it? Remember, it is made of paper and paper does not age well.

    You can test the filter minder. Pull off the hose and suck on it. Even moderate effort should peg the minder and it should hold that reading until you push the bottom button/release button.

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