I've been watching that test button on the air filter and checking it by pushing it but it always shows green. I finally decided that it can't be right at 70K and ordered a new one. When I got the old one out it was absolutely caked with dirt, no surprise. Once or twice a year from now one, I'll visually check it at each oil change. It's supposed to affect fuel mileage so I'll see what happens now.But just a warning not to trust that check button. It seems to me that my old 'burb had one too, but it actually worked so this is probably not a Ford only issue. Maybe I just have a bad button assembly.

what is ford using for a filter ? Paper? I own a chevy and we have lots of air born dust around here so I change once a year at least and in between times I tap the dust out of the filter. does the engine need to be running when you push the button on the filter housing?

old guy wrote:what is ford using for a filter ? Paper? I own a chevy and we have lots of air born dust around here so I change once a year at least and in between times I tap the dust out of the filter. does the engine need to be running when you push the button on the filter housing?I was wondering about the second point I'll get the manual out and check. This is just stupidity on my part. The filter is pleated paper.Well the diesel supplement manual doesn't say, I discovered the correct name: air filter restriction gaugeThis appears to be only for the 6.7 L not the gas engines. "Check the air filter restriction gaugewhenever the hood is raised toperform general engine maintenanceat least every 7,500 miles (12,000 km). If the vehicle is operated inextremely dusty conditions, check and reset the gauge at least every500 miles (800 km), or two weeks, whichever comes first"It also goes on to say it may need to be reset after driving in heavy rain or snow.

My 6.0 has the same thing. It's never moved in the last 30k since I've owned the truck. I'm planning on replacing it the next time I change the oil and fuel filters.

Can't comment on the 6.7l filter but on my 6.0 I had the same concern about the restriction guage so finally last summer I changed the filter. It was dirty but air still flowed thru it so I probably changed it too soon. This filter is made by Donaldson for Ford and has been rated as a very good filter. As for the restriction guage, I was a fleet mechanic and most of our trucks had them installed and we had good results using them to guage when to change the filter.

agesilaus wrote:I've been watching that test button on the air filter and checking it by pushing it but it always shows green. I finally decided that it can't be right at 70K and ordered a new one. When I got the old one out it was absolutely caked with dirt, no surprise. Once or twice a year from now one, I'll visually check it at each oil change. It's supposed to affect fuel mileage so I'll see what happens now.But just a warning not to trust that check button. It seems to me that my old 'burb had one too, but it actually worked so this is probably not a Ford only issue. Maybe I just have a bad button assembly.You'd be surprised how much contaminants a filter can hold and still provide proper air volume to the engine.For my truck I don't even look at the filter gauge and change the filter once/year since they're fairly inexpensive.

F-350 engine air filter | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

TakingThe5th
Explorer
Feb 12, 2016
I've had the same experience with my 6.0. At 61,000 it started having a bit of trouble starting and I changed the filter. Problem solved. I never saw a change from day 1.
gwh1bass
Explorer
Feb 12, 2016
I found a chipmunk nest in front of the filter on my 6.0, still reading OK on the filter minder.

I just open up and look when I am messing around under the hood.
mich800
Explorer
Feb 12, 2016
FishOnOne wrote:
agesilaus wrote:
I've been watching that test button on the air filter and checking it by pushing it but it always shows green. I finally decided that it can't be right at 70K and ordered a new one. When I got the old one out it was absolutely caked with dirt, no surprise.

Once or twice a year from now one, I'll visually check it at each oil change. It's supposed to affect fuel mileage so I'll see what happens now.

But just a warning not to trust that check button. It seems to me that my old 'burb had one too, but it actually worked so this is probably not a Ford only issue. Maybe I just have a bad button assembly.

You'd be surprised how much contaminants a filter can hold and still provide proper air volume to the engine.

For my truck I don't even look at the filter gauge and change the filter once/year since they're fairly inexpensive.

The only time I ever tripped the filter minder is when we were playing in the snow drifts and got moisture on the filter.
Helmsey
Explorer
Feb 12, 2016
FishOnOne wrote:

You'd be surprised how much contaminants a filter can hold and still provide proper air volume to the engine.

For my truck I don't even look at the filter gauge and change the filter once/year since they're fairly inexpensive.

+1 I generally change mine once per year as well.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Feb 12, 2016
45Ricochet wrote:
I hope you got OEM replacement :W
LINK

I did. Amazon
45Ricochet
Explorer
Feb 12, 2016
I hope you got OEM replacement :W
LINK
Grit_dog
Navigator II
Feb 12, 2016
Well my big reply wouldn't post.....
Bottom line, more misinformation in this thread, 70k is too long of an interval in any sort of normal use and the button is not magic doesn't matter when you read it or how many times you push it and there's other things that degrade an air filter besides plugging with dust n bugs.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Feb 12, 2016
Quit pressing the dang button! In your manual you are instructed to press the button, after installing a new filter, to reset the gauge.
Fulltimer50
Explorer
Feb 12, 2016
I can think of 3 things that will show no movement of the gauge:
1. It is doing its job and nothing is wrong.
2. The gauge is defective.
3. Air is getting around the filter giving a false read on the gauge.
jerem0621
Explorer II
Feb 12, 2016
I thought I was strange for checking the air filter at every third or fourth fill up..

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F-350 engine air filter

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