[Cowpie]

Some folks wonder when to change their air filter, some just follow a time schedule. For those that want the max out of their air filters (stock or aftermarket), this is a device I installed recently. I have them on everything I own. Have used them for years. It is called Filter Minder. I know that K&N sells them, but they are really pricey there. Ballpark $35. I bought mine thru Ryder Fleet Products for $21. Great product. It is common knowledge that air filters do their best job at keeping dirt out after time. They are less efficient at trapping dirt when new. The balance is knowing when the filter is at it's limit. This guage lets you know. When the filter is starting to restrict air flow, the gauge will show it and you can then change the filter. Will pay for itself very quickly.

 

[KyleZ71]

Wish they made something like that for a CAI

 

[Cowpie]

Wish they made something like that for a CAI

They have screw in type, push in grommet type, and other types. K&N sells them for their CAI units. These are not made just for stock air boxes. The measure the suction between the filter and engine. They can be mounted anywhere in between. They can easily be mounted on the air intake tubing between a CAI and the throttle body.

http://filterminder.com/service_indicators_and_gages.asp

 

[KyleZ71]

Eh wouldn't want to screw up a perfectly good intake tube.

 

[Cowpie]

Seems strange then you stated you wish they made them for CAI. I mentioned the tubing as one option, not the only one. There are many options for using one of these. If none of them fit your pistol, then you are out nothing. But if you are serious about one of these, check with K&N or any other shop that sells these and see what they have that would work.

 

[Pikey]

I think that those came standard on my 02, 03, and 05, 5.3 L. I know for a fact that my 2002 had it and my 2005 currently has one. The problem is that I have never seen them move. Maybe I don't wait long enough to change my filters

 

[Enkeiavalanche]

I just look at my K&N and Clean if dirty or 6 months since the last time..

 

[Cowpie]

That's one method that works. I only brought this thing up for those that would like to get the most from their air filters as opposed to just changing them on a normal schedule. All depends on one's comfort level and what they want to spend in the long term. We all have options. I do this with a lot of things. I do regular oil sampling on all of my equipment and vehicles to make sure that I am utilizing oils most effectively. I use these filter minders on all of my equipment and vehicles so that I am not throwing filters away unnecessarily too soon. Just me. I figure that it is a modest cost to install stuff like this that actually can be of value, as opposed to spending lots of cash that does nothing but give me a testosterone boost.

 

[McClintoc]

I think that those came standard on my 02, 03, and 05, 5.3 L. I know for a fact that my 2002 had it and my 2005 currently has one. The problem is that I have never seen them move. Maybe I don't wait long enough to change my filters

Yup. My 2001 came with an air filter gauge on the air box. Though, I'm not sure it ever actually worked.

 

[Cowpie]

I can't speak to what kind or type of air filter indicator was put on vehicles by the OEM's, only the Filter Minder products. I have used them for years and these, in fact, do work. I know that Donaldson and others make similar products.

 

[tbplus10]

Installing filter minders on all filtered intakes of every vehicle deployed to the middle east was Standard Operatin proceedure when I was in the Navy.
They worked great, there were many time filters would be clogged with fine sand and passed any useable point but you couldnt tell by looking at them because the sand was the same color as the filter media, the filter minders would indicate and let you know to change filters.
I use them on my personal vehicles since then.

 

[steved]

The problem is that I have never seen them move. Maybe I don't wait long enough to change my filters

That's an inherent flaw, those filterminders tend to quit working. I've had them on a lot of Dodge Cummins-powered trucks, and they basically work for the first year, then just stop (the last four trucks didn't have a working filterminder from new). I have seen first hand where filters in the Cummins-powered trucks would be completely collapsed and partially sucked into the intake hose, and the filterminder showed absolutely no restriction.

They are a cool idea in principle, not so much in implementation...

Personally, I change on a schedule...

 

[stchman]

Just get a K&N and clean the filter every 20K miles. K&N filters pay for themselves after you clean them a couple of times.