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Author	Topic: did you know if you change air filer it increases mpg also???	Post a Reply Back to Topics

willsauce Rookie Author Indianapolis Posts:2 Points:2,745 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Nov 13, 2010 1:04:41 AM Ignore willsauce Report Abuse if you change the air filter every time you change oil witch is every 3000 miles then it can increase your mpg by 1100 miles on that next service this is no lie did it 3000 miles ago in my 99 f150 and thats what i got after doing the math so imagine what it will do to a lil car cheap on gas

willsauce

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Indianapolis

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Message Posted: Nov 13, 2010 1:04:41 AM

Ignore willsauce Report Abuse

if you change the air filter every time you change oil witch is every 3000 miles then it can increase your mpg by 1100 miles on that next service this is no lie did it 3000 miles ago in my 99 f150 and thats what i got after doing the math so imagine what it will do to a lil car cheap on gas

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milocuba Rookie Author New Jersey Posts:17 Points:4,025 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Apr 28, 2012 4:16:13 PM Ignore milocuba Report Abuse yes
kephar Champion Author Utah Posts:3,252 Points:696,765 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2010 5:56:50 PM Ignore kephar Report Abuse definetly good to keep up on the filters. Some engines (especially diesel) have a vacuum guage to tell you when to replace. On those engines follow the directions carefully. If you open the case you have ruined the filter and will have to replace it no matter what.
bushytail Champion Author Hamilton Posts:4,334 Points:896,575 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2010 12:51:10 PM Ignore bushytail Report Abuse A new air filter allows the engine to run leanest. As it gets dirty it allows less air to fuel ratio..the engine runs richer thus poorer mileage.
jimbeaux53 Champion Author Kansas City Posts:5,064 Points:965,010 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2010 8:52:49 AM Ignore jimbeaux53 Report Abuse An engine that breathes better works better.
penguin371 Champion Author Akron Posts:4,556 Points:947,090 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Nov 24, 2010 9:24:18 PM Ignore penguin371 Report Abuse Yes, you don't want it to get clogged
13Octane Champion Author Tucson Posts:2,147 Points:332,165 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Nov 24, 2010 12:35:00 PM Ignore 13Octane Report Abuse i would think it does as a clean air filter allows air to participate in the combusion process which is desparately needed to make the explosion to drive the pistons, etc.
bluenvoy Champion Author Nashville Posts:14,941 Points:1,873,415 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Nov 22, 2010 9:57:18 AM Ignore bluenvoy Report Abuse Yes it does if the filter you replace is really dirty.
Boyrr Champion Author Allentown Posts:15,160 Points:3,159,880 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Nov 22, 2010 6:06:45 AM Ignore Boyrr Report Abuse only if you let it get so dirty that your engine is starved for air!
GUFEAO Champion Author Dallas Posts:2,446 Points:483,560 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2010 11:37:29 PM Ignore GUFEAO Report Abuse YEAP
marmaduke1975 All-Star Author Toronto Posts:782 Points:102,955 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2010 6:30:15 PM Ignore marmaduke1975 Report Abuse When I change my airfilter in my f150 I noticed a nice increase in gas mileage too. However I don't know how many .kms was on it. I suspect the savings in gas just paid for the filter because it wasn't cheap. I hear you on the K&N filters I have heard the oil you put on them can mess up the sensors.
Cummins2500 Champion Author Iowa Posts:3,128 Points:752,375 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2010 12:21:45 PM Ignore Cummins2500 Report Abuse At one time using a K&N on a gas engine did not hurt them much if any as they did not have tight tolerances inside the engine but with the newer tighter tolerances, the extra air along with the extra dirt, grit that can get through the bigger opening in an oiled air filter cause more damage to gas engines now days then they did in the past. Also the OP claimed changing the air filter every 3K will save 1100 miles that means he saves just over 61 gallons of gas every 3K ( 1100 divided by 18 mpg = 61.111 gallons of gas saved, 50 gallons if his F150 gets 22 mpg) and to that I say I don't think so.
ricebike Champion Author New Jersey Posts:10,015 Points:1,852,695 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2010 11:57:21 AM Ignore ricebike Report Abuse paylessKY, that's a bit extreme to check every oil change... once a year check/ clean is enough & I usually change to a new filter after 30,000-50,000 miles Heard/ read bad things about the K&N and similar washable/re-useable filters so I stay away from them
dontuknowOH Champion Author Ohio Posts:2,097 Points:36,545 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2010 11:07:43 AM Ignore dontuknowOH Report Abuse One might think about this; If you have ever owned a utility vacumm(shop vac),and do clean the foam/bag element, by blowing air onto it or just changing it out. A one time severe use can plug the filtering part(foam/paper/screen/etc.resulting with poor performance. The I.C.Engine operates similar to a vacumm pump,not to clean up dirt, but will collect it when operating during dusty environments. That pump pulls in way more volumes of air than a shop vac. So consider a one time event could plug the air filter,not always repeated higher mileage usage causes them to need cleaned or changed. I think about it this way,if you encounter driving on one "buggy night",how long does it take to collect them bugs on the headlamps/grill/hood/side mirrors/bumpers/whatever? So..... HAGDay!
TJC47 Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:6,184 Points:1,139,585 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2010 10:49:48 AM Ignore TJC47 Report Abuse I just clean my air filters and use them over and over. The K&N you wash it in dawn and let it dry then apply a "light" coat of oil. I have the original filters in both,( 80&83) motorcycles and service them when needed.
PatAZ Champion Author Tucson Posts:9,227 Points:122,020 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2010 9:41:09 AM Ignore PatAZ Report Abuse No way unless you used the most filthy filter in the world to begin with.
ekelly7 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:18,291 Points:3,528,700 Joined:Oct 2001	Message Posted: Nov 18, 2010 11:25:57 AM Ignore ekelly7 Report Abuse sounds extreme
gvan Champion Author Chicago Posts:21,502 Points:2,832,290 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Nov 18, 2010 9:00:00 AM Ignore gvan Report Abuse I can't imagine an air filter having any effect on mpg unless it is extremely dirty which, to me, would mean the vehicle owner didn't replace it for 50,000 miles. Now, if you lived in the desert......
Dale Jr. Champion Author Illinois Posts:16,209 Points:3,233,050 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Nov 18, 2010 8:13:46 AM Ignore Dale Jr. Report Abuse I only change the air filter after 12,000 miles.
pacecar68 Champion Author Oakland Posts:4,651 Points:865,045 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Nov 17, 2010 4:05:04 PM Ignore pacecar68 Report Abuse seems excessive. i can't imagine the filter being that dirty after 3,000 miles unless you drive on a lot of dusty roads....
Cummins2500 Champion Author Iowa Posts:3,128 Points:752,375 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Nov 17, 2010 3:15:23 PM Ignore Cummins2500 Report Abuse Those K&N oiled filters are not as great as they claim, they don't even filter to factory specs thus letting in more dirt to your engine.
Highalancer Rookie Author Atlanta Posts:1 Points:120 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Nov 17, 2010 9:43:39 AM Ignore Highalancer Report Abuse Just a little tip, if you buy a K&N air filter they only require cleaning every 50,000. However, if you consider the cost of replacing your stock air filter at the recommended intervals you will likely find the K&N cheaper to simply throw away and replace at 50,000 miles. For example for my truck a K&N filter is $41.27, at standard Fram air filter is $22.99. Fram recommends you replace the air filter every 12,000 miles meaning you would spend $91.96 for the four Fram filters over the course of 50,000 miles. Where the K&N filter costs you only $41.17 for those same 50,000 miles. If you are more ambitious and actually do clean the K&N and put back in your savings only increases! Hopefully you'll find this helpful and money saving for you, I have done this for years with my vehicles.
OilerFan Champion Author Tulsa Posts:14,027 Points:2,445,115 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Nov 17, 2010 4:39:29 AM Ignore OilerFan Report Abuse air filters are one of the most overlooked vehicle maintenance items.
SAVEITIL Champion Author Chicago Posts:5,349 Points:1,165,340 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Nov 17, 2010 1:50:46 AM Ignore SAVEITIL Report Abuse Follow mfr. directions
steelers6 Champion Author Indiana Posts:5,424 Points:1,131,510 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Nov 16, 2010 6:49:46 PM Ignore steelers6 Report Abuse Yes it helps
CelticHeart Champion Author Detroit Posts:138,538 Points:3,161,425 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Nov 16, 2010 5:38:26 PM Ignore CelticHeart Report Abuse My van doesn't have an air "filer".
Cummins2500 Champion Author Iowa Posts:3,128 Points:752,375 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Nov 16, 2010 4:25:10 PM Ignore Cummins2500 Report Abuse My air filter gets changed around 25K and even then its not all that dirty, but I have to change it at least every 30K to keep the warranty happy. IMHO changing the air filter every 3K is a waste and for me would be doing so at a big expense being my air filters cost $35.00 each. [Edited by: Cummins2500 at 11/16/2010 4:25:29 PM EST]
Audioquest Champion Author London Posts:1,072 Points:99,140 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Nov 16, 2010 1:54:32 PM Ignore Audioquest Report Abuse comptiger5000 is absolutely correct. The US government did a study on air filters and if they affect fuel economy and performance. A dirty filter had zero effect on fuel economy on fuel injected cars. That doesn't mean that everyone should drive with filthy air filters, but don't get scammed into replacing your filter before it's necessary.
PaylessKY Champion Author Kentucky Posts:8,700 Points:1,577,450 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Nov 16, 2010 9:26:18 AM Ignore PaylessKY Report Abuse Yes, a clean air filter keeps the air flowing free. It needs to checked with ever oil change, but not normally changed every time you change the oil.
ricebike Champion Author New Jersey Posts:10,015 Points:1,852,695 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Nov 16, 2010 8:51:41 AM Ignore ricebike Report Abuse i do a annual check: open the airbox, pull it out, clean the box inside, shake and blow out the air filter & re-install if it's not that dirty
WEPSMAN Champion Author South Dakota Posts:10,508 Points:2,021,975 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Nov 16, 2010 8:36:00 AM Ignore WEPSMAN Report Abuse Changing an air filter will help with mileage if it s dirty. I do not seeing help as much as what you are claiming. I do not think it is necessary for every oil change, depending on your driving conditions. If you driving in dirty conditions, it might need to be changed regularly. For most normal highway driving, you can get by changing it less frequently.
comptiger5000 Sophomore Author Connecticut Posts:135 Points:37,420 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Nov 15, 2010 2:37:49 PM Ignore comptiger5000 Report Abuse With a carb-ed engine, yes it can make a noticeable difference. However, with a fuel injected engine, a dirty filter will only hurt power, with no significant mpg impact.
BUSSY Champion Author Dallas Posts:9,887 Points:1,537,490 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Nov 15, 2010 1:37:23 PM Ignore BUSSY Report Abuse "witch" your post is also incorrect.
MrNemo Sophomore Author Miami Posts:247 Points:220,945 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Nov 14, 2010 9:50:46 AM Ignore MrNemo Report Abuse Read your owners manual follow its recommendations. But take in to account the conditions under which you drive. If your 99 F150 is carbureted it will usually make a bigger difference in fuel usage than newer computer controlled fuel injected models which can adjust to a wider range of engine operating conditions. But I have seen an air filter so bad that the car would not start. Air filters are cheap especially if you change them yourself so if in doubt of the condition change it.
DemonKiing Rookie Author San Antonio Posts:14 Points:1,080 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Nov 14, 2010 12:09:21 AM Ignore DemonKiing Report Abuse @jes lol
train55 Sophomore Author Ontario Posts:148 Points:64,155 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Nov 13, 2010 11:53:06 AM Ignore train55 Report Abuse Conditions of: road, weather, vehicle performance, if driving (or exceeding) speed limit posted, traffic (hwy. or city), there's allot of variables that makes up more or less mpg avg...
PatAZ Champion Author Tucson Posts:9,227 Points:122,020 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Nov 13, 2010 9:58:15 AM Ignore PatAZ Report Abuse No sense in changing it if it doesn't need to be changed.
Maintroll Champion Author Lexington Posts:8,614 Points:1,699,135 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Nov 13, 2010 8:19:38 AM Ignore Maintroll Report Abuse You can't go by milage on an air filter. It depends on your driving conditions and how much dirt and dust that you drive through. In some areas you need to change one every 1000 miles and others every 10000 miles.
jes Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:16,145 Points:3,348,475 Joined:Jun 2003	Message Posted: Nov 13, 2010 6:59:34 AM Ignore jes Report Abuse What have you been smoking?