Expected air filter life?

[Iceni John]

About 3000 miles ago I replaced my air filter with a new Racor ECO-BC 094973002  -  that's the largest one made, rated at 1450 to 1750 CFPM which is comfortably more airflow than my 6V92 should ever need.   I recently installed a new Filter Minder, and now it's showing that it's approaching time to replace the filter after only 3000 miles, and that's not even in dusty conditions!   The Filter Minder reads off the 5" pipe to the turbo, and the 7" inlet pipe extends only a foot or so up into the air intake plenum.   I've looked down into the filter itself, and there's no leaves or bird nests inside it either.

I can't believe that air filters last for only the equivalent of one or two cross-country trips.   If I drove all the time in the desert or somewhere dusty I would understand it, but I don't do that.   I don't feel like spending another $150 for a new filter  -  that's 5 cents a mile!   I know to not blow dust off filters with an air nozzle, but how about turning the filter upside down and tapping it while gently pressurizing it with a vacuum cleaner's air outlet?

How long do air filters typically last in normal conditions?

John

[opus]

Thats not right, something is goofy.

[Iceni John]

Maybe I need to measure my Filter Minder's accuracy?   It's marked in inches of water or something like that, so I would have to convert that to PSI.   I do have a brand new Racor fuel filter restriction gauge that I've not yet connected, so perhaps I can check it against that.   Unfortunately I've never had a working Filter Minder until now  -  the old one was cracked long before I got the new filter.

John

[Geoff]

I have 75,000 miles on my OEM air filter and my vacuum gauge has never moved.

--Geoff

[opus]

I find it very hard to have to replace my air filter...and I do a bit of gravel roads too.  Have you reset the minder?  Your air filter should last 50k miles+, on paved roads.

[Iceni John]

So it seems my new Filter Minder is whacko.   I'll still try to check it  -  perhaps I can make a simple manometer with a tube and a bowl of water, then I'll know for sure what's happening.   I hate having gauges that aren't trustworthy or accurate.

Always something to do!

Thanks, John   

[Scott & Heather]

My filter minder is brand new and it maxed out in the red without a filter even installed during a test run on pavement with the coach in neutral. I'm beginning to wonder if a simple spring can really accurately measure vacuum properly.


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[Oonrahnjay]

...  I'm beginning to wonder if a simple spring can really accurately measure vacuum properly. 

     I'm guessing that when they work well, they work well ... but they often don't.

[PP]

Mine is constantly indicating too much vacuum through the filters, even with new filters. Is it possible these filter minders are made by the same company that makes the air filters?  I quit putting any stock in it a long time ago and simply open the doors on the filter housings to see if they're showing any signs of dirt buildup.
Will

[Geoff]

Those little gauges used to cost $12,. Made in USA.  I haven't bought one in 15 years.  I wonder if John's gauge is Chinese.

--Geoff

[Zephod]

Umm... my filter checker is free.... I pull the filter out and look at it. If it's grimy, it goes back in. If it's black, it gets replaced.


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[chessie4905]

Does the air intake plenum restrict the amount of air getting into that big pipe that then goes to air filter? Some air intake systems have to pull through screening on exterior of coach or bus.

[DoubleEagle]

Filter minders are not accurate and not worth the trouble. Pull the filter out and look at it, and tap it to see what falls out.

[Scott & Heather]

Mine is a straight shot to the turbo through 7" diameter straight pipe


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[lostagain]

I threw away my filter minder a long time ago. It never was accurate for me. I can tell the air filter is dirty when I start seeing black smoke out the exhaust and diminishing power. I duct tape a shop vac to the intake side of my Eco filter and carefully blow compressed air on the inside of the filter to clean it out. I have cut old Eco filters open and found them very sturdy and strongly constructed so I don't think I could hurt one by blowing it out. Filter Minders were invented for hired drivers...

JC