My tuck is two years and 3 months old and has 31,xxx miles on it
and it seems to me that the little indicator plunger on the side of
the air filter housing would have moved by now but its still showing
full flow , I find it hard to belive these filters last this long . anybody
else had to replace there air filter yet ??

Moved to Maintenance section! Let the thread titles be your guide as to where to post your question, so you will get the best results! ;)

I just changed my air filter, and I had about 31500 on the odometer. My gauge did not move at all either. When I took it out, the filter was very heavy and full of shit! I would not go to much past 30K in the future. For me, I will change the air filter every 2 years. No more than that!

Not really dirty around here, but after 13500 I could definately shake a good amount of crap out of mine. I actually put on an aftermarket intake. 20-25K seems like a reasonable interval if you are not in extremely dusty conditions.

I hope everyone is reading the indicator when the truck is running. I didn't have my truck running the 1st time I looked at it...

You don't need the truck to be running. It records the highest restriction since it was reset last.

Varies: I've had mine show >50% restriction at <10K miles in one case, in other cases it shows no restriction at 15K when I change my filter. Hint: to show the restriction make sure you get on it hard long enough to really suck some air through the filter. In the case where mine showed 50% restriction, I reset it and drove several days around town, was showing 0 restriction. One hard 0-60 run and it was showing 50%.

I thought that indicator plunger was only there for looks. I understand that it's there for a reason, but if a guy waited till that thing showed movement he will have sucked down most of the atmosphere into his engine!

I think it depends on what type of truck you have, if you have a LB7 or LLY filters are cheap insurance. LBZ's are a little more but I think that every 15K is a good baseline.

I work in the heavy equipment biz., we go by the indicators. They are on there for a reason. Its your money spend it how you see fit.

The newer, round honeycomb filters supposedly work better when they are a little dirty. When I changed mine, I am sure there was still more filter left, but I feel better changing it earlier rather than later. They are engineered very well. I also used the blue filter replacement rather than the white. ;) Just for the record, my filter gauge really never moved.

I changed my first one at 25K and I'm changing again in the next week or so when it hits 50K. Personal preference and a "treat" for the truck.

I know what my cleanable filters looked like with 5K on them, I can't even imagine the amount of crud in a filter at 25K not that it can't handle more but I'm sure it's restricts flow.

the air filter gauge gauge works off of vaccum. If there is a restriction it will register and record it there.

Just take it out and tap the bugs, dirt, etc. out of it every few months and it'll last forever.......

53K on the blue Donaldson filter and going strong. Indicator hasn't budged yet.

Where do you guys buy your air filters at?? What are the brands and costs??

Would a clogged filter cause a check engine light to come on?

Would a clogged filter cause a check engine light to come on?
Yeah, but it would have to be REALLY bad.......

How do you tell when an after market filter need cleaning and reoiling? I have an S&B Intake.

69,000 miles, origional filter, indicator still on the first mark. Mostly freeway miles not many dirt roads.

http://www.fleetfilter.com/Store_ViewProducts_Diesel.asp?Cat=57

This is where I get my air and fuel filters from. The air filter is a donaldson filter. Part #for the air filter is 49184, the fuel filter part # is 33910

Depending on conditions, the oval filter in the '06s will give 50-75k miles between intervals. BUT, one must take care to ensure the element is installed correctly. You can close the cover and not have the bottom of the element in correctly. To confirm, there should be a black boss (raised square) visible when shining a lamp in there. If you can't see the boss, it AIN'T in right. Installed improperly, the indicator will never move, EVER (not to mention damaging the engine). And the indicator has an internal latch to allow it to indicate the highest vacuum that existed. To reset, simply depress the rubber endcap in with one finger.

http://www.fleetfilter.com/Store_ViewProducts_Diesel.asp?Cat=57

This is where I get my air and fuel filters from. The air filter is a donaldson filter. Part #for the air filter is 49184, the fuel filter part # is 33910

The 49184 shows a Wix filter... Is Dondaldson making filters branded for Wix? Why is it white instead of blue?

Had 43K on my original filter. Gauge never moved. I never expected it too. Probably coulda sucked the grill in through the intake before that freakin piece o crap would move. Lately everytime I got on it, I left a cloud of smoke, just had the CEL come on, replaced the filter and smoke issue is gone. Still waiting for the CEL to reset.

I would go every 10,000 miles and change it out, depends on what kind of Driving and Work you do with your Truck, Just My .02 cents worth.

I thought that indicator plunger was only there for looks. I understand that it's there for a reason, but if a guy waited till that thing showed movement he will have sucked down most of the atmosphere into his engine!

Agreed! That and it's a mechanical device that may not be entirely accurate. I just change my air filter every 12 months whether it needs it or not.

Where do you guys buy your air filters at?? What are the brands and costs??

I buy the Wix filters at filter1.com .

For the Donaldson PowerCore air filters, the original blue PowerCore (nanofiber) filters can be purchased as an AC GM part no. - 15918221.

The white PowerCore (cellulose) filters can be purchased through Amsoil part no. - P610875.

For the Donaldson PowerCore air filters, the original blue PowerCore (nanofiber) filters can be purchased as an AC GM part no. - 15918221.

The white PowerCore (cellulose) filters can be purchased through Amsoil part no. - P610875.

So the white one is cellulose... not nanofiber. Any difference in the micron rating?

My performance is back up where it hasn't been in a while, so I will be changing it a bit more often now, but 10k seems a little more often then necessary. Maybe 20k, we'll see. Can't wait to see if my mileage shoots up.

The Nano holds more dirt and filters better form my understanding. 50K on mine, but I'm going to check for the boss heymccall mentioned.

The Nano holds more dirt and filters better form my understanding. 50K on mine, but I'm going to check for the boss heymccall mentioned.

One of mine ran for 7500 miles with it dislodged, after the Stealer pulled it to show my driver it was dirty, and, over the phone, I instructed him to decline that service. You should see the crap in the intake tract. Fortunately, the MAF screen stopped most of the leaves. And, YES, the cover looked "correct" with the element loose.

I replace it every year but knock the sand out every month.:eek:

I would go every 10,000 miles and change it out, depends on what kind of Driving and Work you do with your Truck, Just My .02 cents worth.

I don't know how dirty it is where you guy are but good GOD 50,000 miles on a filter. A $40,000 to $50,000 investment is not a testbed for me. I am in farm country (read dusty) and 12 months out of the year engine oil and all filters get changed every 5000-7000mi. I've seen those dam vacuum gauge not work after they get old. To the point of pulling the filter into the box. A duramax is bad enough but try a 8V92, 3208, 3412, 3406,3306, DT466/532 or a 400 Cummins. The filters are cheap!!!!!

I don't know how dirty it is where you guy are but good GOD 50,000 miles on a filter. A $40,000 to $50,000 investment is not a testbed for me. I am in farm country (read dusty) and 12 months out of the year engine oil and all filters get changed every 5000-7000mi. I've seen those dam vacuum gauge not work after they get old. To the point of pulling the filter into the box. A duramax is bad enough but try a 8V92, 3208, 3412, 3406,3306, DT466/532 or a 400 Cummins. The filters are cheap!!!!!

Likewise. Oil & oil filter & air filter every 5000K

I change my air filter out 1 time a year, milage in a year is 13-15k. Last year I thought it was the dirtiest I had ever seen it, yet my wife who is an engineer said she didn't see the need to change it. The guage didn't show any restriction while running, and I held it up to the sun and could still see light coming through. I now use the Baldwin, so for $15 each from Kennedy it is worth it for the piece of mind to change it.

My '06 LBZ has almost 60,000 miles on it now with the original filter. I take it out every few months and tap the bugs and dirt out of it and it's fine. Not worried about it at all.............:eek:

One of mine ran for 7500 miles with it dislodged, after the Stealer pulled it to show my driver it was dirty, and, over the phone, I instructed him to decline that service. You should see the crap in the intake tract. Fortunately, the MAF screen stopped most of the leaves. And, YES, the cover looked "correct" with the element loose.


MAF Screen???
Please enlighten me...

Like was said above the 06+ filters are a lot better. My truck isn't a "testbed" I work in dirt all day every day so I know the signs of a plugged filter. Not to mention I have oil samples done that show me the silicon levels and I do trust the indicator to a degree.

Whats Up With the price on new filter.166.00 near me went to parts store baldwin 55.00.motor seems to run better.

I bet the cheaper one was a white cellulose filter and the other was blue nano one.

x2 on the Filter from Kennedy Diesel. 15 bucks and I change mine about every 6 months allong with my oil and all other filters. I don't put allot of miles on my truck. about 20k this year. I do drive on allot of gravel roads.


Kris