This ones been installed for a little over 1 year / 30K miles. The can only has a couple of marks in the botton where the spring rubbed the coating. No interior rust at all. There was a little surface rust on the outside of the can where the paint had started to peel around the top. With all this in mind I'm thinking 1 year or 30K which ever comes first would be a good change interval when used as a secondary.

http://img25.echo.cx/img25/6871/pict00881fv.jpg

http://img238.echo.cx/img238/8026/pict00915hi.jpg

If that is your secondary filter then it says the primary factory filter is doing a pretty good job, which I'm glad about.

For the OEM filters the 1st 15K miles was the old style and the 2nd 15K miles was the new dual pleated. They were completely black from top to bottom so there's no doubt they handled the bulk of the workload. I'm thinking the secondary is just polishing what's left in the smaller micron range and distributing it over several times more media than the OEM. Not sure I remember but I think about 7x the media area. Makes it tough to see any build up. Also 30K miles only calculates out to about 1600 gals filtered. Doesn't seem like much.....

I'm approaching 30k on my Mega as well.How long do you think I should go before I change it a bear?Yours looks great and I think I could go 50k after seeing your filter.
Did you notice any restriction or power loss after 30k?Just wondering why you chose 30k to change.I'm thinking you were just curious.:think:

I didn't see any power loss or restrictions out of the norm. There was a little external rust starting to form around the top of the filter recessed flange area on the outside of the sealing gasket. This can't be seen without pulling the filter. As far as life expectancy there are just so many variables. Fuel quality, additive use and environmental elements would make a difference. I suppose one could go WELL over 30K but for the price I kinda figured an annual change out would be plenty. After some thought I may also try to extend the 30K as long as it doesn't go over a year. :)

Wow......that looks great bear..........thanks for the pics.
On 4-19 my MEGA turns two.....about 35,000 miles. Looks like I should be more worried about it rusting through due to road salt than anything. Think I'll give her a shiny new filter for her birthday.

Looks to me like you changed it way too early!!:)

I suspect if you used a filter 1/2 the size of the Mega filter shown in the picture, you would still be changing it early at 30K miles (especially now that you are running the Dual Pleat Racor in the OEM slot).

a bear...

not at all surprised at the condition of your Mega afer 30,000 miles ... I have one mounted post OEM on our truck which I changed last summer after just over 40,000 miles and it looked much the same as yours except, no rust was seen ... based on that change I currently have just over 20,000 on the one currently on the truck an plan to run it for 50,000 miles prior to changing it ... really haven't been worried about changing it based upon a time frame

Jim

I think you'll find that the treated paper of the Baldwin elements discolors less. I haven't run one long enough to discolor. The other possibility is that the OE absorbs most of the black junk (asphaltines and large debris) leaving only smaller stuff for the Mega.

I guess someone with a pre-OEM Mega and hiogh miles could cut one open and see what discoloration appears. Bear in mind, visual discoloration is only one way to judge a filters remaining service life...