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Old 04-29-2009, 03:11 PM   #1
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Time for an air filter change?

I'm getting ready for next week's Moab trip for Bill Burke's Big Truck 4WD training, and I'm wondering if I should get the SMB's air filter checked out.

The SMB had a major servicing in February before our Mojave Desert trip, but I drove through two big dust storms on that one.

How do you check the air filter for a 6L diesel? Can you do it yourself or is it better left to a Ford diesel technician?

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Old 04-29-2009, 07:03 PM   #2
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Re: Time for an air filter change?

How many miles on the air filter Ed? The diesel vans don't get the better Donaldson filter like the pickups/Excursions because there is not enough room for the bigger airbox.

Ford recommends checking the filter minder on top of the airbox every 7,500 miles and changing the filter only when it goes from green to red.

You can squeeze a few more miles out of the filter by taking it out and tapping it to knock the big stuff off the outside. Some even use compressed air on the inside of the filter to blow the finer stuff off the filter fabric. Make sure you don't rip the filter with too much focused air pressure.

However, the filter is a bit of a PITA to get out and you may not want to monkey with cleaning it when you can replace it for $22. Check out dieselfiltersonline.com http://www.dieselfiltersonline.com/F...r-Fa-1804.aspx. About half of list price. Good site for all your filter needs.
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Old 04-29-2009, 08:53 PM   #3
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Re: Time for an air filter change?

There should be an indicator plunger type device under the hood that indicates air restriction. But why take a chance; if you know what you have been through and feel it's time go for it. Better safe than sorry.
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Old 04-29-2009, 10:29 PM   #4
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Re: Time for an air filter change?

We are on filter number 3 after 16 months and 17,000 miles . They were never badly clogged
or were indicated on the tell tale service indicator that they were in need of service . I have always try to error on the side of caution , and yes they are time consuming to change but surely not to difficult . I do my own and My Grandmother use to tell me that it would take two of me to make a Half Wit !
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Old 04-30-2009, 03:25 PM   #5
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Re: Time for an air filter change?

FWIW, tell Bill that Herb (with the Bronco) say's hi.


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Old 05-01-2009, 05:40 PM   #6
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Re: Time for an air filter change?

Ford claims the filter can hold several pounds of dirt and still work. Follow the filter minder (mine never seems to move, but I still changed it after 50,000 miles.

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Old 05-03-2009, 12:46 AM   #7
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Re: Time for an air filter change?

I've had mine on my work truck show 3/4 restricted in about 4 miles of driving on a very dusty road. The shop said they could have just blasted it off with air but it was due for standard maintenance anyway and the filter was replaced. It was the first time I ever saw the indicator work.
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Old 05-03-2009, 07:54 AM   #8
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Re: Time for an air filter change?

How does the indicator work? It sounds like if you threw a piece of paper in over the filter to restrict air flow, the indicator should go to red, as opposed to it slowly going up over time. Anybody know?
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Old 05-03-2009, 08:19 AM   #9
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Re: Time for an air filter change?

Jage,
I think that it's just a simple vacuum gauge.
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