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How often am I supposed to change the air filter for my car?

Sometime between 15,000 and 30,000 miles depending upon driving conditions. It can get as low as 5,000 miles if you live in a really dusty area.

ZV
 
The manual for your car will have suggested mileage readings for normal and severe service. Most people fall under the severe service schedule. I suggest changing it under the severe schedule.

Worst case, take a flashlight and hold it to the other side. If you can't see the light through the filter you are overdue on changing it.

When you do change it, use a sharpie to write the date and mileage on the filter. That way you will know when it was replaced.
 
They are so damn cheap, I just replace them yearly. They cost maybe $10, and take about a minute to change. Some do not even require tools, as the housing is held together with spring clips.

Generaly, if you can nto see light through it, you need a new one. For $50 or so you could get a K&N, then you just clean it, then toss it back in. Saves money and time in the long run.
 
3K:
Change Oil
Change Oil Filter
Top off Washer Fluid
(~$35)

15k:
Everything in 3k service
Change Air Filter
Change Fuel Filter
Flush/Fill Coolant System
Flush/Fill Brake/Clutch Fluid
Have Mechanic Double-Check Timing/Balance Shaft Belts
Inspect all hoses/boots (anything rubber) for any signs of damage, replace as nessesary.
(~$400)

30k:
Everything in 15k service, plus
Change Timing/Balance Shaft Belts
Change Transmission Fluid
(~$800)

60k:
Everything in 30k service, plus
Change water pump
(~$900)

Porsche's aren't expensive to buy, but they're a pain to maintain. The #'s in ()'s are estimates to have a mechanic do the work, but I do it all myself (minus anything dealing with the timing/balance belts - that requires a $500 tool that I don't have). Good news is that with just the matinance above my car looks brand new (even under the hood), yet is 16 years old. Only other work I've done is replace the things that the previous owner broke (Note: if something on your car doesn't move when you hit the button for it to move, don't hold the button down untill you hear the gears stripping!!).
 
Originally posted by: NokiaDude
Hmm, I wonder when you're supposed to replace the A/C air filter? My car smell pretty bad with the A/C.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking now would be a good time 😉.
They say like 15k on that, but I think that's something that would be safe to do "need based".
 
(Note: if something on your car doesn't move when you hit the button for it to move, don't hold the button down untill you hear the gears stripping!!)
Click to expand...
Gotta love that infamous 944/924S "self-venting" sunroof. That and those wonderfully reliable VDO odometers that like to stop recording miles traveled. Those were the only two major problems with my '87 924S.

ZV
 
Originally posted by: NokiaDude
Hmm, I wonder when you're supposed to replace the A/C air filter? My car smell pretty bad with the A/C.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have mold in the system, I know dealers have it and possibly pep boys and those type stores sell a spray cleaner that spray into air intake for your system and it will clean up that smell rather nicely, though you might be smelling the cleaners instead for a few miles, *shrug* worth a try
 
I've had a K&N filter in my 94 Corsica 3.1 liter engine, for probably 3 years now without cleaning it. I probably should stop procrastinating and use the cleaning kit😉
 
in some cars the interior air filter is inthe glove box.. on the side of it, behind a panel. In my focus its access is in the engine bay, its located under the windshield.. I have to replace it soon.. smells funny when the ac is running for a while and then you turn it off its moist..
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
(Note: if something on your car doesn't move when you hit the button for it to move, don't hold the button down untill you hear the gears stripping!!)
Click to expand...
Gotta love that infamous 944/924S "self-venting" sunroof. That and those wonderfully reliable VDO odometers that like to stop recording miles traveled. Those were the only two major problems with my '87 924S.

ZV
Click to expand...

The post-85.5 944's moved to an electronic odometer that didn't break every time you reset it (while moving), so mine still works (luckily).

I did have that self-venting sunroof however, but I fixed that this summer 🙂. They had managed to back out the ENTIRE sunroof cable...all 10' or so of it (just for reference, it only moves about 6" to put the roof all the way up/down).
Also my power window assembly was stripped (I'm guessing they tried to put it down in the winter when it was iced up).
 
The post-85.5 944's moved to an electronic odometer that didn't break every time you reset it (while moving), so mine still works (luckily).
Click to expand...
Damn shame they couldn't carry that on to the '87 924S. Mine actually gave up on the drive home when I picked it up. The PO reset it while moving the car out of her garage, and that was the last straw. Haha, sometimes my luck is just funny. 🙂

ZV
 
I have a 1996 Chevrolet Lumina. Do you think I could replace the A/C system air filter to make it smell alot nicer?
 
Originally posted by: NokiaDude
I have a 1996 Chevrolet Lumina. Do you think I could replace the A/C system air filter to make it smell alot nicer?
Click to expand...

why would the AC have a seperate filter from the rest of the HVAC system? i'm clueless, maybe there's a good reason. at any rate, the answer would be yes, but i wouldn't know how to do it.
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Sometime between 15,000 and 30,000 miles depending upon driving conditions. It can get as low as 5,000 miles if you live in a really dusty area.

ZV
Click to expand...

Thats kind of BS....dusty areas are not the only thing that affect your air filter, time of year does as well. not only that, but the brand of air-filter you replace it with, and the type of air-filter, and the type of car have a big role to play.

Sadly the best analysis so far was the "when its dirty" comment. Air filters, unless specialized or ultra crappy, don't generally go bad from just being around for a set period of time. Things like your oil can have a mileage set to it, but not your air-filter.
 
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