How often to change the air filter

[zzyzzx]

Specifically the stock air filter.

My car has 20,000 miles on it, and it still has the original air filter in it. Normally I wouldn't let it go that far, but I just got the car. The Owner's manual implies somewhere inbetween 15,000 - 30,000 miles.

I've been driving fuel injected Escorts since Jan 1985, and something like 15,000 - 20,000 miles would be a normal air filter replacement schedule for me (I' have to check my maintenance logs to get the exact number, but it's something like that). But after looking at this Alero filter, it's easily 2X as large as the one for the Escort, so maybe it really does last 30,000 miles?

[AGT]

mmm. I would check it every oil change and replace if darkened. Then I would replace the stock air box with a Cold Air Intake.

[YALEROYNOT]

Originally Posted by AGT

mmm. I would check it every oil change and replace if darkened. Then I would replace the stock air box with a Cold Air Intake.

x 2 ^ you can almost get a wai/cai for the price of a stock filter

i clean my filter every 3000 miles. I run synthetic oil so the filter gets changed at 3000 and the oil at around 7500. I do it every other time the change oil light cmes on.

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted by AGT

mmm. I would check it every oil change and replace if darkened. Then I would replace the stock air box with a Cold Air Intake.

I'm really not into modding cars much. The only things I'm willing to do (generally speaking) is to put in a decent stereo, add a voltmeter gauge, and on this car, if I see a rear spolier the right color in the junkyard, I'm getting that too).

[AGT]

True. you are actually slowing down your car so you may not want the CAI.

[[ion] C2]

on the contrary he should get the CAI to negate his weight additions and get better fuel economy, performance and sound

[AGT]

Originally Posted by [ion] C2

on the contrary he should get the CAI to negate his weight additions and get better fuel economy, performance and sound

Thats what I was thinking but he shot down a bolt on addition as a mod. Its a very minor mod.