Air Filter

5451 Views 16 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Sawtooth, Sep 7, 2021

100YR

Discussion Starter · Feb 11, 2019

Anyone upgrade their air filtration or just put in a new and better filter? I had the K and N filter on both my Frontiers, not a fan of oiling the filter....what do you use, any substitute for the K and N that don't use oil? It looks like you have to undo some screws to get to the filter, is that right, never had anything but the metal clips before.

Dave

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

Burgess159

· #2 · Feb 11, 2019

Yes you undo 4 screws to open the cover. I might have to replace mine after a few more filter replacements as I can’t get a good hold on them and they are starting to get stripped out

I use oem. I have thought about getting the S&B cold air intake but I haven’t heard enough good stories of benefit from it to make me want to spend $300. I might look at keeping the stock air box but going with an aftermarket filter. If they have additional benefit.

100YR

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 11, 2019

The S&B one looks nice but everyone says it is very loud, not sure I want louder. I might just look for a oil free, spray with water and let it dry type filter for the original box.

BnLdamaxs

· #4 · Feb 11, 2019

I have heard some horror stories about very loud cold air intakes

BnLdamaxs

· #5 · Feb 12, 2019

Also don’t think an oiled filter on a turbo engine is good. I have heard the oil can cost the turbo veins and allow dust to collect on them because of sticking to the oil and the build up being detrimental later on.

terryjm1

· #6 · May 4, 2019

For stock air filter changes, do you follow the GM recommended interval? It seems excessively long. I have never in any of my vehicles even waited half as long as what is recommended for the Colorado/Canypn.

100YR

Discussion Starter · #7 · May 5, 2019

I used my truck for work, out on construction sites, so it gets dirty fast. I am washing the truck today, and adding window washer fluid and checking the oil, might look at my air filter too. The ones on my Frontiers over the years got dirty fast.....

7.62x39Colorado

· #8 · May 11, 2019

I have used stp air filters in my Colorado and my previous Titan. Yes they don’t filter as well as oem. My issue with many oem filters is stp filters have a better fit. They seal but they never give you trouble with the molding/flashing/whatever you wanna call it.

I’m an oem guy for almost everything. Air filters, I’m fine with stp.

I think cold air intakes are a scam. You can increase mpg’s by keeping up on filter changes and using one like stp that breaths a bit more but is still paper, uses the oem housing, and doesn’t put the turbo at a bigger risk of problems.

Haminstead

· #9 · Jun 4, 2019

7.62x39Colorado said:
I have used stp air filters in my Colorado and my previous Titan. Yes they don’t filter as well as oem. My issue with many oem filters is stp filters have a better fit. They seal but they never give you trouble with the molding/flashing/whatever you wanna call it.

I’m an oem guy for almost everything. Air filters, I’m fine with stp.

I think cold air intakes are a scam. You can increase mpg’s by keeping up on filter changes and using one like stp that breaths a bit more but is still paper, uses the oem housing, and doesn’t put the turbo at a bigger risk of problems.

I discovered that the 4 screws to lift the air cleaner are Electricians screw driver bits that is a combination flat screw driver and philips head. It grips the bolt head perfectly. Amazing! Changed mine at 20,000 & now 50,000 miles with oem air filter. Cleaned the attached Mass Air Fow sensor gizmo with Mass Air Flow sensor spray and let it dry for an hour. Mileage appears to have increased. I think the mass air flow sensor was dirty

CleverUserName

· #10 · Jun 4, 2019

A “performance” air filter increases airflow by reducing the filtration efficiency and allowing abrasive silicon particles into your engine.

Ironically, Diesels aren’t controlled by MAF and the stochiometric ratio. Therefore, increasing the airflow in a diesel DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO INCREASE POWER!. Huh, what? Let me elaborate on that....

Diesel engines are fuel limited, so if you want to increase power, you must add more fuel. A crappy “performance” air filter will not add fuel and won’t do anything but shorten the life of your engine.

Crazy but true!

Haminstead

· #11 · Jun 5, 2019

CleverUserName said:
A “performance” air filter increases airflow by reducing the filtration efficiency and allowing abrasive silicon particles into your engine.

Ironically, Diesels aren’t controlled by MAF and the stochiometric ratio. Therefore, increasing the airflow in a diesel DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO INCREASE POWER!. Huh, what? Let me elaborate on that....

Diesel engines are fuel limited, so if you want to increase power, you must add more fuel. A crappy “performance” air filter will not add fuel and won’t do anything but shorten the life of your engine.

Crazy but true!

I agree , stopped using non oem air filters twenty years ago. The GM oem fits exactly and is well made. Lots of car parts are made in China, etc and have poor quality control. Lots of parts in GM cars and trucks are made in China which smells to me the source of many of strange problems some folks on this forum have. Drove 1600 miles last week from SE NC to NYC to VA Beach & back to SE NC. 3 fuel stops. Calculating from pump receipts 30.4, 30.6 & 31.7 .
@51950 mi no problems . Lifetime mpg 28.6

Reactions: 1

BlueRidgeRunner

· #12 · Nov 17, 2019

I'm looking for stock diesel air intake/ filter setup. Have cold air intake with K&N if interested.

Sawtooth

· #13 · Aug 22, 2021

I'm told the stock air filter keeps folding in on itself due to the severe air intake at high revs (while using engine to brake down steep fire roads) - causes engine light to go on, has always turned off 24-48 hrs later - have seen this 12-15 times in 4 mos. Just ordered a K & N hoping the thing is stiff enough that it won't fold up... Does this sound familiar, or worth a try? I should mention the bush roads I'm driving are insanely dusty this year in BC working on forest fires during an exceptional drought year, also - I have been shaking out the filter regularly and replaced it a couple times this summer.

SFLTruck

· #14 · Aug 22, 2021

Sawtooth said:
I'm told the stock air filter keeps folding in on itself due to the severe air intake at high revs (while using engine to brake down steep fire roads) - causes engine light to go on, has always turned off 24-48 hrs later - have seen this 12-15 times in 4 mos. Just ordered a K & N hoping the thing is stiff enough that it won't fold up... Does this sound familiar, or worth a try? I should mention the bush roads I'm driving are insanely dusty this year in BC working on forest fires during an exceptional drought year, also - I have been shaking out the filter regularly and replaced it a couple times this summer.

In all the threads I've read this had never come up before. I have use my exhaust break a bunch with a 6k lb trailer attached and never had an issue.

Reactions: 1

Sawtooth

· #15 · Aug 22, 2021

SFLTruck said:
In all the threads I've read this had never come up before. I have use my exhaust break a bunch with a 6k lb trailer attached and never had an issue.

Hmmm. Thanks for the response. I'm up and down crap roads in 1st gear often, and sometimes the rpm will be up to 4000 for short amounts of time in between braking. I wonder if that high of rev's would make the difference. The tech at the dealership was pretty convincing that these things fold up, draw in, and trip the mass air flow sensor. Thoughts?

Streamintrip

· #16 · Aug 22, 2021

Haminstead said:
I agree , stopped using non oem air filters twenty years ago. The GM oem fits exactly and is well made. Lots of car parts are made in China, etc and have poor quality control. Lots of parts in GM cars and trucks are made in China which smells to me the source of many of strange problems some folks on this forum have. Drove 1600 miles last week from SE NC to NYC to VA Beach & back to SE NC. 3 fuel stops. Calculating from pump receipts 30.4, 30.6 & 31.7 .
@51950 mi no problems . Lifetime mpg 28.6

I have found the OEM air filter with the pre-filter to work very well, including a tight fit. Depending on the condition, I change it out every other or 3rd oil change. I swap out the cabin air filter every 3rd oil change as that seems to work best for me and precludes it from becoming too dirty.

47,000 mi and very happy with the truck!

Reactions: 1

Sawtooth

· #17 · Sep 7, 2021

Well, I figured out my issue. Glad I didn't change out the filter - there was a defective intake line into the turbo, probably was leaking a bit of air and giving me these mass air flow faults. It finally wore right through, was replaced, and my issue seems to be resolved.

Reactions: 2

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