Now That's Suction!

M

mlschultz

Registered
Decided to do the Seafoam treatment, oil change, clean the TB with spray cleaner, and replace the air filter on the Mark, and the van today - getting ready to take a road trip in the van to the gulf coast from Mobile to New Orleans next week :) .

So, while removing the airbox on the Mark, I noticed that the air filter did not look right. Sure enough, the foam seal had a big tear in it. I use the STP brand air filters, and they get changed at every oil change, so they only see around 3k miles before they are trashed.

Anyone else have this problem with STP air filters? I already banned Fram filters from my cars because of the problems I have read. For all I know, STP filters are made by Fram :p


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/papapeach/airfilter005.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/papapeach/airfilter006.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/papapeach/airfilter004.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/papapeach/airfilter002.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/papapeach/airfilter001.jpg
 
RE: Now That's Suction!

That definitely appears to be a QC problem. I wonder if like oil filters, there has been a study of air filters?
 
RE: Now That's Suction!

Well that never happened to me, I have used FRAM, some wierd no name and Napa Gold. Besides why would you change your air filter every 3k? Do you drive your mark through dust fields every day?
 
RE: Now That's Suction!

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
Well that never happened to me, I have used FRAM, some wierd no name and Napa Gold. Besides why would you change your air filter every 3k? Do you drive your mark through dust fields every day?
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You should see what the air filter with 3k miles looks like during pollen season here in GA :B . LOL Nope, the Mark does not go near dust fields if I can help it. It is part of my maintenance routine to change the air filter every oil change. I look at it like this - if it saves me a few gallons of fuel due to maximum air intake efficiency achieved, it paid for itself. Besides, 3k miles takes me almost 6 months to get, since I began working from home.
 
RE: Now That's Suction!

The TB is coated from the factory to prevent carbon build up, using cleaners on it removes this coating. The only cleaner you should use is a water base cleaner that is specifically made by Ford to clean coated TB.
I don't have stock air box setup any more, but I never had that happen to the filter. I used OEM ones.
 
RE: Now That's Suction!

Yep, I was aware of the TB factory coating. Here is my take - my Mark has 93k miles now, and whatever coating that was left on the TB for all those miles, is long gone as far as I am concerned. IMHO, Ford put that coating on for the masses that just turn the key and go, and to make it last to warranty end, not forever. My TB is clean as a whistle, and I have had no problems from cleaning it often.

I think that I have purchased my last STP air filter though. The last thing that I need to worry about is a air filter failure.
 
RE: Now That's Suction!

1. Changing the air filter is such a pain! Why don't you switch to a K&N or equivilent? Less than $50.00 and you do not have to clean it but once evry 50,000 miles. ;)
 
RE: Now That's Suction!

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
1. Changing the air filter is such a pain! Why don't you switch to a K&N or equivilent? Less than $50.00 and you do not have to clean it but once evry 50,000 miles. ;)
[/div]

K&N doesn't filter for crap. And the oil can get on your MAF sensor wire and screw up the a/f ratio.
 
RE: Now That's Suction!

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
1. Changing the air filter is such a pain! Why don't you switch to a K&N or equivilent? Less than $50.00 and you do not have to clean it but once evry 50,000 miles. ;)
[/div]


LOL, Fionnain :) . I would probably stretch it to synchronize the K&N filter cleaning with my 100k mile spark plug and pcv change. No sense opening the hood twice now... ;)

Seriously, I am with Dave - nothing better than a clean paper filter for me.
 
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