Noticed the driver side air filter is black and much dirtier then the passenger side air filter. It doesnt look like normal crud, more like a black, burnt look. I will try to attach file. is this normal? possible the driver side gets more dirt, oil crap then the other? Indication of some type of leak? Can a shock or something like that leaking cause that. I have heard a low hum from the driver side since i got the car last year. Dealer replaced both wheel bearings in front and i still hear the hum. Both dealers (one i bought it from and infiniti dealer here) say its tire noise, but i hear it from the new Mich. pilot a3 sports also. Any opinions, thanks!

 

Did you change them of the dealer? looks like the drivers one was not changed. I have seen one dirty than the other ( passenger was), but not that dramatic?

 

I would have to agree.

I change mine every 10k miles

They are not exactly the same but not nearly as dirty as your one filter.
If yours were changed at the dealer the person doing it may have gotten distracted and missed changing one of them.
On my 2012 the air filters can be removed by releasing two clips.
My wife watched me do it once and even commented that she could do it.



Telcoman

 

This is the 1st time I changed them. I got the car from a Nissan dealer and they were Nissan filters so I think they changed them when they got it. Gonna look at them again and see if I can tell what the black is. All else seems normal, the tire noise is still there but no worse then the 1st day a year ago. No visible oil or dirt outside the cover. I will let y'all know. Thanks for the response!

 

How many miles is on your car?
My guess would be that who ever changed the air filter thought there was only one.
I changed my engine and cabin filters at 30,000 miles. They didn't need changing then. I check my engine air filters every few months. I bought the cabin filter and the engine air filters at the same time, but could have easily waited another 10,000 miles and that would not be pushing it by any means.
I must live in a cleaner area then others.
Tom

 

I looked at them to show wifey and noticed the dirty one was a Nissan and the other a cheap aftermarket from China so yeah someone only changed one.. I am not the bonehead lol! Thanks guys!

 

Every 10K is overkill. Unless you constantly driving in dirt road, try 30K. Fillers become more efficient as more dirt piles on, better for the engine with only minimal HP loss.

 

I do them at 12k intervals. Correct that they are not terribly dirty at the 12k mark - but I feel it is an inexpensive preventative maintenance measure. Also... not really sure how a filter becomes more efficient (and better for the engine?) the dirtier it gets...but anyway...

 

As filters get dirtier, larger holes in the paper media get plugged up by dirt particles. Only smaller particles, which are less harmful to the engine, are allowed to pass - hence better filtration efficiency. Yes, you will get a little restrictive air flow, but your MPG won't get affected with a modern engine, only minimal power loss that may not even measurable on a dyno.

All else being equal, more airflow = more dirt goes into the engine, bad idea. Feel free to use K&N if the 1-2 hp gain is more important than the longevity of your engine.

 

+1

I hold each filter up with a light bulb behind it. If you can easily see through it, you are wasting your money replacing it.
It is a fact that as the filter gets dirty the better it filters the air, until it becomes too clogged.
It also is a waste of money to change the oil any more often then the manual suggests.
Most owner's manuals have 2 maintenance schedules depending if your car is driven normally or in a severe mode.
The main word in determining which mode you drive in is PRIMARILY. Just about everybody will occasionally do some severe driving but if it is not done PRIMARILY stick with the normal maintenance schedule.

The dealerships and oil change places make their living doing car maintenance so naturally they try and convince all owners that they should do the maintenance a lot more often then necessary.

Every time someone works on your car there is a chance that they will screw some thing up. When you double or more your maintenance this also raises the chances of them screwing some thing up.
Tom

 

Agreed. More maintenance by others increases chances of screw ups. In my charger I had Goodyear rotate the tires and oil change. 2 weeks later noticed tires were not rotated. Looked at receipt and the wrong engine oil 10w vs 5w was in! So yeah more can be less!

 

That may be so but cheaper than MAF problems

Telcoman

 

Can you elaborate? IIRC, more restricted air flow never caused MAF problems, only over oiled K&N would foul the sensor.

 

I clean my KN's every 9k, over kill probably just how I am tho, I change my oil every 2500-2700 like clock work too,. :/

 

I only use OEM Air Filters. $14.00 each at the dealer

I no longer will use any aftermarket parts no matter what they claim.

Telcoman