Filter Minder® Air Restriction Indicator featured on both Two Guys Garage and Shadetree Mechanic

Don't service your air filter on a time, mileage, or "looks dirty" basis!

Air filter service life depends on operating conditions. An air filter may restrict in a few hours/miles, or last several hundred hours (sometimes 100,000 miles or more). Monitoring the air filter with a Filter Minder® service indicator takes the guesswork out of air filter maintenance.

The Filter Minder® reads the restriction in the air induction system. Air filters usually have low restriction for most of their service life, and the position indicator will not move very much. Then, as the air filter reaches the end of available service life, filter restriction increases rapidly, and the position indicator of the service indicator will move faster towards the red zone.

The chart (left) illustrates typical air filter restriction readings.

Although an air filter may look dirty, it is impossible to tell the true condition by visual inspection. An air filter that looks dirty may have much of its service life remaining.

Air filters have low restriction for most of their service life, then restrict rapidly at the end. It is best to leave the air filter in place until restriction is noticed on the air filter service indicator.

See What if the Filter Minder® position indicator does not move for a long period of time?

An air filter that has built up a dust film is more efficient at stopping dirt and foreign particles, which will keep the engine cleaner. It is best to leave the air filter in place until restriction is noticed on the Filter Minder® filter service indicator before you change the filter.

See our Cost Comparison Charts for more information.