I was just checking the maintenance requirements and saw that the engine air filter should be replaced at 50k. I checked mine and frankly they look pretty clean (I am at 56k), but no harm in replacing them anyway.

I noticed that there is a pretty substantial difference in air filter costs ranging from $9-10 for MicroGard or Fram to $48 for K&N. Given the car needs two and it strikes me as hard to imagine needing $100 to replace versus $20. Of course one doesn't replace these very often, but really is there a large noticeable difference? I'd think if there was, the car would come with, but thought I'd ask anyway.

Thanks.

Yes, there is a big difference.
For 85% of applications, the stock air filters are best.

if it's clean, don't change it.

For most engine air filters, the function of the filter and the corresponding engine wear are based largely on dust cake filtration. The formation of a dust cake on the filter media changes many important factors in the function of a filter media, including filtration efficiency and pore size distribution.

WHAT THIS MEANS IS: Engine wear rate has been shown to be significant during the early portion of an air filter’s design life and less as the filter ages. An air filter works better as it ages.
If you change your filter too often (as happens at quick oil change places) you are increasing the wear on your engine!

Read this article very carefully: http://www.donaldson.com/en/filterme...ary/052024.pdf
So - - change your air filter less often and save wear on your engine!

At 56k miles it can't be clean. Replace it with a stock element.

My 2009 owners manual recommends changing the engine air filter every 50,000 miles. I would only use a standard pleated "paper" filter, NOT the type you oil (that is 50 year old technology).

GM engineered the stock filters right. All the "high performance" filters sacrifice something. Most won't even show torque comparison figures below 2500 rpm which is where most people do their daily driving/cruising.

I think that you should change you air filter, the stock filter would be a good choice.

I'm a huge believer in the K&N system for the LS engine. We just did yearly intake maintenance and I saw first hand all the crap the K&N caught that would have got into the engine. Kept the throttle body and intake manifold perfectly clean.

I also know first hand how well oil catch cans benefit keeping vaporized oil out of the intake. Drained about 4 ounces of dirty oil out of it. This would have been sucked right into the intake if not for the catch can.

You nay sayers can bitch and holler all you want, I'd rather keep my engine running clean.

Well, I certainly wouldn't argue with a Professor of Music.

Here's a short video about air filtration and talks about Amsoil air filters. But the guy talks about nanofiber filter media which is what the stock air filter also uses. I suggest you watch the entire 9 min video but you could start at 4 min 45 sec where the engineer talks about K&N in particular.

Don't waste your money!

Tom

I find it nearly impossible to believe that a 56k mile air filter is in any way "clean".

I put K&N filters/intakes on every car I've ever owned.

I'm more concerned with making power than the marginal filtration ability that I may be compromising.

Who says you need to argue?

Thanks all for the replies.

To be clear, I said "pretty clean" not clean. It is by no means white, but rather a light shade of gray. I am also not arguing whether to change it as I said after 50k I am fine to do that. My question is whether there is a worthy difference between filters as the prices for such things have an extremely wide gap.

Is Fram essentially equivalent to the OEM version or is OEM better? Is there any aftermarket that is similar to OEM? Wondering how good the OEM is versus these others and where it fits in the list.

Don't waste your time and money with the oiled cotton filters like K&N. Either pick up two of the ACDelco filters or, better yet, pickup two of the WIX 42821 air filters @ $12.49 each at O'Rielly's auto parts. Stay away from Fram.

Most of the NASCAR teams run WIX and they are consistently rated among the best filters available.