How Bad Is A 133k mile Air filter? 2006 Ford Focus Lifetime Air filter Replacement. 

Maybe add oil to a couple?? Capture finer particles??

Unfortunately, it did not bring back the fuel economy it once had. I have since given up on that front. I think a leak down and compression test would likely show what the real issue is. I suspect this filter eventually allows very fine particles of dirt into the engine and degrades the rings and cylinder walls over time. The car now has over 170k miles on it and has recently become my daughters.

@@bassntruck I'm truly amazed your gas mileage didn't get better and last reported it has 170,000 miles on it. Lucky daughter now has it.

@@bassntruck i would check the fuel filter. that might be the culprit.

@@ViewlessSquid Thanks, but it has been replaced a number of times over the years with WIX 33595 units. Never made a difference.

@@bassntruck oh, ok. Well, maybe it’s just the old age and mileage then. Could be tires, brakes dragging, blinker fluid, or flux capacitor. Any combination of those things could bring the fuel mileage down a bit.

Now you have another 133k miles to go worry free.

Where did you get the new foam?

​@@bluegrasskid Just shop online for filter foam, it comes in different densities and thicknesses and is resistant to oil so it can be used with spray on filter oil (tacky) availible from any motorcycle shop (don't soak it too much or it will pool up in the housing and make a mess). Filter foam is also washable, if using filter oil then wash it in diesel or mineral spirits and allow to dry, without filter oil you can use dawn dishsoap and hot water. Paper filters do a much better job. Normally foam filters are used as a prefilter to make a paper filter last longer in very dirty environments. Or they are used on intakes that are generally protected from excess dust and only have a filter "just in case", like airplanes which are mostly concerned with bugs or a few minutes on the ground, because there isn't much dust high in the sky.

You would still need to use this replacement filter housing. It uses a filter for an old Saturn. If you could get a K&N you could use it. As for me, I am not a fan of K&N filters. They flow more air but at the expense or poor filtering. For a race car, I guess but I would not use one on a daily driver. Too many fine particles get into the oil and cause more wear then I like. Plus, I travel down dirt roads a bit.

I do not understand what you mean by "without the adaptors"?

The aftermarket filter housing I used uses a Saturn air filter. I did not buy a factory filter assembly as it was very expensive. I am sure if you have the ability and skills, you could make the stock box accept some sort of replicable filter. You could also 3D print something, or make some CAI setup.

@@bassntruck I see that the air box I ordered has the wing-nut secured tray and I found out the filter to get, that you mentioned, is for a 1993 Saturn SL1. The repair place said a new filter box would be $1500 and Ford no longer makes them. It's good to own a common car like the Focus, the after market is huge so parts makers will jump in to meet demand. Rust usually does my cars in, but I see yours, like mine is rust free, incredible after 16 years. Thanks again for the video and the quick reply.

A 2004 uses a standard replacement air filter as far I know. Should be available just about everywhere. If it has the 2.0 SHOC or DHOC it should use a WIX 42524.

@@bassntruck Thanks for answering! She has the 2.3L and it's the same non-servicable one you have, had. If you don't have the part #'s anymore, I don't expect you to dig them up, but I thought maybe you might know where to go.

As far as I can tell no 2004 years used the lifetime filter. The 2.3 uses MOTORCRAFT FA1688.

@@bassntruck The PZEV ones sold in California have a lifetime air filter. Ask me how I know 😖

@@bassntruck I can confirm that some 04 focuses have non serviceable air cleaners. I was hoping to find parts numbers to look into aftermarket replacements.

Unless they changed something not shown in the pictures, they are still the same as what I used. The filter slides in that slot. I recall it going in 1 way batter than the other. I can't recall if the foam filter lip went forward or towards the back.

Dylan Mertz - you can buy this on amazon under $75. I am going to replace mine as well.

@@somap8380 yeah but what is it called?

@@leorickt.9604 air cleaner box

Filter Housing: amzn.to/3ZDXkv4 Wix Filter: amzn.to/3XrBc5c Cheaper Bosch Filter: amzn.to/3QLmbZF

Good luck, you might have bigger issues.

I can't say for sure if I got an increase in mileage or power. The fuel was switched over to winter blend shortly after I put it in. The mileage did not seem to go down any though. As for power, again I don't know as I rarely get hard on the throttle. I can say I don't have a CEL. We ordered the car new and it now has 136k on it and so far it has been a pretty good car. I did just have to replace the valve cover gasket. I noticed that I lost some footage in the time lapse and after when I let my son run the camera. It was pretty dirty and lots of large debris came out but it was not clogged closed. Could have likely gone longer.

The one I got uses an air filter for some 90s era Saturn. I don't have it in front of me.

Just that I can change the filter now. My MPG had been dropping off and that was the only thing I had not replaced. It didn't seem to make a difference for me. The oem filter did have a ton of stuff in it but I let my son record and he forgot to hit the button so I didn't get the footage of opening it up..

Yeah, instructions unclear. Oh wait, what instructions. I thought it was funny and figured others ran into the same issue so I left it in there. Sadly my son was supposed to be recording when I opened it up but he didn't press the button. Was all kinds of stuff in there.

It fit mine. Unless something has changed with the housing or the filter was not correct in the box. What filter does your housing say to use?

The housing unit came with no instructions and says nothing on the actual unit. I used the AMZN link the in description for both the housing unit & WIX filter. Someone else in the comment section said an air filter for a 1993 Saturn SL1 will work. Does that sound right?

@@whitemagiktiger That is what that filter is supposed to be for. Look up the part number on an image search and see if it matches what you received.

It is still going so I guess I still have some money to get out of it. Infact it is closer to 200k than 100k.

The already "have" that. Most claim all the other oils in your car are "lifetime". So when that system fails that is the cars lifetime. Always service all your fluids if you value your car for longevity and reliability.

@@bassntruck l i f e t i m e. T i r e s

She has a bit more character then that. Mint she is not anymore. But she has been a pretty good car over the last 14 years but she is really showing her age lately.

@@bassntruck How is the undercarriage/structural body of your car doing? Mine has 158k and has been dead reliable (even with a misfire - I think caused by this filter) but the rust is starting to worry me in the back of my head.

@@yaris5150 Mine looks fine on the bottom. It does see some salt in the winter, but we do not get it like they do up north so it is minor. You have a few more miles then I do but not by much. I have noticed I have been getting progressively less MPG. I replaced the plugs and the air filter but it has not made a difference. I might run a compression check and leak down test. I do not think it is the coils but they could be getting weak but no CEL. Mine has always had synthetic oil in it as I have owned it since new.

@@bassntruck I love that yours is still running, good choice on oil. I have switched to synthetic since my ownership (only the last 5k miles) and it seems okay with it. Good luck finding the cause of your issues - I have swapped coils and plugs on mine already. I am running a small integrated sound system and anticipate upgrading my alternator too. As of yesterday afternoon, checked and balanced my AC and the air coming out of the vent is 43F! As you mentioned with rust, I am basically in Chicago so I understand yours having fared considerably better. These are great cars!

@@yaris5150 I did replace the suspension and steering on it at 100k. My factory alt went out around 110k. That is a bit of a bear to replace. My cruise control module under the hood stopped working at around 80k and I have never replaced it. My HVAC dials stick. I have not looked into if it is the cables of an issue with the flaps in the box. On my second set of front brakes. Rears are due. Been through a few batteries. The master window switch for the rear passenger window does not work on the down position. Over all I can't really complain.