Engine Air Filter Replacement 3.3L V6

[Jay Tea]

Greetings GT Fans!

I searched high & low across the internet (including this forum), for torque specifications for reinstalling the radiator braces which cover the filter boxes (what many mistakenly refer to as suspension tower braces), and found nothing. So, I thought I'd post my experience here.

Using "reverse engineering" (removing the braces by dialing-up my torque wrench 1 foot-pound at a time until the nuts started to loosen), then averaging the torque among all four bolts, it appears that the OE torque is in the 24-26 foot-pound range.

General thoughts -

a) WIX makes the best air filters (SA 10837 and 10838), and markets them for NAPA as "Gold" (200837 and 200838), for just under $20 each. These new replacement filters appear to be a slightly better / thicker fabric than OE.

b) When I installed these at ~12,000 miles, the original OE filters were VERY dirty (by comparison, the new filters are pure white). In the future, I will replace at ~10,000 miles, as higher-boost turbocharged engines suck a tremendous amount of air, requiring more frequent filter changes than in naturally-aspirated engines.

c) When replacing filters, I treat the filter area like a 'clean room', vacuuming all external and internal housing areas, then wipe the inlet filter housing-to-turbo hose with a damp white cotton glove before re-assembly.

d) Re-torque hose clamps ~30 inch-pounds (NOT foot-pounds!).

For those K&N lovers, not to be argumentative, my experience has been that the best-quality fabric-type air filters (like WIX) do a better job at removing extreme fines. I have used both in my naturally aspirated (non-turbo) track car, and when wiping the inside of the air inlet hose (after the filter housing) I see much more dirt on a white cotton glove using K&N than WIX. K&N's big advantage is that it flows more air, yielding more HP in a NA engine. This advantage is probably less in a street twin-turbo engine?

Finally, don't forget to document your maintenance by photocopying / scanning the purchase receipt and the box part number, then recording the date and mileage in your maintenance log (do this for oil changes and any other maintenance you perform as well).

Happy & safe shredding!

 

[turboAWD]

Thanks for doing the leg work!

 

[Hapa88]

Great write up! A couple of questions:
1) Do you happen to have any side-by-side photos of the OEM vs the Wix?
2) What makes Wix "the best air filters"? Is there test data that shows they're better than others? With slightly thicker fabric, should we expect better filtration at the expense of overall flow?
3) It looks like OEM filters are about $45 shipped for the set off eBay. Next filter change would you always choose the Wix over OEM?

 

[Jay Tea]

Sorry, no side-by-side photos. Both filters appear similar in general type of construction and fitment.
Also, sorry, I took liberties declaring WIX "the best" ... I should have said that, IMHO, they are a top-engineered off-the-shelf readily-available filter. Check out their website for more info on how they excel over other commercially available filters.
Regarding my earlier post, touch indicated that WIX uses thicker fabric (subjective). Also, holding the WIX up to the sun transmitted no light through the new / clean filter, whereas doing the same with the used / dirty OE showed a sparkle of sunlight, indicating the OE was not as fine a fabric (again, subjective). An internet search might reveal MERV (particle size) and pressure-drop (restriction) between the two filters.
A twin-turbo engine running up to one-half atmosphere of additional boost should suffer less flow loss (as a percentage) than a naturally aspirated engine? By example, and at the other extreme, my 1961 Austin Mini Cooper race car used wire screen with 1/4" holes for "air filters", to suck as much oxygen as its teeny low-horsepower 850 cc naturally aspirated engine could swallow
In 9,000 miles, I will do another white glove test on the intake, and if spotless, I will continue with WIX.

 

[Cashie]

A great write up and guide, thanks.

 

[Disco]

The manual recommends changing the air filters at the same interval as doing the oil. It seems you feel like this is too short of an interval for the air filters?

 

[Jay Tea]

Morning Disco,

I have attached a copy of the Stinger Owner's Manual maintenance schedule for 2018 turbo engines, clearly showing recommended engine air filter inspection every 12k miles and replacement at 24k miles. I do not live in an especially polluted part of the world, and ~80% of my driving is long-distance highway (6+ hrs), but personal experience indicates 12k miles is a bit too long for changing, whereas ~10k miles is a sweet spot. Your results may vary!

Regarding engine oil changes, as my oil is very dirty (smelly, not opaque) by ~5k miles, I typically change oil every ~4k miles. Better safe than sorry?

 

[Disco]

Morning Disco,

I have attached a copy of the Stinger Owner's Manual maintenance schedule for 2018 turbo engines, clearly showing recommended engine air filter inspection every 12k miles and replacement at 24k miles. I do not live in an especially polluted part of the world, and ~80% of my driving is long-distance highway (6+ hrs), but personal experience indicates 12k miles is a bit too long for changing, whereas ~10k miles is a sweet spot. Your results may vary!

Regarding engine oil changes, as my oil is very dirty (smelly, not opaque) by ~5k miles, I typically change oil every ~4k miles. Better safe than sorry?

My bad man, I was mis-remembering the manual. I remembered it being synched up with the oil change, but now, 24k for a change? I can't see how that's a good idea. Do you think their idea was with 2x the filter capacity, the filters could go twice as long?

 

[Jay Tea]

Great question, wish I had an answer as to how manufacturers develop engine maintenance schedules!

It appears each filter / plenum assembly feeds one turbo. As there are two turbos on the 3.3L V6, two smaller filters are an easier fitment (rather than one huge filter) in an already tight engine compartment? This is only a guess ...

 

[Hapa88]

My bad man, I was mis-remembering the manual. I remembered it being synched up with the oil change, but now, 24k for a change? I can't see how that's a good idea. Do you think their idea was with 2x the filter capacity, the filters could go twice as long?

The cabin filter replacement is synced up with the oil change.