Air filter replacement? How often

Henrick

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Aug 24, 2010
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Ireland
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Golf VI TDI, 77 kW (CAYC)
When the turbo exploded on m previous Mk5 Golf, I bought a used one from junk yards.

I'm not saying that it looked like in DBW's picture but the compressor wheel was "dirty" covered in black dust or how to call it. Anyway, I just installed it and sold the car.

BTW, isn't GKN driveline an el'cheapo brand?
 

turbobrick240

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maine
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2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
I have a feeling those guys can afford to replace turbos on a weekly basis. Looks like fun though.
 

Henrick

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Aug 24, 2010
Location
Ireland
TDI
Golf VI TDI, 77 kW (CAYC)
I have a feeling those guys can afford to replace turbos on a weekly basis. Looks like fun though.
Indeed. And they probably earn my yearly salary in a month.

Anyway, I think many people misintepret what DBW was trying to say.
The point is that if you are opening the intake plumbing very often (for whatever reason), you will get MAF failures more soon. Also, assuming new air filter allows more dirt to pass through and assuming you replace you air filter on every oil change (which is still 3k-5k miles on your side of the pond, right?), then you're introducing X times more dirt inside the system than if you'd introduce that if you'd do that at manufacturer's specified interval., where X equals 60k miles / your_OCI in this particular case.
 

MichaelB

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Aug 11, 2009
Location
SE Wisconsin
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2014 Passat SE DSG
[QUOTE
BTW, isn't GKN driveline an el'cheapo brand?[/QUOTE]

I think you should do your homework before you post. GKN is a major oem tier 1 supplier to automotive and also check out GKN aerospace whose major customers are Rolls Royce, GE, and Pratt and Whitney. They also manufacture combat helicopters for Great Britain. I worked for GKN Sinter Metals.
 
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Henrick

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Ireland
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Golf VI TDI, 77 kW (CAYC)
Sorry, I surely must have confused that with some purely Chinese company which sounded similar.
 

fouillard13

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Oct 8, 2012
Location
Pincher Creek, AB
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03 Jetta TDI Standard
When the turbo exploded on m previous Mk5 Golf, I bought a used one from junk yards.

I'm not saying that it looked like in DBW's picture but the compressor wheel was "dirty" covered in black dust or how to call it. Anyway, I just installed it and sold the car.
I hate people like you. You're the reason no one trusts buying used vehicles anymore. Blows it up probably due to being a moron, Then half ass fixes it like a real scab would and dumps it on the next guy. I can just picture your ad now. "Runs great. Nothing wrong with it. Dealer maintained"

It's really nothing to be proud of and bragging online about.
 

turbobrick240

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maine
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2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
Yeesh. Whole lotta love in this thread.
 

Henrick

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Joined
Aug 24, 2010
Location
Ireland
TDI
Golf VI TDI, 77 kW (CAYC)
I hate people like you. You're the reason no one trusts buying used vehicles anymore. Blows it up probably due to being a moron, Then half ass fixes it like a real scab would and dumps it on the next guy. I can just picture your ad now. "Runs great. Nothing wrong with it. Dealer maintained"

It's really nothing to be proud of and bragging online about.
Stuipd you, sorry. Firstly, good cars cost. I "dumped" it for a really low price. Besides, each person who is buying a used car should inspect it carefully.

To answer your original question, I decided to sell the car not because the turbo exploded. I sold it because it had EXCESSIVE BODY RUST! Do a search by my username for threads/posts in A5 section back in 2011-2012 here. You will find.

Simply the body was too rusted. The maintenance was getting very expensive. Turbo failure was the last verdict. I simply couldn't afford keeping the car anymore!

After turbo failure (a loud pop sound) I immediately switched the engine off (search for my thread in TDI 101 section the same night, I think it was on 2012-06-28). I replaced the turbo with used-good one, there was no shaft movement. I also replaced the intercooler, cleaned the charge air plumbing, some pipes were also replaced. New air filter. Compression tested - all good. And besides, my trusted shop did the replacement. They did it honestly, as they know me.

Prior that I've installed new wheel bearings on all 4 corners, new brake pads and rotors on all 4 corners, complete timing belt kit with metal impeller pump (BTW, camshaft was in PRISTINE condition), new clutch master and slave cylinders, new battery, new BOSCH alternator, new alternator belt tensioner (INA brand), new rear shocks, new front shock absorbers AND springs AND top bearings AND top mounts, complete wheel alignment just before the sale, new front tyres.

You know, this costs money. And I'm sure, none of the used cars have all those mentioned things done withing past 4-5 months. Also it had got SMF kit installed but that was around 2 years / 30k miles ago.

So yeah, the car runs great. Yes, dealer maintained, very clean (no one even was sitting in the rear EVER!). Nothing really wrong with it. Accident free. Windows tinted with LLumar film. Now could you argue with me regarding that further?

I hate such people who jump to a conclusion without knowing the full picture.

You're the reason no one trusts buying used vehicles anymore.
Now regarding this, I could say similar statement from experience. Because of wives who cheat on their husbands, no one trusts getting a (used) woman nowadays. The fact is that some of them are b!t.ch.es and there is nothing you can do. If you've married a b!t.ch., then it's your fault - you should have been more cautious before taking that step.
Same can be said about getting a used car, etc.
 
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ATR

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Jun 18, 2005
Location
Baltimore
TDI
2011 Golf TDI 6MT
Guys, this is a newbie forum. Calm down with the insults, name calling and flaming...
The original purpose of the TDI 101 Forum Section was to give newbies a place to ask questions without being flammed, even though flamming is against the forum rules.
Once again, I point you to the ***Official maintenance schedule for your VW [PDFs inside]***
.
If you live in a very dusty area, change it every 30-40k miles. Otherwise every 60k is more than enough. No need to check the air filter every oil change. If you do take note of the possible issues you may have that have been gone over a few times in this thread.
 

Henrick

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Aug 24, 2010
Location
Ireland
TDI
Golf VI TDI, 77 kW (CAYC)
Oh, and some more items I forgot to mention. Replaced CV boots. Replaced rear right brake caliper. Also a new EGR valve.

Now you say you hate people like me. What should I be doing at that point? Keep the car which is not worth doing any investments because such a car costs nearly nothing? It was economically useless keeping such a car having in mind it was rusted all around and looked awful. Go and write a complain to VW why they made such a crappy car. I didn't replace any of the parts listed "because I didn't have where to put my money" I replaced them because they were work or broken. Oh, and besides, the car was returning poor fuel economy. 34 US MPG. From day one I got it, till I sold it. Please show me another idi0t like me who has spent that amount of money on such a car and is proudly still keeping and and not selling because he is thinking about "the next guy who might buy sucha lemon".

EDIT: sorry for flaming the thread, I already said what I was thinking on this matter and will keep the discussion on topic from now.
 
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GreenLantern_TDI

Veteran Member
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Feb 27, 2014
Location
Iowa
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2015 GOLF SEL
So yeah just change the air filter when you change the oil every 2,000 miles. Jeez whys that sooooo hard? :D
Also people dont sell cars cuz the relatiionship has ran its course. They sell cuz its a pain in thier @$$ and on its last leg. Everyone and i mean EVERYONE does it. You trade it in to a $hitbag dealer or dump it on craigslist. Its your job as a buyer to know this and watch your @$$. Know what your doing or youll get burnt just like all us 2nd hand BRM owners. Live and learn. Worry less and try to drive more till your VW breaks down again.
 

79jasper

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Joined
Feb 27, 2014
Location
Skiatook, Oklahoma
TDI
2010 jetta
Because fog restricts air filters....
Uh no. That's all dust and sand being blown around.

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turbobrick240

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Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
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2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
Yeesh, looks like the dust bowl. I'd pack up and head for California. Kidding. If it's like that often, I'd cut the interval in half.
 

79jasper

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Location
Skiatook, Oklahoma
TDI
2010 jetta
Pretty often. Lol
Should see what it's done to the windshield.
Heading home to Oklahoma in a few weeks if all goes as planned.

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ATR

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Joined
Jun 18, 2005
Location
Baltimore
TDI
2011 Golf TDI 6MT

Hasn't moved yet. I wonder if it's "too big" for this application.

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That looks like it was made for a tractor trailer engine? If so their engines are 5-7 times the size of ours.
 

phaser

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2004
Location
Oregon
TDI
2004 Jetta PD - 490k
Hasn't moved yet. I wonder if it's "too big" for this application.
I think that's for a much larger engine.

I have this one: http://filterminder.com/products/vi...r-filter-restriction-gauge-grommet-mount.html

And just a note, after 100,000 miles, mind never got above 8 on the green scale.

This would be consistent with Drivbiwire's comments in post #26.

Mercedes uses a pressure sensor in the MAF to detect filter performance and limits this to 20 hPa, VW uses a fixed interval of 60,000 miles using the 15,000 mile per year average.

I know for a fact that the VW filters even after 80,000 miles still show less than 5" WC which is 1/5th of the limit.
Here'a another thread to read: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?p=1034432


.
 
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79jasper

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Joined
Feb 27, 2014
Location
Skiatook, Oklahoma
TDI
2010 jetta
Good info there.
Yeah I bet it too big then. Lol
I got two for free, so figured I would try it, as I hadn't seen that other thread.

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Ol'Rattler

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Jul 3, 2007
Location
PNA
TDI
2006 BRM Jetta
DBW Bite Me! You over complicate everything if a TDI engine is that sensitive to a little dust then it was a of piece of crap to start with that is just not livin' in he real world and all the members here should junk them as the engine is too sensitive to any normal environmental changes. Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill. You may be obsessed with perfection but I do not believe the car was manufactured that way any how. And neither are the replacement air filters. I worked in automotive parts manufacturing at GKN and nothing was ever made as precise as you think it is.
Take a deep breath. Everything DBW has posted is completely on point, accurate and correct.

Did you know that K&N includes some magical grease with their recharge kits that you are suppose to use every time you reinstall the filter in an effort to prevent air leaks at the seal. So ya. Even a garbage selling company like K&N understands that a filter 's seal will leak if it is compressed more than once.

As an aside, what does DBW have in common with Bruce Dickinson another intelligent and articulate person? Hint................

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/artic...e-dickinson-to-fly-band-on-world-tour-in-2016
 
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Drivbiwire

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Oct 13, 1998
Location
Boise, Idaho
TDI
2013 Passat TDI, Newmar Ventana 8.3L ISC 3945, 2016 E250 BT, 2000 Jetta TDI

Hasn't moved yet. I wonder if it's "too big" for this application.

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Too Big?

You do realize that the device measures PRESSURE (differential).

SIZE of the engine has ABSOLUTELY no bearing on how the meter works, no way, no how!

Pressure differential is the difference of pressure compared to the inlet and outlet side of the filter.

As the filter loads up, and dirt and debris block passages, air pressure begins to drop on the engine side of the filter. This is a GOOD THING, since the LARGER passages plug up FIRST. Meaning, the filter only filters out smaller and smaller particles the longer it is used.

Since there are now fewer passages, the filter begins to present more resistance to the flow of air thru the filters passages, this RESTRICTION is measure in pressure differential.

The meter above uses INCHES OF WATER as its indicator of restriction. You can put that on a lawnmower, or a D-9 CAT and its going to READ EXACTLY the level of restriction no matter what engine its installed on and based SOLELY on how much resistance to air flow the filter is presenting.

Many of the newer cars are using electronic versions of that meter (Mercedes for one) located on the MAF sensor. The ECU monitors for restriction and can trigger a service interval for the filter media IF it detects excess restriction.



Mercedes uses 20 hPa as the limit, but on a TDI if you use 20-25" WC as indicated or 4 years, you are right on the money to protect your engine.

In this case SIZE DOES NOT MATTER, restriction Does!
 

NoSmoke

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2001
Location
Calgary, Alberta
TDI
2K2 Golf
WOW what a lot of words about a lot of nothing in the end. If the system was delicate many many many would have failed with a disastrous result which I have never read here. Sorta like this..........Geez I opened my airbox checked out my filter and now the engine is kaput. There are many more failures that these cars will have long before the airbox seal has led to them.
Forgive me father for I have sinned. :p My 02 Golf has both 430,000 Kms and the original air filter. I take it out once per year m/l and clean it (and the "snow screen") with warn soapy water. Let it dry and inspect for holes or tears. Finding none, reinstall it. No probs so far.
 

corpsman5

Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2015
Location
Nashville, TN
TDI
2000 Beetle TDI
I almost hate to throw my hat in the ring here, but the manual's suggestion for air filter replacement intervals, is just that, a suggestion. the manufacturer has no idea of the conditions of which each driver may face from day to day during the lifetime of the vehicle. if they new you were driving around in a sand quarry, they would probably suggest you change the filter on a daily basis. geez... some of you guys get way too bent out of shape over some of this stuff. live and let live.
 
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