RX-8 Air Filter
 

After reading the manual for the RX-8, I am curious about the air filter. Is this air filter paper? Is it like air filters put in the majority of other cars? I tend to think it is not. First off, it is much bigger then most stock filters in other cars I have owned. Also, the change interval, if I remember correctly is around 40,000-50,000 miles. Also, I think I remember something about being able to clean it.




What are you other owners going to do in regards to your air filters? When will you clean /replace them? WIll you clean them or replace them completely? What are your thoughts. I ask because the air filter, as you probably know, is one of the most important regular maintenace items in a car.

Which air filter? The Engine air or cabin air filter?

read your manual, says when to clean, when to change it, etc etc.

How do you clean this air filter blow it out with compressed air?

replace it with a K&N filter

Engine

That is the whole point. I don't follow this manuals, or any manuals maintenance schedule. That is the point in asking this question. The intervals to change the air filter, along with most other parts is way off.


For example, I owned a 2001 Nissan Maxima. THe change interval for the engine air filter was about 20,000 miles. This is way off. The filter was 'dirty' around 5000 miles, and extremely dirty at around 10,000 miles. When paper filter elements become too clogged with dirt, they become almost totally ineffective.


THerefore, does anyone have their own opinion on when to change/clean their engine air filters. There has to be some maintenance 'nuts' on this board.

If I wanted to follow the manual I would, but in general, all car manuals change intervals, as I said before, are inherently wrong.

One way to think of it: Mazda nor any car manufacturer wants their cars to last 500,000 miles, if they did, they would sell mearly as many vehicles. They want peoples cars to last a decent amount of time, and that is what will happen if one follows their "suggestions", but most cars can last much longer with "revised" maintenance schedules.