Own a 2005 Focus with 16k miles and was wanting to check the air filter and come to find out that it has a "Lifetime" filter. I have never heard of such a thing. How is it possiblethat the filter never needs changed? Just normal driving will get dirt into a filter. Can I take it out myself and at least clean it? I don't want it to run rough or start getting poor mpg if it gets dirty. Help shed some light on this.

 

Did you but this car used? Is it a K+N air filter? If it is you can purchase a recharge kit at your local advance auto parts and follor directions on kit.

 

I bought it new. The filter is the factory one that came with the car. I noticed a clear "round" valve-type thing attached to the round filter housing. It has a green area and red area in it.

 

When the red pops out or if there is a line on the see through part and the red is on teh indicator, that indicates it needs to be cleaned.

As far as lifetime, it could be a dry clean yourself type filter. Usually it says to wash it with water and let it dry. If it looks oily then you get the cleaner kit. Check what the manual says. If you don't have a manual then check out here.

www.fleet.ford.com

Go into the maintenance tab and the scroll to manuals.