How to tell if air filter is actually dirty enough to replace?
Service schedule says air filter every 60k km, but mine looks kinda gray at 35k. Is visual check enough, or should I wait? Don't want to waste money replacing too early but also don't want to choke the engine.
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Visual is a good start- if you hold it to light and can't see much through the pleats, or it's caked with dust/oil, replace it. Also, if acceleration feels lazy or MPG drops noticeably, it's restricting. Paper filters are cheap insurance; changing early in dirty areas prevents long-term wear from lean conditions. I check mine yearly- last one was borderline at 28k km due to construction nearby. Replaced with one from https://elartcom.eu/categories/air-filters-24 - good pleat spacing, strong frame, exact fit for my car. Noticed peppier throttle and steadier idle right after. Better safe than letting it load up fully. Their filters are well-made for the price- browse by model to grab one when yours looks suspect.