2011 Engine Air Filter Change (Pics)

[MrJeepR44]

I just changed the air filter yesterday, and it was a bit of a pain. Instead of having 4 snapping clips on the corners, this box has six 1 1/2" screws, and a bracket to unbolt from the strut tower housing. It took about 20 minutes of the job just to remove the screws and put them back on

My Scion xB only had 4 easy clips, but it was a pain to get the box open because of the way it hinged, and after the filter was replaced it was hard to get that hinge back together... But on the Jeep, once the screws were off it was easy. The top half of the box moves easily out of the way and the filter came right off with an upward pull.

The screws at the back of the box were a pain because they were so close to the firewall. Even an angled screwdriver would not fit. I ended up just using a socket wrench on everything.

After putting the new filter on, the air box lid did not seat all the way at first. There is a lip inside the air box at the end of the filter, and I had to push the filter behind that lip to get the box to close





















You get the idea... pretty much just a box with a round filter inside

[MrShoehorn]

Awesome! Now I'm going to order my k&n!

[MrJeepR44]

Yeah nobody carries them locally yet. The Jeep dealer wanted $25+tax for a paper filter, and the K&N was only $45 and had free shipping (and I never have to buy another one). I got it from autoanything.com

[niblips]

This is good info. Thanx for the pics. I'll be doing this job over the weekend.

My K&N Filter is being delivered today via Purolator.
Won't have to clean it for 50,000 miles (80,000kms)
I'll worry about getting a cleaning kit then.

[Fatty SS]

Thanks for the write up! I'll be watching your fuelly sig for an improvement in mpg.

[Murman]

X2

[MrJeepR44]

I hope it goes up. The only problem with monitoring MPG increase is that I had a bad alignment from the beginning and recently had it aligned at the dealership. My last highway trip (post alignment, pre-K&N) was 25.0 mpg I had a bit of a tailwind and drove easy between 65-70. I didn't think I would even hit 25 with a K&N. If it never happens again, I will know it must have been a fluke (Maybe the Shell pump at the start of the trip put in more gas than it said lol ...yeah right).

[schmjdt]

do you have a link to the filter you bought?

I had gone to wal-mart and picked up the one that the system in the isle said was right, clearly wasn't what i needed.

And, I'll echo the original posters remarks about how suprised I was at the difficulty of getting the back two screws loose, even the 2in stubby screw driver couldn't hardly reach.

But i like the idea of something that can last a little longer, just wasn't sure of size or a good place to buy.

Also i noticed all the "Fuelly" Sigs, so I signed up for an account today, do any of you know, can you update those from a BB? or do i just need to keep logging in the notebook and upload when I get home?

thanks everyone

[MrJeepR44]

Originally Posted by schmjdt

do you have a link to the filter you bought?...

....Also i noticed all the "Fuelly" Sigs, so I signed up for an account today, do any of you know, can you update those from a BB? or do i just need to keep logging in the notebook and upload when I get home?

thanks everyone

E-1998 K&N Filter $46.95, free shipping

On your phone, bookmark this link http://m.fuelly.com It is the easiest way that I have found of checking my MPG

[schmjdt]

wonderful, thanks

[MrJeepR44]

The weird thing is I don't remember my engine area being so dirty the last time I saw it a few weeks ago, and I haven't taken the Jeep any where since then to get dirty like that (just driving through the streets on Dallas). I am trying to figure out how it got so dirty in there. It almost looks like I left it parked outside in a rainstorm with the hood open... which I most definitely did not do

[Orion6]

Originally Posted by mrJeepr44

The weird thing is I don't remember my engine area being so dirty the last time I saw it a few weeks ago, and I haven't taken the Jeep any where since then to get dirty like that (just driving through the streets on Dallas). I am trying to figure out how it got so dirty in there. It almost looks like I left it parked outside in a rainstorm with the hood open... which I most definitely did not do

Because the hood on a Patriot never really closes all the way.

[MrJeepR44]

Originally Posted by Orion6

Because the hood on a Patriot never really closes all the way.

Yeah, that's what I am thinking. I bought some rubber to extend the seal at the front of the hood... but I've misplaced it. I really don't like that much dirt finding its way on the top of everything in there

[niblips]

What a pain in the a$$ it was to change the OEM Air Filter to this K&N one.

I finally had some time on Saturday and it took 35mins to do it...in 38C heat!
I don't have a socket wrench or sockets so I had to use a screwdriver and an adjustable wrench... but because the unit is so close to the back wall of the Patriot i had to use a stubby screwdriver for the back two screws. On top of that they are in there pretty tight.

Lining up the filter in the box is a bit tricky... kinda have to force it a bit... that took me 10mins at least.

I'm glad i won't have to go through that process again for a while. And hopefully I'll have a propper socket set by then

[MrJeepR44]

Yeah, its a bit of a pain. I'm glad the K&N lasts longer between servicing. As far as lining up the filter, I think the K&N may be slightly long. There is a groove in the box for that extra bit off plastic at the end of the oem filter, bit the K&N doesn't have that.

It's not so bad with sockets... Just takes time to unscrew all those screws