How often to change outer primary air filter?

[Mosey]

I'm doing my 350 hour service. The manual says to clean the outer primary air filter element every 100 hours and to change it seasonally. I have been cleaning it every 100 hours, but not changing it seasonally. So far, I only put about 100 hours on the tractor per year. The filter wasn't very dirty, just slightly discolored and no grit or grime, after the first year. Even though it still didn't look very dirty, I changed it the second year at 250 hours. Last year, it wasn't very dirty again, just slightly discolored and no grit or grime, so I just cleaned it again. Now, at the 350 hour service, it's showing more discoloration in some areas, but still no grit or grime. Up until this year, I did not have a FEL and haven't done much work in the dirt, mostly just mowing. I'm contemplating just cleaning it for now, which I've already done. I plan to do a fair amount of FEL work this spring and early summer, so I'm planning to change it at the 400 hour service, which will probably be about a third of the way through the summer. Does this make sense to you folks? Do you all change yours seasonally regardless of how many hours it has on it or how dirty it looks? I haven't changed the inner safety air filter element yet, since it has always looked very clean and the manual says to change it after the 3rd new outer primary air filter element or 1000 hours, whichever comes first. I know some of you are going to say it's cheaper to put a new filter in now and save money on expensive repairs later if the filter gets too dirty, but I need to be reasonable and not waste money on a new one if I really don't need it.

 

[Bird]

Danny, this topic was discussed a few years ago, and I'd probably never be able to find the old thread now, but if my memory serves right, some folks say that a new filter has some kind of coating or something that will deteriorate over time even if not in use. Now I don't know anything that would help you, but for me personally, I changed mine at least annually.

 

[DK35vince]

Under normal conditions I check my filter once per year or every 100 hours and replace it every 2 years or 200 hours..
If I run in higher than normal dust conditions I will check/replace the filter more often.

 

[djradz]

Danny, I've got two outer filters that I wash and interchange, every year or so. Sure see no point in doing it any sooner as it rarely has looked anything more than slightly dusty. I have no plans to change the inner one anytime soon. Not sure if I'll go quite to the 1000 hours or maybe a little less.

I haven't heard anything about a coating on either filter. If there's one, I probably should be concerned about repeated washings. Anyone ?????