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Hi PJ, I got to agree with msb as a pleated filter (the best there is) has it best efficency rating after it traps larger particles on the media surface as that slows down (FPM) the very fine particles so they will get trapped in the filter media and not pass thru the media. The large particles are the ones you can see on the media surface. The ones that hurt the engine you can't see with the eye. Only a manometer can tell when it's time to clean/change a filter. The manometer, depending on how it is plumbed, reads the difference in static pressure from the meadia clean side to the media dirty side. When the engine mfg minimum flow rating (CFM) is reached then the filter needs changed/cleaned. A very simple manometer made for the Ford PSD engine, about $15, works very well, called a filter minder. Very few guys will believe the filter minder as it never moves. Well ya because it isn't time to change the filter as it hasn't reached maximum restriction or what the gauge reads. All they look at is the build-up of dirt on the dirty side and change the "clean" filter. To install a mechanical Ford filter minder, drill a 3/4" hole in the dirty side (air intake) of the air plenum, install a rubber sealing goment, push in the filter minder gauge. This filter minder also has a N.O. contact switch so when the filter needs changed it closes the switch thus can send a signal to a lite on the dash if you want. After the dash lite is lit or the mechanical blub moves maximum, you have about 2hrs of engine run time before you need to clean/change the filter. On the other hand, waiting until engine preformance degrades because of filter plug up, uses a alot of fuel before poor engine preformance is noticed. So see, a gauge is the only correct way to tell when a filter needs changed or cleaned. As Kenny pointed out, some of the filters cost $100's to replace. T_Bone
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