Less Than Challenging Maintenance: Challenger Filters

Whether you have a 3.6L V6 Challenger or a Hemi powered V8 Challenger, the air filter can be found in the same place - on the driver's side at the front of the car. 

Challengers are equipped from the factory with a multi-layer paper panel filter. This style of filter uses both surface and depth based filtering techniques, however, the emphasis is on the former. This means that most particles are caught on the surface layer of the filter. While effective, surface based filtering does not provide the same level nor longevity of depth based filtering due to the reduced filtering area (and thereby capacity) that is provided by the outer layer.

Dodge calls for the OEM air filter to be inspected every 16,000 miles and replaced after a maximum of 32,000 miles. Being a paper design, the OEM filter is not washable nor reusable and thus must always be replaced with a new one. That said, replacing the filter is quite easy and can be done in just a few minutes without any tools. The air filter box cover is kept in place by plastic tabs and simply disconnecting these tabs and lifting the cover up and off will expose the filter element beneath. The old filter can be removed and discarded and the new one put in place.

OEM paper replacement filters are readily available and inexpensive to purchase - their main drawback is their limited service life and reduced filtering capacity as they age. Aftermarket manufacturers also produce a performance-oriented filter that is made using cotton or a synthetic fiber weave. The benefit of this type of filter is two-fold. First, the filters are thicker and use a funneling process to maximize depth-based filtering (the pores in each layer get smaller, thus big particles get stuck on the surface layer, smaller particles get stuck on the inner layers). Secondly, due to the cotton or similarly fibrous nature of the filter media, these types of filters can be washed out and re-used for the life of the Challenger. These types of filters do typically flow better out of the box, but more importantly, as they age their flow performance remains better than that of a paper filter.

Challengers use a secondary paper panel filter to filter the breathing air that enters the cabin. Dodge recommends this filter also be replaced every 32,000 miles. A dirty or clogged cabin air filter is usually evident by mild odors entering the cabin, especially when using the air condition or heating systems.

Changing out the filter is both inexpensive and easy (how often does that happen?!). On the passenger side, part of the plastic windshield wiper cowl is removal. It simply needs to be lifted out of place (it is held in place by plastic retaining clips) and underneath is the cabin air filter. With the cowl open, lift the cabin filter cover off of the filter and you can slide the filter out. Shouldn't take more than 10 minutes and does not require any tools.

The engine oil is the lifeblood of the engine and keeping it clean and free of harmful particles (metal shavings) is paramount to overall engine longevity. The part that is attributed to this major responsibility is the oil filter. V8 Challengers use a cartridge style filter that is housed in a metal casing. At the base of the casing is one large central hole, surrounded by smaller holes perforating the perimeter. Mated to the engine block, engine oil is pumped into the filter through the smaller perimeter holes and is pushed through a pleated synthetic fiber filter. The clean oil then leaves the filter through the large hole in the center and is used to lubricate the engine. The oiling system on the Challenger is a full-flow system, meaning all of the oil is filtered before it is sent to the engine.

Now, if the filter were to clog this could potentially starve the engine of oil altogether. With this scenario in mind, all oil filters used on the Challenger have a by-pass (or relief valve) that will open up in the event that the filter becomes clogged. This will still allow the oil to reach the engine, however, it would be unfiltered oil. Nonetheless, unfiltered oil is better than no oil at all.

V6 powered Challengers, while the principle of the filter is unchanged, use a replacement filter element (not a metal cartridge filter) as the filter housing is integrated into the engine. The filter location on V6 Challengers is under just forward and down of the intake manifold on the passenger side.

In terms of maintenance, an oil and oil filter change should be conducted every 8000 miles. 5.7L Hemi V8 Challengers call for 7 quarts if 5W20, the 6.1L V8 Hemi uses  0W40 and 3.6L V6 uses good ole' 5W30.

Conventionally, vehicles had an inline fuel filter (located after the pump somewhere along the chassis). Dodge has done away with this design in the Challenger's fuel system and instead has integrated the fuel filter directly with the fuel pump, which sits inside the fuel tank. Using the term 'fuel filter' is even a bit misleading, as the filter is really just a screen that is placed on the pickup inside of the tank. The fuel is sucked through the screen which will keep any debris from getting to the lines. While this seems quite basic, do keep in mind the Challenger uses a plastic fuel tank (thus metal degradation is not a concern) and improved fuel storage regulations (the tanks the gas stations have to use) should keep contaminants to a minimum.  As far as maintenance is concerned, there is no set interval or procedure in which to change the filter. A clogged screen would lead to poor engine performance or possible backfiring. However, given the screen's integration with the fuel pump assembly, it would be difficult to discern (and test for) a clogged screen as opposed to a failing pump.