Gen 2 & Gen 3 Raptor Engine Air Filter Replacement (2017+)
Four fasteners, a cover, and a filter element — the Raptor's engine air filter is one of the easiest jobs in this whole library, on either generation.
Video: Tech Tip-Changing Your Air filter on a 2018 Ford Raptor by Arizona Raptor Runs Official on YouTube.
RaptorCentral isn't affiliated with the creator; the steps below are our own write-up.
Who this is for
This applies to both the Gen 2 (2017–2020) and Gen 3 (2021+) Raptor. The video on this page is filmed on a 2018, a Gen 2 truck, with roughly 5,000 miles on the filter shown — a chunk of them dirt miles, per the video's own description. The Gen 3's airbox may look a little different from the one in the video, but it follows the same basic cover-and-fasteners design, and Ford specs the same Motorcraft filter part number across both generations and every model year we have a manual for. If you off-road regularly, check this filter more often than you'd think to on a daily driver — dust and dirt roads load it up faster than pavement ever will.
Tools
- A screwdriver or nut driver sized for the airbox cover fasteners
- A flashlight, to inspect the housing before the new element goes in
Parts
- Motorcraft engine air filter FA-1883
Steps
Pop the hood and find the airbox
The engine air filter housing sits in the engine bay ahead of the throttle body. It's a plastic box with a removable cover. Ford's current Raptor owner's manual describes a cover held by four fasteners; on a Gen 2, count and note the fasteners on your own airbox before removing them, since the surrounding plastic shrouding looks a little different across generations.
Remove the fasteners securing the cover
Ford's own procedure for the Raptor's air filter is built around four fasteners holding the cover down on current trucks; go by the count you noted on your own airbox. Work your way around all of them before trying to lift anything — pulling at one corner while the others are still fastened is how covers crack.
Lift the cover off
Once all fasteners are clear, lift the cover straight up and set it aside somewhere it won't pick up dirt or get stepped on. Take a second to note which way it was oriented before you set it down, so reinstalling is a non-event later.
Remove the old filter element
Lift the old element out of the housing. If it's genuinely dirty — caked with dust, or visibly packed with debris from dirt-road miles — that's exactly the condition this job is meant to fix. If it looks only lightly used, it's still worth a look at the housing underneath before you decide whether to reuse it or go ahead and swap it.
Check the housing before fitting the new element
With the old filter out, shine a flashlight into the empty housing and clear out anything that's collected in the bottom — leaves, sand, or loose debris that could get pulled into the intake once the new filter's installed and the engine's running.
Install the new Motorcraft FA-1883 element
Seat the new filter the same way the old one came out, matching whatever orientation markings it has. It should drop into the housing without needing to be forced or wedged into place.
Reinstall the cover and every fastener
Put the cover back on in the orientation you noted earlier, and reinstall every fastener you removed. Don't skip any of them, even if the cover seems to sit fine with one missing — a loose corner lets unfiltered air sneak past the element.
Never run the engine with the air cleaner removed
This is Ford's own warning for this procedure, worth repeating here: don't start or run the engine with the air cleaner assembly removed, and keep debris out of the intake while the housing is open. There's nothing between an open intake and the engine's internals but the filter you just pulled.
Check the filter again after any off-road trip
Ford's guidance for the 2019 Raptor specifically calls out checking that the air filter is clean and dry after off-road driving, alongside the grille, radiator, exhaust and undercarriage. If you've just come off a dusty trail or crossed water, that's a good moment to pull the cover again rather than waiting for a scheduled interval.
Specs
| Engine air filter | Motorcraft FA-1883 (same part number for 2017, 2019 and Gen 3 2022) Source: Ford 2017 + 2019 F-150 Raptor Supplements; Ford 2022 F-150 Owner's Manual |
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Safety notes
- Never start or run the engine with the air cleaner assembly removed — Ford's own warning for this exact procedure.
- Keep debris out of the intake opening the whole time the housing is open.
- Don't skip any of the cover fasteners on reassembly; a loose corner lets unfiltered air past the element.
Owner questions
- What air filter does the Raptor use?
- Motorcraft FA-1883, on both generations. Ford's 2017 and 2019 Raptor supplements and the 2022 F-150 owner's manual all list the same part number for this filter.
- Is the job different on a Gen 3 compared to the Gen 2 in the video?
- The underlying design — a cover over a replaceable element, held down by fasteners — is the same. Ford's current manual describes four fasteners; the Gen 3's airbox may look a little different in appearance from the Gen 2 truck shown in the video, but the steps don't change.
- How often should I replace it?
- There's no fixed mileage interval worth repeating here — follow your Scheduled Maintenance guide, and check it more often if you're putting on a lot of dirt-road or off-road miles between services.
- What should I check after off-roading?
- Ford specifically calls out checking that the air filter is clean and dry, along with the grille, radiator, exhaust and undercarriage fasteners, after off-road driving.
- Can I use a reusable or oiled aftermarket filter instead?
- That's a personal choice outside what Ford specifies — this guide covers the factory Motorcraft part and procedure. If you do run an oiled aftermarket filter, it's worth checking the MAF/IAT/MAP sensors more often, since oiled filters are more prone to shedding a light film onto the tubing downstream.
- What's the actual sign that this filter needs replacing?
- Visual condition is the most reliable check — pull the cover and look. A filter packed with visible dust or debris is overdue regardless of how many miles the truck has on it since the last swap, especially if those miles included any dirt-road or off-road driving.