We just got a 2007 Acura TL Base with 140k miles on it and I am going through the maintenance.

Any guesses on how old this Air filter is? like 50k miles ago?

Trying to get an idea how dirty the Acura filters get. This car was taken by the previous owner to the local honda dealer for regular service.

 

Kind of depends upon where in the country you are, but yeah, 50,000 miles doesn't seem too far from the mark. FWIW, it isn't necessarily a bad thing to have a dirty air filter in your car; the dirtier the filter the higher the efficiency the filtering.

 

this filter had small bits of gravel and grass in it. Almost seems like it would be restricting air flow when dirty and probably messing up fuel efficiency.

Just got the new one in the mail today, so I shall know pretty soon.

 

seem like the dealer pen whipped the hell out previous owner.

 

Dirty air filter won't alter fuel mileage.
Have seen a few dealerships over the years charge for parts they never replace.

 

As already stated by Turbonut, it isn't possible for a dirty air filter to mess up fuel efficiency in a modern car with a fuel injected engine.

 

Air filters are so cheap, this is embarassing.

 

so the engine just keeps adjusting with reduced air flow?

Even if it doesn't change efficiency, couldn't it decrease performance since the car has to accommodate? sluggishness?

 

Yes, the acceleration will be negatively impacted, but the degree of that impact will be virtually unnoticeable until the filter gets much dirtier than the one shown in the above picture.

 

That's why they call 'em stealerships !
.
.

 

I say 50k+
Stealerships is on point. At the dealer I worked for we used to just clean the customers cabin/air filter if they wanted it replaced
and we didn't have it in stock. Heck even Rotors we usually didn't have in stock so we would install aftermarket from the parts place next
door only brakes always oem.

 

My air filter didn't look half that bad, I replaced it and the difference was night and day!

 

So before you replacing the filter it was day time and after you replace the filter its night time? I got it now.