I just did mine at 34K (2016 MY) and it was pretty filthy and had a few small chunks of stuff in it. It was definitely time.

 

I agree, mine was very dirty @ 40k. Platininum Trim level is a little more aggravating to remove trim above the dash.

 

I'm doing the cabin air and engine air today in fact. Next weekend is a fresh load of Mobil 1 oil.

 

I just replaced my cabin and engine air filters at 9,000 miles - both filthy dirty. Air pollution at its finest!

Engine and Cabin filters @ 9,000 miles

 

This is why the manufactures suggestions should be taken as just that, and not the gospel carved in stone. Every vehicle is driven in different circumstances and different environments. I check the filters at every oil change and just replace as needed.

 

Is the 2017 F-150 different than others? Or is it the XL trim?

My 2017 truck only has 8k miles, but I checked the filter just to make sure it was okay. I thought getting to the filter was a pain in the butt. I'm sure not going to "check" it again. If I open it again, it will be to replace it. It was a heck of a time getting all the floppy rubber trim strip tabs back into the holes. I think they were installed wrong and bent over to begin with. It wasn't major work, but dropping the glove box, removing screws, removing trim, and needing a video seems like a lot of work for a filter.

As compared to the two cars I've owned with cabin filters, neither of those even required a tool to access the filter. They just had flap doors in the cowl area. Took 10 seconds to replace them. I guess I got spoiled.

 

Are most using just paper filters or are they using the activated charcoal ones?

 

I just used the standard replacement- Mototcraft FP-79
Its just a cheap paper element. Was going to spritz a little air freshener on it or stick a smelly type gizzy in there but thought about that after I closed it up

 

Used and new cabin filters, changed at 19K miles, and 1 year old:

 

Thats about what mine looked like-- maybe a bit darker-- but about the same amount of debris