Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) filter minder

[dbargy]

hello all,

this website is the best "schoolroom" i have been in to learn about my dodge diesel. o i hope this question doesn't send me to the rear of the class!

concerning the little "filter minder" guage attached to the air filter box... on a fresh filter, is the plunger suposed to be all the way down, and move up as the filter gets dirty? or vice versa??

for some reason, i cannot find a simple explanation in my owners manual.

thanks.

 

[illflem]

The plunger is supposed to be all the way down, and move up as the filter gets dirty. Depending on your modifications (or more the lack of them) and the type of filter it's not unusual for it to not move at all.

 

[dbargy]

thanks illflem!

actually, my situation is like you describe. i really haven't done any modifications to my truck,. it's basicaly stock with the exception of a k&n filter. in all the time i've had the truck i've never seen the filter minder move at all! i was beginning to think that it might have been stuck.

you've helped me put the issue to rest!

 

[Blakers]

I thought it moved down further with more vacuum - indicating a restriction in the air filter, thus filter cleaning or replacement needed.



In other words, the further down it is, the dirtier your air filter.



Blake

 

[phoekema]

mine moves down

Mine is normally in the top area and moves down with restriction. When the reset button on the top is pushed, the indicator returns to the top once again.

 

['956Wheel]

The "red zone" (replace filter) is on the bottom on mine.



Mike

 

[Piersol]

It's funny, the owners manual says if the filter minder doesn't move don't replace the filter. I replace my filter once a year and it's pretty dirty, but the filter minder has never moved. I wouldn't dare not replace my filter until the minder told me so.

 

[illflem]

A filter can be visibly dirty and flow just fine or clean looking and totally plugged. Looks don't mean anything. Unless your filter minder is cracked it works, not much to go wrong there. It's not unusual at all for the minder not to move with a stock engine and filter, put some mods to it and watch out.

 

[Eric_77]

filter lastsa long time on mildly dusty roads stock lasted me 150k then I put K&n and did fuel plate and boost elbow it now goes about 100k

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Here's my problem: after only 2 weeks of use on a new filter, my minder is already halfway down. What's up with that? I've had the truck about 10 months, and the minder behaved much more normally with the previous filter.



My mods are in my sig. I have an Amsoil filter in the stock airbox. The filter was included in the extras that came with the truck, and was new (previous filter was also Amsoil). I've run it 2 weeks and it still looks new.



All on-road driving; I live on an unpaved (crushed shell) road, but it's only about 100' off the paved road to my driveway.



Also AFAIK, the fender-airbox boot is still installed. I'll gladly take it off, but I don't know how that could be the problem at hand.



TIA



kevin

 

[Bob Cochran]

This is how mine works. I guess depends on your defintion of top and bottom.

Mine is normally in the top area and moves down with restriction. When the reset button on the top is pushed, the indicator returns to the top once again.

 

[HSpiering]

Just changed my filter on my 06. 18K, it was almost to the red. The filter looked pretty clean. My 94 trucks filter was a real oily mess by 30k but minder still said it was good. It didn't start to move to the red till 50k. I wonder if the 06 truck just pulls more air through it? A lot of differences between the two.