Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Kirwin
TDR MEMBER
I was trying to figure out how to access the block heater to install the cord I got from Geno's and see if there was a way to get that pesky oil filter out of the maze of hoses and tubes that they have all over the engine that makes it nearly impossible to actually touch the oil filter, let alone get a wrench on it. I removed the passenger side wheel liner like someone else suggested here on the TDR, but still couldn't touch the filter, or reach the block heater just aft of the filter. So I loosened the hose clamp on the air filter cover along with the 3 screws that hold the air filter cover on, left the wires connected and flipped the cover over and set it on top of the engine. Then I had to see how the active air works, so I pulled the air filter out and low and behold there are two interconnected doors it the bottom of the air box that either let air in from the grill, or from a section of approximately 4" duct that is in the top of the fender pointed dirctly aft. Looks kind of weak to me, all plastic, with a plastic ball and socket connection between the two "doors". Then I loosened the hose clamp just above the 90 degree elbow on the front of the turbo and pulled out the piece of hose that runs between the air box and the rubber elbow connected to the turbo. This piece of hose has the silencer and an air guide like plastic piece in it. This still did not allow me to reach the block heater but did start to uncover the oil filter, but not enough to be able to remove it without spilling any oil while doing so. I then decided to go for broke and remove the elbow itself from the turbo. This requires you to disconnect the PCV hose that taps into the elbow just before the turbo inlet. It has a constant tension clamp on it that I had to access through the removed wheel well liner. This is a silicone hose and was surprisingly tight on it's fitting and took some purswasion to get it loose from the metal tubing coming from the valve cover. I turned the clamp so I could access it from above next time. With all this removed, I could access both the oil filter and the block heater connection with ease. Installed the block heater cord, routed the wire out to the right side tow hook, and tied it off. I looked down in the elbow where the PCV hose connects and the elbow is already damp with oil film. I took a picture of the oily spot for future reference. Kind of disappointed that the truck is already introducing oil into the air inlet with only 2,200 miles so far. While it was in there, I installed a A/C condensate drain hose to direct the water away from the frame, attached the radiator hose that runs between the overflow bottle and the water pump inlet connection to its support that had not been made up at the factory, thus leaving the rather large hose unsupported under the passenger side battery as another member on the TDR had found in his truck. Put it all back together, realized that the air inlet hoses all have "keys" so you can put it together outside the truck and then put it back in the engine bay and connect all the tubing at once. Next time I will disconnect it at the turbo and the air box and leave the center connection intact. I did have to shorten the PCV hose about 3/8" it order to make the elbow seat correctly on the turbo inlet. I also changed out the 3 push pins used to hold the wheel well liner in place with 5/16" body bolts to make removing it in the future much easier. I'll try to post some of the pictures I took. Ken Irwin
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