aFe air boot melting problems.

[Gonzo 1066]

I just got back from a trip to Montana,Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. The weather was very warm (in the low 100s) and my combined weight is about 19-20,000#. I have gauges on the truck and always monitor the EGTs. When I stopped in Sundance Wyoming and popped the hood to check things I discovered the turbo to torque tube rubber boot was nearly melted through!! I had installed aFes mega cannon and torque tube just before I left on the trip. I was able to find a silicone boot at a truck shop to replace the melted one. I have owned turbo diesels for nearly 30 years (heavy equipment, farm equipment and Dodge trucks) so I am used to the proper operation of diesels. I always let the egts come down before shut down.

Is there anyone out there that has had this problem!

I sent the melted parts back to aFe and left messages but thy have not returned calls or tried to contact me in any way. I am not trying to flame aFe in any way and would not mention it here if it was just a cosmetic part failure. However if the tube to turbo boot fails then your engine will have NO filter at all. I feel lucky I caught mine in time. PLEASE TAKE TIME TO CHECK YOUR AIR INTAKE SYSTEM!

 

[Bob4x4]

I was at AFE last week and discussed this issue with them and they are testing temps on this hose with a variety of different trucks and configurations. I may be one of those trucks if I hook up my trailer soon enough.



Bob

 

[LesStallings]

I'll be on a 4,000 mile run, pulling a 15K trailer, leaving Tuesday next week.



If AFe wants to send me a full Stage 2, I'll be glad to test it out for the next five years or so.

 

[WSelby]

I just got back from a two hour haul today with about 15000 pounds and the day before i had installed the same thing and that POS is already melted through. I guess that it doesnt hurt that it was pegged at about 1650 to 1700 EGT for 24 minutes straight.

 

[BILLUA]

I had that same boot with the AFE stage 2 that I used to run. It had also melted to the turbo. I have a juice and limit EGT's to 1300f. I had contact with AFE and they sent me a new one. . Excellent customer service... I sold the system with the new boot to NAUDIVER1.



I think that AFE had tried to save a little cost with that boot, it is thin and flimsy. With that said, I am confident that they will fix the problem.

 

[Phaeton]

Melted mine on Friday pulling a long steep hill. I will contact AFE on Tuesday and see what's up.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I replaced mine with some big truck silicone units. Still have not had a call back from them?!!

 

[nauidvr1]

I am the guy BILLUA sold his AFE stage 2 system to, and so far the boot is holding up. I have only towed about 500 miles and have been lightly loaded (car trailer with a restored 1970 series convertible Cutlass). My EGT's have never been over 1200 as of yet, and never were sustained for more that a few seconds.

 

[Phaeton]

Wrote AFE and they are sending out a new boot ASAP. Great customer service.

 

[BCring]

I replaced mine with some big truck silicone units. Still have not had a call back from them?!!

Can you tell us where to get the silcone boots? Doesn't seem like the stock boots are very robust.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Got mine from a Class 8 (semi) truck dealer. They are air intaks boots and work great.

 

[Bertram65]

Does the torque tube really add anything compared to the factory rubber boots with that piece between them having the silencing pieces removed?

 

[Mark Craig]

Gonzo 1066,



Spoke with AFE about this issue last week, their supplier of the boots changed their formula or something and has caused this issue to pop up. Just call them at 877-512-8111 and they will fix you up. They have been using the same supplier of silicone boots since day one and boom somebody decided to change something etc. It's only been an issue on the Dodges as the turbo is so close to the boots etc while in a Ford/Duramax there is considerable distance between them.



Mark @ DPPI

 

[crobertson1]

Mark,



Do you know if they've fixed the problem or are they just sending out more of the same. I've already had to replace one and the second one needs to be replaced again. Thanks.



Craig

 

[SRadke]

Member "Camotanker" over on the NWB site not only melted off the rubber boot but also got the bottom of the plastic torque tube hot enough to deform it. It's good to hear AFE is going to stand behind this.



-Scott

 

[Mike B.]

I have just ordered a stage 2 kit for my 06. Do you think I will get the revised boot that doesn't melt?

I wonder if I should just call and have them send me a new boot before I install the stage 2 kit





Mike

 

[crobertson1]

Just an update. My second hose is melted and I contacted aFe and they sent a new one again. This one I recieved is obviously much more stout and looks much more able to withstand higher temperatures. I'm impressed with their customer service. Thanks aFe.

 

[osiris]

I just got back from a two hour haul today with about 15000 pounds and the day before i had installed the same thing and that POS is already melted through. I guess that it doesnt hurt that it was pegged at about 1650 to 1700 EGT for 24 minutes straight.

How did your turbo like being ran at that temp for that long?

 

[Gonzo 1066]

We have no idea if the rubber melts at 200 degrees or 500!!

 

[RMalone]

This thread is the one and only reason that I have a Scotty air 5 (that and I tend to be contrarian). I even had the AFE stage 2 ordered, and I cancelled. I'm not sure if the AFE handles egt as well/or better than the Scotty but at 450 bucks for the AFE (and numerous posts about intake boots melting) I don't even care to find out. I will stick with the Scotty until I get twins and then I will probably HAVE to get a AFE!! :-laf :-laf