AFE Stage 2 Si Cold Air Intake--2006

[Tmartin000]

After using a nonofiber Amsoil filter, I wasn't too impressed. It cloggs frequently. I am looking for a nice air intake system that will do a couple of things:

1. MORE AIR
2. no irratating loud whistle

I've been wondering if the above model is the one... . ?

Anyone with personal use?

Tom

 

[DPKetchum]

Lots of them in use. How do you mean the Amsoil clogs easily. If so its doing a great job of stopping trash from getting in your engine. In fact was thinking of going to one instead f the oiled AFE.

 

[BHolm]

The honest truth is... on a stock truck, the stock airbox flows more air than the engine needs, assuming a properly serviced filter.



Two big reasons for the aftermarket systems.

1) To proved a cleanable/re-usable filter

2) To increase audible turbo whistle, which most people buying these desire.



If those are not your goals for the system, I would skip it. If that $3-400 is just burning a hole in your pocket, you can buy a different product and actually gain something. Get yourself a new high flow intake horn like the AFE or CFM+. That will increase responsiveness, give a low end power boost and lower EGTs while not increasing noise levels.

 

[LRutigliano]

TMartin000



I have the AFE Stage 2Si on my 03. I like it alot for the following reasons:



- enclosed box protects filter and engine from rain and snow. My 03 doesn't have the radiator baffle on the ps of the cooling package, so I get lots of water, bugs, etc coming thru. I've seen a squashed bee on my firewall on the passenger side. It also rains ALOT here in the Pacific NW.



- the unit comes with a very nicely shaped intake pipe that go's from the 6" filter hole ID and nicely transitions down to the 4" turbo inlet with no obstructions.



- you can hear the turbo more now, but its not very loud.



- the filter is very large, so it should hold more dirt.



- the entire unit looks very nice in the engine compartment, very factory like but "tough"



- truck seems more responsive now and I had the AFE drop in filter with some ram air holes drilled in the front of my stock box. I'm not even comparing it to the stock filter with no holes in the stock box.



Go look at the AFE website, they claim 4hp and 9ft-lbs torque at 2200rpm, but if look at the dyno chart, the hp and torque increases are quite large at the lower rpms (where most of us drive and tow)



Don't waste your time with kit that comes with the Pro Dry S AND Pro Gaurd 7 filter. Just get the Pro Gaurd 7 filter. The Pro Dry S is only rated for coarse dust while the Pro Gaurd 7 is rated for fine dust (big difference!!)



I got mine at Alligator Performance. Chad is very knowledgable and helpful.



These are my observations and opinions and good luck.



Louis

 

[Tmartin000]

DPKETCHUM-- After installing in a factory box at 16K miles, I have had to air blast it twice with my 100lb air compressor nozzle. Now at 26K miles, air blasting and all, it is clogged to the point my filter minder is 3/5 pulled down. I'm calling it as I see it... Absolute waste of money. I have spoke with four other people with the same results. By the way, I sell Amsoil stuff too. Sorry Amsoil.


LRutigliano-- Thanks Man! That's the info I was after. I don't mind a little noise. I just don't want an Aircraft carrier driving down the street. On my 97 I had a BHAF setup. Loved it. But there HPCR motors being sooo quiet, ..... you get the idea. So just get the kit and buy a regular Pro Guars 7 filter. Got it.

BHOLM-- All I can tell you is that if you pay attention to your filter minder, you may see it is sucked down more often that you think. I suppose If I just keep replacing filters at $16 bucks a piece as OFTEN as I believe I will, I honestly think in short order, I will pay for a new system quickly. Also, your perception of enough air comming in may be off a bit. I believe you can almost never get "enough air". Personel choice yes. I do, however, appreciate your input.



Also, maybe that high flow intake horn thingy would be good too? Anyone have any thoughts?????????????

Tom

 

[Edgemann55]

Mr Holm hit the nail on the head,many studies have been done even by the TDR magazine staff and the stock air box flows as well as anything out there. If you want more air put a 4" hole on the bottom of the stock box with a intake tube. As far as the Amsoil filter I have had one for 15,000 miles and the filter minder has not moved. I live in the high desert with very dusty conditions and the filter has worked great-no dust to the turbo. If yours is dirty it was doing it's job-Thats why we clean them. As far as the filter minder goes I do not think of it has a high tech gauge. I would rather just visually inspect the filter at oil changes.

 

[DPKetchum]

First I've never paid attention to any of the filter minders used in any years on these trucks,Next is when I bought my 03 all that was talked about was how POOR the factory air box was in flow numbers. All of 03 and 04 that issue was pushed with all cfm numbers posted on stock and aftermarket. I bought mine when it was one of the BEST on the market. Only reason I bought mine was the old thought of more air in and more air out first basics of a more efficent engine and controling EGTS. I did NOT want more noise. I've never even thought of removing my DARN chemo brain! Thing in the turbo or the pieces in the factory tubing. I just wanted a little more poop and a little cooler egts. I still have my old air box with a VERY clean filter that came with the truck. Plus I'll confess. I do have and use at times(hadn't been on since LAST Christmas) a Quad 30/60/100 box. Its a early box(bought when they firsst came out) but I've never had a issue with EGTS with it or pulling 10k through mountains etc. I can hit 1200 if I really honk it in high gear. Thats it tops. Without the Quad box its 1100 tops and that takes work. But the main thing is I read OVER AND OVER about how BAD the factory filter set up was. My 93W250 had a HUGE filter factory compared to these. Yes I used K&N back then and NEVER found ANYTHING in the intake or turbo with it. It DID get nasty like the factory dry stock one.

 

[Bob4x4]

It works,it makes me happy,enough said :-laf

#ad


#ad


#ad




It has done it's job through the sands of Pismo Beach,Glamis, Baja 1000 and all the other normal driving.



Bob

 

[Tmartin000]

I live on the Oregon coast. Maybe paper cloggs easier... More surface area to flow more air... Just that siple.

Second. The filter minder. Very uncomplicated device that seems darn consistant. I have owned THREE Dodge's and I kinda like the filter minder.

Bob4x4-- Thanks for the pics!


Tom

 

[BHolm]

BHOLM-- All I can tell you is that if you pay attention to your filter minder, you may see it is sucked down more often that you think. I suppose If I just keep replacing filters at $16 bucks a piece as OFTEN as I believe I will, I honestly think in short order, I will pay for a new system quickly. Also, your perception of enough air comming in may be off a bit. I believe you can almost never get "enough air". Personel choice yes. I do, however, appreciate your input.







Also, maybe that high flow intake horn thingy would be good too? Anyone have any thoughts?????????????



Tom

No filter minder on my truck anymore. I did run the truck with the Quad box, CFM+ air horn and muffler delete and a stock airbox. Still didn't pull down the filter minder, which I don't trust either, even running 40 lbs of boost.



My extensive experience with TD trucks from all three manufacturers tells me that 15k mile filter services on paper filters is pretty normal if you work the trucks at all. They all flow a tremendous amount of air and mess up filters quickly. I think you can pay for the system by having a cleanable filter. You do not need to replace the whole airbox system etc to get that feature though.



My point was, the aftermarket intake is not going to give you any power boost. If the airbox isn't a restriction, getting more air is a non issue. Your engine, as it is now, can't use the additional air, so it isn't "helping" to do anything but lighten your wallet.



The air horn on the other hand, IS a substantial restriction. Replacing it does improve airflow and provides a performance gain.



Good Luck!

 

[Bob4x4]

My point was, the aftermarket intake is not going to give you any power boost. If the airbox isn't a restriction, getting more air is a non issue. Your engine, as it is now, can't use the additional air, so it isn't "helping" to do anything but lighten your wallet.







Good Luck!

That does not always hold true... ... ... ... a power gain was also shown at one of our dyno days a few years back going froma bhaf to an AFE stg 1 on a 24v.

I have also seen gains on the dyno going from stock to hi flow systems. Peak hp is not that impressive but if I can get quicker spool up (better torque)on the same amount of fuel I am a happy camper.



Bob

 

[Tmartin000]

Bob-

I have to agree with you on this one. I can't figure out why it's so complicated for someone to understand. The yellow-thingy goes down when the filter gets plugged... Filter is plugged at 10K, Amsoil filter rated to 100K miles... . plugged at 10K. (Mind you, when you jam on the accekerator) All I can think to do is significantly increase the surface area of the filter...

Tom

 

[Bob4x4]

Forgot to mention one more thing,the factory has changed the air inlet system since 03 for higher flow



Bob

 

[Edgemann55]

Bob-



I have to agree with you on this one. I can't figure out why it's so complicated for someone to understand. The yellow-thingy goes down when the filter gets plugged... Filter is plugged at 10K, Amsoil filter rated to 100K miles... . plugged at 10K. (Mind you, when you jam on the accekerator) All I can think to do is significantly increase the surface area of the filter...



Tom

Yea rated to last 100,000 miles with cleanings when needed. Amsoil has no control over the conditions one drives in. As far as the filter minder I do understand the concept,that it is to tell the owner when the filter is dirty-Duhh:-laf All I was trying to say was that mine has never pulled down and at 5000 mile checks my filter and intake box are very dirty. In 50+ mile an hour winds which are common place here in the high desert country we can get dust storms that look like fog so I do have to deal with good filtration. Thats why I went with the Amsoil as I can clean it and not have to buy a Mopar filter every 5000 miles. Good luck with whatever you go with