Air filter failure?????

[hensign]

So I noted that my filter minder was pulled up to the red? truck only has 8300 miles, didnt suspect it should have any issues yet as I do not drive in dusty conditions. 2 Days later I checked it again and it was in the red again. So I pulled the filter cover and the filter was sucked up into the upper housing all smashed and deformed.



What did I do? How could this happen? I am really good with maintenance as a rule, you will not find much better maintained trucks, bikes or cars than mine. Has anyone else had this happen?



I do know one thing, I used the truck on Sunday in a nasty snow storm. Most roads had 12+ inches of powder on them, some had more. All I can figure is the snow was sucked up into the intake and clogged the filter. I know I ran through deeper snow with my 2nd gen so I guess there is a problem with the intake location.



Keep an eye on your filter minder and filter if you run in alot of snow. This could have led to major engine damage!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mberry]

All I can tell you is that when I changed mine for the first time at 2,300 miles it was as bad as the replacement was at 15,000 miles. I don't know why but it wasn't winter when I got it, it wasn't winter when I replaced it, and it hadn't snowed yet at that point.

 

[CPG]

The stock air filter does not last very long. At 7-8 K miles, that seems to be the practical limit. I do not drive in dusty conditions, however it makes no difference.

I will start to look around for an aftermarket filter. It seems like there are a few good ones to choose from. The filter inlet taking the air in from the fender well is one reason of poor design. My present one is a Cummins fleetguard replacement and no difference from the OEM filter. The filter minder has never worked good and after the first trip it is always half-way to the red.

 

[barbwire]

It has happened to me several times, on both my 99 and 04. Each time, I was driving down the road while the wind was blowing a very fine dusting of snow across the road. As CPG said, the inlet is of a very poor design. Apparently there is a vacuum created with our trucks that throws everything it can towards where the air is picked up. One of the ways that a lot of members solve this is to drill holes in the bottom of the air claener box. This allows it to pick up air from inside the engine compartment.

 

[trucknut]

Wet air filter

This has happened to my truck: When the air filter gets wet with a little dirt on it, that makes mud. This restricts air flow, creating alot of vacuum, pulling hard on the air filter.

The stock filter is just to small, and the fresh air intake brings in rain or snow very easily.

 

[blacksheep4x4]

So I noted that my filter minder was pulled up to the red? truck only has 8300 miles, didnt suspect it should have any issues yet as I do not drive in dusty conditions. 2 Days later I checked it again and it was in the red again. So I pulled the filter cover and the filter was sucked up into the upper housing all smashed and deformed.



What did I do? How could this happen? I am really good with maintenance as a rule, you will not find much better maintained trucks, bikes or cars than mine. Has anyone else had this happen?



I do know one thing, I used the truck on Sunday in a nasty snow storm. Most roads had 12+ inches of powder on them, some had more. All I can figure is the snow was sucked up into the intake and clogged the filter. I know I ran through deeper snow with my 2nd gen so I guess there is a problem with the intake location.



Keep an eye on your filter minder and filter if you run in alot of snow. This could have led to major engine damage!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was definitely the snow. Same thing happened to me. I was driving down the highway in a snow storm and got stuck behind a big rig for a couple of miles. I noticed the truck not having as much power going up hills, so I stopped and took a look under the hood saw the filterminder in the red.

I pulled the housing lid of to see my new Amsoil filter looking like somebody had tried to put thier fist through it. The underside of it still had snow packed into it. :{

 

[GFriesen]

I did the air intake mod on my air box with abs toilet flange and flex duct, sucked the air box full of snow and collapsed my AFE filter. After that I made a cap to block off my mod when in snow.

 

[MoparBob]

I'm curious if we can fix this problem. Anybody have an aftermarket intake that runs in the snow a lot that can help us out with a little input? I'm wondering if we can put some sort of shield up or if an aftermarket intake with a Box around (a bigger filter) such as a volant or similiar would help.

 

[hensign]

Well at least it isnt just me... ... . So everybody who runs in snow needs to be warned. Plus you should keep a spare OE filter around if you run the stock intake. I Couldnt come up with one fast so I put in a NAPA, not happy about that... ... . Does the Volant intake move the inlet port? I have run the AFE and it was cool but the noise!!!!! Sounded cool for an hour or so but after that it was like being on an overseas flight.

 

[barbwire]

Is there a place to read or see...................

I did the air intake mod on my air box with abs toilet flange and flex duct, sucked the air box full of snow and collapsed my AFE filter. After that I made a cap to block off my mod when in snow.

this mod that you speak of? I cannot remember hearing of it before.

 

[jcroman]

I'm curious if we can fix this problem. Anybody have an aftermarket intake that runs in the snow a lot that can help us out with a little input? I'm wondering if we can put some sort of shield up or if an aftermarket intake with a Box around (a bigger filter) such as a volant or similiar would help.

Sure you can fix it. just run the intake into the cab..... you will never get snow in it again. maybe a mcdonalds wrapper or two or possibly a small child but definetly no snow... ...

 

[hensign]

The intake mod is in the most recent issue of TDR consists of a toilet flange and 4" pvc pipe extended out of the bottom of the box into the front wheel well.



Run that intake into the cab???? Hmmmm Might make a sweet central vac system. I could then say I am the only 3rd gen owner with a central vaccuum.

 

[GFriesen]

I made my mod using the 4 inch flex pipe found in Home Depot, easier to fit off air box and down fender liner. Lite aluminiun found in heating & duct area of store. had do do simple shim to adapt to 4 in. toilet flange. And did see original mod in TRD. Simple version of after market one I also seen in the TDR, cant think of company that makes it now.

 

[Scrappy]

Sure you can fix it. just run the intake into the cab..... you will never get snow in it again. maybe a mcdonalds wrapper or two or possibly a small child but definetly no snow... ...

AND A WHOLE LOT of Turbo whistle!

 

[blacksheep4x4]

You could develope some type of heating element that would heat the air, and melt the snow before it got to the filter. Probably have to drill a couple of small holes in bottom of air box so water can drain out.