2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Air Filter

[SGoodman]

I passed 60k on a long drive home and my air filter is finally showing some restriction, about halfway before "replace". Bought the truck used and it is a stock filter, doubt it's ever been looked at. I was hoping to go on an eight hour trip, will it last? Can you clean the stock filter? Should I buy an aftermarket? Performance is always nice but right now I just don't want to hurt the motor.

 

[Guest]

Throw it in the garbage and get anything but a K&N, My K&N I had let a lot of dirt past...

 

[stownsend]

Yep, throw it out and get a new one. That is long past the recommended interval.



Steve

 

[CumminsPower98]

You can loose performance even before the filter minder sucks down at all so if it's sucking down then by all means get that thing out of there.

 

[jrobinson2]

Originally posted by SGoodman

I was hoping to go on an eight hour trip... . Performance is always nice but right now I just don't want to hurt the motor.

You will not hurt the engine by running a partially plugged air filter, they actually filter better when they are dirty. If the filter is extremely plugged it could possibly drive exhaust temps too high but this is unlikely with a stock truck. Performance will probably be affected slightly but I wouldn't worry at all about an 8 hr trip, just change it as soon as its convenient for you.

Jared

 

[Mark Craig]

Filter Info

SGoodman,



Here's some good info about the aftermarket washable filters, it's the reason we only sell the Pro Guard 7 products. This test was done by a distributor of ours before he would use any type of filter system, as you can see he is now a PG7 guy! The same info applies for the drop in replacements as well.



Here's what Dan Montegari of Precision Diesel Services says about advanced FLOW engineering's Pro-GUARD 7 filter media:



INTAKE SYSTEMS



WHO IS THE BEST & WHY!



We received many letters asking which high flow air intake system to use. We decided to test a number of manufacturers’ systems to determine which system was superior. We tested each system and found systems manufactured by AFE (Advanced Flow Engineering) were the best by far.



Diesel engines use seven times more air than gasoline engines of equivalent size so clean cool air is a must for extended engine life, better fuel economy and additional power. A higher flow of intake air coupled with a high flow exhaust system allows for more power, a better fuel economy, extended engine life and reduced exhaust temperatures. On the other hand ingested dirt through the air intake system becomes Silicon in the engine oil, which is a harsh cutting agent and can damage your engine quickly.



We tested three very popular systems. I will not mention the names of the other systems as a courtesy but I will explain what problems we found with them. We evaluated the systems by a number of criteria, filtration protection, flow, and design, easy of installation and cost. Almost in the beginning of the tests we realized in most instances a new intake system was necessary to achieve our goals. We needed a kit that used mostly outside air and not hot engine compartment air. We decided to use systems designed to use mostly outside air.



Two manufacturers claimed their systems delivered cleaner air at a higher flow but this was far from the truth. We did not believe any of the manufacturers’ claims and tested each system by operating the vehicle 3,000 miles and performing an engine oil analysis to determine Silicon levels in the engine oil. The vehicle we used has an engine oil analysis performed at every oil change so we had a Silicon number of three (3) to base our tests on.



The first manufacturer’s system was fairly easy to install but we had problems with the oil used to coat the filter also coated the Mass Air Flow Sensor causing a service engine lamp to come on. I called the manufacturer but they had no explanation as to why this should happen but they had this complaint before. Through the three thousand mile test I had to clean the sensor three times to stop the service engine lamp from coming on. When the oil analysis results came back, it was discouraging with Silicon levels at eleven (11). I almost could not believe the result so we changed the oil and filter and repeated the test. The results were almost the same eliminating this manufacturer quickly. I contacted the manufacturer to discuss the results and they were not helpful and basically said, “what you see is what you get”!



We installed the second manufacturer’s system again changing the engine oil and operating the vehicle for three thousand miles. The first problem we encountered was the service engine lamp coming on and I thought the oil they used was coating the sensor again. I removed the sensor and found some oil on it which I cleaned off and reinstalled the sensor. Within ten miles the lamp was on again. I removed the sensor but there was no coating of oil on it. I then placed our scan tool on the engine and quickly discovered the airflow rate was too high for the sensor. I then realized the manufacturer had moved the position of the sensor into a higher airflow and velocity position trying to squeak a little more power from their system. I continued the test having to deal with the service engine lamp throughout the test period. The engine oil analysis gave a Silicon reading of eight (8 and along with the engine lamp problem did not give the manufacturer high mark but I felt if I discussed the problems with them maybe we could overcome them. I placed four calls to the manufacturer and I am still waiting for a call back! This surely eliminated this manufacturer.



The third manufacturer we tested was AFE (Advanced Flow Engineering). We used their Magnum Force air intake system. We operated the vehicle for 3000 miles and when the oil analysis came back it was promising with a Silicon reading of five (5). While five was the best Silicon result we had, it was not good enough. I called AFE and was pleasantly surprised when I discovered they were truly concerned. I spoke with a Mr. Paul Hardley who suggested I try their Pro-Guard 7 media they were about to release. He explained the new Pro-Guard 7 media was five layers of progressively finer mesh medical grade cotton gauze with micro fibers that attract smaller and smaller particles as air passes through. Combined with the five layers of medical [gauze] media, there are two layers of non-woven synthetic polyester fabric with random porosity. The filter media is sandwiched between two layers of aluminum wire mesh. He agreed to send two Pro-Guard 7 filters for a new test. I installed the Pro-Guard 7 filter, changed the engine oil and operated the vehicle for three thousand miles. The engine oil analysis was excellent with a Silicon reading of below three (3). Finally we found an air intake system that gave us a higher flow rate and better filtration. The AFE Magnum Force air intake system is a well designed system, easily installed and uses about 90% outside air. The filter is cleanable and the oil used to coat the filter is patented because it is formulated not to affect the airflow sensor.



Another positive factor of the high flow system was the fuel economy increased about ½ MPG in mixed driving and 1 MPG during highway tests. The filter media used by AFE will not collapse if it gets wet or subject to high boost pressures. They also offer pre-filters for most of their applications for very dusty or dirty operating conditions. We carry a full line of AFE products with Pro-GUARD 7 media. If you order an AFE system from another source, make sure it has a Pro-GUARD 7 media.



A very important factor in this test was the manufacturer was willing to discuss problems with their products and help to overcome them. My hat is off to Paul Hardley and all the people at AFE!



Dan Montegari

President

Precision Diesel Services



Mark @ DPPI

 

[elamb]

I would change it, if it were mine. Last time I changed mine, I decided to try the AFE Proguard 7 drop in. So far I like it.



Eric

 

[MRoberts]

Just put in the AFE Magnum Force Pro Guard 7. I don't have any performance info yet. The install was very easy, pre-oiled filter from the factory. Sounds great. I still have my silencer ring in and you can really hear the turbo! So far two thumbs up.

 

[Ron Bissett]

Originally posted by SGoodman

I passed 60k on a long drive home and my air filter is finally showing some restriction, about halfway before "replace". Bought the truck used and it is a stock filter, doubt it's ever been looked at. I was hoping to go on an eight hour trip, will it last? Can you clean the stock filter? Should I buy an aftermarket? Performance is always nice but right now I just don't want to hurt the motor.

Take it out tap or blow it out from inside clean out the box , put it back and push the button the rest is B. S and you will not hurt the motor . Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville KY>

 

[Ncostello]

Surely if your going on an 8 hour trip... you'll pass an Autozone, PepBoys, Napa, Advance, Wal-Mart or something. For $20 you can drop something in there. And then you can quit worrying. Half way to replace isn't terrible... but its as far as I'd wanna go.



Pulling down the filter minder to "REPLACE" is quite an acheivement. I guess the next level would be the collapse of the intake tube?

 

[CumminsPower98]

I personally do not wait for filter minders to move before changing filters. I have noticed that putting a bigger filter on trucks, which had a stock filter and the no minder movement at all, that the performance comes up. Of course this is on modified trucks so I'm not sure if it would make a difference on a stock one or not. What I'm saying is that there does seem to be some performance loss on modified trucks even before the minder moves.

 

[americana]

i never saw my restriction guage move, even when the stock filter was FILTHY!!



I let my last stock filter go way too long so i could justify an aFe PG7. Don't do what i did..... stupid stupid stupid. silicone numbers were through the roof. i was doing extended oil intervals with amsoil. now because of the silicone numbers on the last oil analysis i'm going to change all 12 (!) quarts.



love the phase II with the pro guard 7. i'll let you know what the silicone numbers are with it as the miles pile up.



moral of the story... don't be a dummy (like me) our trucks are waaaay too expensive to postpone any regular maintenance.



p. s. i used a K&N for 10kmi. saw a spike in silicone, then down with a stock replacement. my experience... . ymmv.