Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) BHAF & HP Lost?!

[smitty3500]

Just looking for some thoughts. Rig is a 99 3500 DRW/auto with 140k and has always been in stock form except for a Holey Blue by the tank and no muffler, and a k&n drop in filter in the stock box. I tow less then 10k and always has done the job fine.



I just installed a Fleetguard "BHAF" on the stock elbow. I can notice a deff power loss at all rpm's. I was wondering if others have seen the same symptoms without a Heatsheild installed along with a bhaf. I am thinking this is caused by possible heatsoak. After a 15 minute drive or more the filter is extremly hot to the touch. Fuel Pressure and all other possible problems associated with power loss are fine it seems. Along with the Bhaf installed I removed the silencer ring but with all the info on TDR I am convinced the ring should have nothing to do with power.



Any thoughts and or experiences would be helpful. Thanks in Advance!



-Smitty

 

[AMink]

Try putting the stock filter setup back on and seeing if you're still down on power. Might be something as simple as a loose hose to the intercooler. Hopefully!

 

[smitty3500]

AM,



I was thinking the same thing when this started a few days ago(the day after the install). I checked all the boots and they have no leaks. Turbo boosts fine and sounds great without the silencer ring. I am just at a loss.

 

[Reb.B]

No reason to feel a loss, they just don't work. A stock drop in AFE is better than one of those. Really you should go with a megacannon by AFE. Those bhaf are paper, they don't let the air in, and all they do is pull hot air, less power, less mpg. I pulled heads off of engines with the megacannons, with 375 K miles, making 452 h. p. , getting 21. 5 mpg. , and you could still see the original hash marks from when they honed the cylinders.

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I was at a AFE sponsored dyno day and they did a flow bench test of the mega Cannon and BHAF side by side. The owner thought that his filter would out perform the paper element. Not So!!! Side by side the BHAF pulled less water volume than the AFE. Your problem of a loss of power has to do with your truck being completly stock. You don't have enough fuel to pull all of that air you are now getting. Put an EZ on that truck and try both filters. You might be amazed.



Greg

 

[AMink]

Check my "readers rigs". It shows the heat shield that I made and how I stuck the BHAF on. I don't know if there is a huge difference between 12 and 24 valve engine compartments, though. I made my shield with some light sheet metal, rivets, nothing too fancy. It helps keep the heat from the turbo from getting right on the filter. Good luck! Oh, BTW, do you have the stock exhaust? More air in without more air out won't produce noticable power. I think if you want to BOMB more is when you notice the increased flow of a BHAF or one of the other upgrade filters. Still baffled why you'd loose OOMPH.

 

[smitty3500]

I am still running the stock 3" exhaust system with the muffler pulled. I honestly picked up the Bhaf b/c I was overdue for a filter change. The K&N drop in is hella dirty and I would like a non-oiled element for now.



I have not gone with a full 4" system b/c like I said the truck is stock. I am going to replace the trans and converter before I go bombing away. 140,000 + on the stock converter and trans I cannot ask for more!



I will reinstall the stock box and pick up a new drop in filter from AFE and see if the truck runs alot better like it use to. I am only hoping this is the cause of the totaly noticable power loss. I assume I can leave the silencer ring out and that should have no affect.



I have talked with many and have been told that just adding the Bhaf even without a heat sheild, most see gains. I have not heard of HP lost like has happened in my case.



Anyone need a Fleetquard Bhaf used for 4 days?

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

With the Diesel, filter and exhaust do not usually add noticable HP on a stock truck. They are used to help control EGT's while towing.

Greg

 

[smitty3500]

Greg,



I do realize that and was not looking for anything but maybe a touch better MPG and maybe a little better throttle response. After all the reading and reviews of "BHAF's" I would have never thought I would loose power. I just cant find anyone claiming the same with a near stock rig. I am just curious.

 

[willysrule]

put mine on with a outerwears pre-filter and no heatsheild (yet), very small difference in MPG on the highway, no difference in power "feeling", and I'm stock except straight piped... biggest difference is the sound... gotta love that...

 

[RHARVEY]

When we bought my wifes 2k... it had one of those bhaf filters on it. But when the filter needed to be changed... I did go with the AFE MegaCannon. There was no comparrision between the filters. The AFE let the truck breathe soooooooooooooo much better...

For me that bhaf is a waste of money!



Rick

 

[Fishin Guide]

I'm curious how you know you lost power with the BHAF? Has it been on a dyno?



I know that when I put on my BHAF, it changed the tone of the turbo, but I do not feel I lost or gained any power.



Dave

 

[smitty3500]

I knew someone was going to bring that up. The truck has not been on a dyno nor do I feel the need to dyno a mostly stock rig. I feel when a person is use to there rig and knows how it performs on a daily basis they can tell when the truck has lost or gained slight power.



When most have a dying LP or a leaking intercooler boot most can feel the decrease on the "butt dyno". I am not anal and worry wart like some, my rig has deff lost some power throughout the entire powerband. RPM's do not climb as quickly and always feels as if the motor is lugging when normal driving. I do notice the diffference in intake noise and tone, and yes the turbo is louder of course.



I was just optimistic to have a non-oiled filter and perhaps a touch better MPG, I did not think power would increase or be noticable. I was very when I can FEEL a loss!