Filter Minder question

[BZieg]

On the stock airbox of my 2004. 5 the end of the Filter Minder/ air guage/ guage to tell when filter is dirty, looks to be slightly damaged where you push it in to reset it. I don't know if it sucks air/ dirt from where you reset it, that is what I am worried about sucking dirt in. When I try to check it when it's running the radiator fan blows so much air around that I cannot tell if the filter minder sucks air through where you reset it. I wish I could post a picture, but I don't have a digital camera. My stupid Dodge dealer didn't even know what the Filter Minder/ air guage was, so I went down there and I found it for them on their phisch and it was $32 but it did not show the rubber grommet that I would like to replace as well. Any help? Shouild I be paranoid? Or should I get an aftermarket airbox/ intake without that stupid filter guage. Thanks for the help, you guys always solve my problems.

 

[snuff]

if you are that worried about get it replaced, or you could just remove it and plug the hole, it is just like the dash instuments, idiot gauges. inmo only...

 

[BZieg]

I am not sure what to plug it with.

 

[ScottLewis]

One side of the minder is open to atmosphere and the other to filtered air. Unless the diaphram is damaged air shouldn't pass through. If damaged, it won't work anyway. Tape off the hole and use the minder to plug the hole.



Dan

 

[snuff]

that sounds about right.....

 

[Cattletrkr]

Mine blew to smitherines a couple months ago. The top portion was cracked all to pieces and not all the pieces were there. That bright yellow diaphram was laying on the rad. shroud. It was sucking unfiltered air for maybe a couple days as it had only been a day or two since I had last opened the hood.

Replace it or plug it. Don't ignore it.

btw... autoparts store guy didn't have a clue what I was talking aobut either. He told me it was "dealer only". . uh huh, sure.

 

[HGreen]

If you want to replace it, try a larger truck, school bus, or tractor dealer. We have them on most of our school buses and my john deere tractor even has one. If not, just get a pipe plug and fill the hole.

 

[Bob4x4]

You can even go to Chevy and get a blue one if you don't llike the yellow.



Bob

 

[HBarlow]

My first Dodge/Cummins, an '01 bought new, had a filter minder that never deflected (pulled down the indicator) in around 200k miles. I found a new one tossed in a trash can by a fellow transporter installing a fancy aftermarket air box. I installed his and it showed a reading as the filter got dirty.



In my personal opinion the filter minder is a colorful but useless little plastic device. Reading on the filter minder don't seem to have much relevance to the actual accumulation of dirt and foreign matter on the filter.



A dealership tech recently told me to ignore it. He said they are known to give faulty and inaccurate readings.



I rely more on a mileage interval rather than the filter minder to tell me when to replace the filter.



Harvey

 

[nickleinonen]

if you want to be real anal about the filter restriction, get a manometer or a magnehelic gauge and read the differential between pre & post filter. . once you get into the 15" h2o range under load [20psi] might be time to start servicing the filter