Frozen air filter / error codes?

[GECCO]

Hey all,



Well, today we got our first big blizzard of the season here in Colorado. I had to drive about 120 miles in it and it really caused some problems.



About 40 miles into the trip I got a check engine light. About half way the truck started running rough and losing power. By the time I got to my destination the EGT's were abnormally high and the truck barely made enough power to move itself (literally). I actually got stuck trying to back into my driveway because the snow was about a foot deep and fresh, I pulled up in front of the house, stopped and put it in reverse and the truck didn't have enough power to move itself through the snow.



I checked the filter minder and it was pegged. The airbox had a little bit of snow in it (not a lot) but the filter itself was basically a block of ice. I took the filter out and drove the truck around the block without it and it ran like a champ.



Question 1 - Is there anything that can be done to prevent this from happening? My airbox is 100% stock and I run the filters from Genos.



Question 2 - The codes I got were P0514 (battery temp sensor rationality), P2146 and P2149 (Fuel Injector Group 1 Supply Voltage Circuit and Fuel Injector Group 2 Supply Voltage Circuit). I'm thinking that these MAY all be moisture related, but I also realize that I don't know jack about these trucks compared to some of the guru's on this board. What are your thoughts on other possible causes and how concerned I should be?



The truck is an '05 and is stock except for the Edge Box.



Thanks for any input!

 

[Smokey 01]

The 0514 code is common with stock trucks and the two injector harness codes are typical edge codes.

 

[rjohnson916]

I'm still trying to figure out where the ice entered from? Doesn't the stock box suck the air from inside the dry area of the fender? I've driven 30 minutes or so through a similar condition without an issue so I'm curious.



-Ryan

 

[GECCO]

Thanks, Smokey. I may just have to carry a spare air filter in the winter... .

 

[GECCO]

I'm still trying to figure out where the ice entered from? Doesn't the stock box suck the air from inside the dry area of the fender? I've driven 30 minutes or so through a similar condition without an issue so I'm curious.



-Ryan

Well, it was (actually, still is) a pretty serious storm, lots of blowing snow and temps of about 27-28 degrees - so not super cold and snow with a lot of moisture in it. There was quite a lot of snow that had blown up in the engine compartment, on top of the batteries, etc. My transmission cooler was basically snow packed, and the area behind the grille around the headlights/radiator wall, etc was either snow or ice packed.



I think there was simply enough snow blowing around that it was getting sucked into the airbox, and the air temp was close enough to being above freezing that it would melt a bit, soak into the air filter fibers and then re-freeze. All I know is that that air filter was pretty much solid when I took it out. I knocked most of the ice out of it and put it in the oven on the lowest setting to get it dry before the moisture compromises the integrity of the filter material.

 

[Hoefler]

The air comes in from the grille area, travels behind the headlight assembly, through the fender into the air box. If you swiss cheese it, it will draw warm air in from the engine compartment. If you do the air box mob were you cut a hole in the bottom and run a tube behind the bumper or to the driving light hole in the bumper, it would be worse.

 

[RRees]

I've been reading about your snow. I have one of my business users out in Denver. She just moved out there last month.



Anyway back to your situation. My advice probably won't help now. As the old saying goes "Necessity is the mother of invention". For situation like yours, I'd modify the stock airbox to where it would pull "warm" air from under the hood and close off the air from pulling in from the grill area.



I have an 06, so I don't know what has changed under the hood. I'm going to take a look at my airbox assembly over Christmas - New Years and see if there is an easy way to modify the box, and cheap.



I'll keep you posted.

 

[Mr.Goat]

Gecco



I have a stock 03 and have experienced the same snow clogged filter problems. It only happens when driving in new loose snow. I have also heard rumors the folks who live in very dusty areas experience the same clogged filter problems characterized by very dramatic power loss. DC is aware of the situation as was confirmed when my dealer called them about it. "There position on the matter is that the vehicles should not be driven in the above conditions, but if necessary at very slow speeds as to reduce the swirling of road debris up into the wheel well. "

Typical DC idiotic response. In other wards we are aware of the design flaw, we are not going to do anything about it, so live with it.



Personally I carry a spare filter in the winter and stop periodically in very snowy conditions and check the filter. I was thinking of putting an AFE system in which would draw the air from up underneath the hood which I would imagine solve the problem. But to tell you the truth I haven't been bothered that much with the situation to warrrent the expense of the AFE system.



On a lighter note I did have a red squirrel build a nest in the filter box which caused the same symtoms as the snow. I had to evict the little fella and put heavy wire mesh over the intake hole to keep him out. I suspect he went on a several trips before I discovered his activities.

 

[jelag]

I own 3 trucks... 04, 04. 5 and 05... . between the 3 trucks we have 325K miles... we travel to and from Edmonton Canada, and around eastern WA all winter..... from just above freezing to as cold as -25*F... . we have never had a filter freeze closed and cause a power loss..... most of the time our trucks sit outside and are plugged in 30 min before starting unless we are at 10 or below. . than they are plugged in for the night...



we've driven through drifting snow, and almost white out conditions and have never seen them freeze up to where they would stop flowing air... . our trucks under the hood are all stock expect for the pacbrakes, air horns, and air bags... ...



Hope this helps... .

 

[pwr2tow]

From what I have read it happens and it doesn't happen. Conditions and situations have to be just right for it to happen. I don't have the answer nor do I think there is a fool proof answer. I remember driving in snow storms as a kid (70's muscle cars) with the air filter mounted right on top of the engine and some times they still froze up. A diesel engine consumes or sucks in more air therefore the problem is more pronoucned.

Is there a better alternative, maybe but at what expense and time.

 

[DerekW]

Damn I guess I am going to put my headlight back in when it snows. The really blows cuz I love driving without the headlight it helps with mpg and egt's. And all my buddies know its me at night time cuz they see the one headlight and clearance lights then I pass and all they hear is straight pipe.

 

[DerekW]

My advice probably won't help now. As the old saying goes "Necessity is the mother of invention". For situation like yours, I'd modify the stock airbox to where it would pull "warm" air from under the hood and close off the air from pulling in from the grill area.

Anyone ever looked at an old carbereted car most that haven't been worked on by shade tree of half *** dealership will find that they have a aluminum shield over the exhaust manifold the has a tube attached that goes into the air cleaner assembly and it is used with a warmup valve that opens to allow the heat to come from exhaust manifold to warm up the engine. Maybe you could research these and consider building a kit to take hot air off you header to thaw ice. maybe you could patent it and sell it to those who live in snowy conditions whom suffered from your problem before. No need to give me credit just help others is all I care. I would hate to see a broken dodge on the side of the road with a cummins.

 

[DFrank]

I've been tooling around in this same storm. Blasting through drifts and 24 " of powder to pack out the streets and make usable parking spots for the smaller cars. My ARE looks totally dry.



The 315's sure are fun in the snow.

 

[juicedcummins]

It is a very common problem to trucks that do see snow. I know of 1 engine that DC had to rebuild because of this.



I carry a spare filter all the time in the winter because it has happend to me and others here way to many times.



Last fall i drilled out a 4inch hole in the bottom of the airbox so I could get some underhood air/heat and have not had a problem since. In the summer I add a piece of pvc to it and suck ahead of the wheel for cool air.

 

[JRMora]

From what I have read it happens and it doesn't happen. Conditions and situations have to be just right for it to happen.

I guess I'm one of the "doesn't happens".



I have the PSM airbox mod (which draws up air from behind the fog light hole) and checked my filter and found no evidence of moisture or freezing in the air filter. I know I pushed some snow up there going thru a couple of snowbanks (I currently live in the Centennial area so we saw plenty of snow, too), but nothing bad has happened that I can tell.



???



Juan

 

[geusterman]

I just got back from MT week before Christmas to Seattle and temps from 12 deg to 32 and intermittent snow. My wiper juice froze. Sitting at a fuel stop it thawed. Later, samo so I lifted the hood at a fuel stop as saw a snowpacked cooler in front and snow trail up over batteries and air filter. Apparently when the front cooler plugs air is forced up both sides. This froze my washer lines (even though supposedly anti-freeze). So what is this? This is the time to wear a grill cover/cardboard insert and keep the engine compartment warm and coolers clean. Why? It happens to us who follow too close to other rigs... . waiting to pass em. I froze the front of my 93 6. 5 Chev with 2 inches of ice from slushy roads and super temp drop... which resulted in an overheat and head gasket damage in zero degrees. I like the grill covers. Might make me a nice snap on one. George