Help me out with an air filter please

[rblomquist]

New owner of a 99 2500 here. The guy that owned this truck before me had a FRAM in the airbox if you can believe it. Anyway, was wondering what a good drop-in replacement would be?



The other thing I might consider is a K&N type setup but can anyone tell me if I can get something like that without having to modify the air box.



Cost is a big factor right now so I'm trying to decide if I should spend $20 or so on a paper element or spend a little extra and get the K&N (I can get one for $40).



I've read a ton of posts and I'm a little scared about the K&N but I'm not happy with the power or mileage the truck is currently giving me with the Fram in there.

 

[Extreme1]

Air flow-wise, the biggest increase you'll be able to use with a stock engine is removing the duct that goes into the fender. If your filter minder still pulls down, go get a Fleetguard replacement air filter at a Cummins dealer.

 

[RON'S RAM]

Have you considered the BHAF??? Check out this forum, hopefully it'll help.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25003&highlight=BHAF

 

[Briar Hopper]

AFE (Advanced Flow Engineering) makes an excellent drop-in air filter for the stock air boxes on our trucks. They claim it outflows and outfilters anything else on the market, and it's a lifetime filter, like the K & N. It also has a better edge seal than the K & N, though there are members here that will probably not agree.

AFE also manufactures the MegaCannon kit that we sell, which replaces the entire airbox with a cone shaped air filter and heat shield.

The "BHAF"s are nice filters, you cannot go wrong with any Fleetguard filter, oil, fuel, or air.

It's Fleetguard part # AH19037, available from any Cummins shop, or big rig parts place .

 

[illflem]

Whatever airbox filter you decide to use install and leave it be till the filter minder moves. Peeking in box to see how things are going is counterproductive, you just risk losing the lip seal. Only open the box if you intend to change or service the filter. I've had good luck with K&Ns, 186k and it's only been serviced once at 100k, filter minder never moves, everything down steam is spotless.

 

[John Berger]

I've had very good results with Amsoil's oiled foam air filter. I clean it once a year. Oil analysis indicates filtration is good and my filter minder has never moved. I've had the filter on most of the life of the truck. I'm at 82. 7K miles.

 

[Challenger-II]

rblomquist,



I have an Amsoil Filter that is in excellent shape if you are interested in trying a better flowing filter for about as much as you would spend on a drop in paper filter. I changed to a different setup and hardly used this one. It is all cleaned and ready to oil. I will even re-oil it if you like. PM me and I will give you the details. You can really here the mighty Cummins suck some serious air with this filter!



Challenger-II

 

[rblomquist]

Sorry for the dumb question but is the BHAF a drop-in or does it require box modifications? I've read a ton of threads but get confused when folks start posting about having to install and/or fabricate heat shields and stuff (in regard to the BHAF).



Thanks for everyones input, the $35 I've spent for the TDR membership was some of the best money I've spent.

 

[kevincook]

Originally posted by rblomquist

Sorry for the dumb question but is the BHAF a drop-in or does it require box modifications? I've read a ton of threads but get confused when folks start posting about having to install and/or fabricate heat shields and stuff (in regard to the BHAF).



Thanks for everyones input, the $35 I've spent for the TDR membership was some of the best money I've spent.

The BHAF does not drop in, you don't have to have a heat shield but lots of people recommend it to reduce the EGT and so you don't pull in hot engine air.



KC

 

[JR2]

This ought to help. Here is a pic of the BHAF installed in a Mallory Heat shield. Mallory is the member who made them for a while but does not make them any more. There are others that are making a stainless steel version of the same shield.



#ad
<br>





This is an old pic as I am not not using the mallory mount as I have an HX40 with a LarryB heat shield on it now. Also I am running a outterwears cover on the BHAF to keep it nice and dry. I am keeping the mallory mount as I am going to have it painted and use it again in the future.



JR2

 

[Texas Diesel]

FYI, my K&N in the factory air box works just fine, my oil analysis shows silicon at 5PPM with universal average of 12 PPM (parts per million) And I live on a dirt road.

 

[rich m]

I've got a rectangular K+N you can have...

... the "stock replacement" model that I was saving, in the factory airbox, which eventually fell off the shelf, and busted the airbox. Filter's fine/pristine/needs cleaned and re-oiled... .



I can ship it to you if you want it.

I'm currently using the Psychotty with which I'm real happy...





(BTW, in case you haven't "caught on" from that photo up above, BHAF is not a factory code. It stands for "Big Honkin' Air Filter" )

 

[rblomquist]

Rich M - I sent you a PM.



Everyone - Thanks for the great info.

 

[777 MECHANIC]

I just went from a BHAF to an AFE. I do believe the spoolup is a little quicker and the cooldown time is quicker. And man is it loud compared to the BHAF. Sounds like a jet spooling up.

 

[rblomquist]

Originally posted by 777 MECHANIC

I just went from a BHAF to an AFE. I do believe the spoolup is a little quicker and the cooldown time is quicker. And man is it loud compared to the BHAF. Sounds like a jet spooling up.

777,



What type of AFE filter system do you go to and were you using a heat sheild on the BHAF?

 

[777 MECHANIC]

I went to the Mega Cannon. Yes I made a heat shield out of stainless. You can get the turbo shield from Larry B's , http://www.fostertruck.com/dodge/, if you are using a 35 or 40 turbo.

 

[Steve M]

Just for shts and giggles, there's nothing wrong with a Fram air filter. Fram's oil filter is the one to stay away from. I will not use a K&N for the simple reason that their warranty reflects their lack of confidence in their own product. Besides, with the BHAF in existance, why would anyone opt for a K&N?

I just ordered a 4-2-1 kit from Geno's. The price, product and warranty can't be beat.

 

[rblomquist]

I'm not all that confident with K&N just from watching people use them on MX bikes and quads. I know that proper oiling and such is critical but I've seen some off-road vehicles suck fine dust through K&Ns while my oiled foam filters didn't (running in the same environment).



I think I'm going to try the BHAF and get a heat sheild from Larry B's as 777 above sugested. From the picture posted earlier in this thread it looks like it just mates right up to the hose. My only other question is does it just sit there or is that zip-ty holding it to the fender well?



Appreciate eveyone's help and input on this subject as I know it's old and been posted on A LOT (that's what was making it hard for me to search for what I was needed i. e. too much info).

 

[777 MECHANIC]

You can just lay it in there. Its not going anywhere with the boot attached. I put the plastic nuts that came out of the stock airbox back on the studs. This keeps the studs fromm eating into the filter mesh.

 

[illflem]

Besides, with the BHAF in existance, why would anyone opt for a K&N?

Concerning a BHAF

"The Cummins techs dripped with hatred for this mod and told me I was ruining my engine" https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57184



IMO a BHAF would be great in a steel canister like it's designed to be but if it's just laying in the engine compartment then a K&N in the airbox has to be much safer.