Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) intake bhaf what is it and....

[vaicase]

what is a bhaf intake breather? i want to do something about the breather and box on my 98. 5 and how do i get one and how does it install and and how much is the cost? thanks

 

[Sticks]

The BHAF is a Big Honkin Air Cleaner. I think it is the cylinder type that the big rigs use. Do a search on it and you will find info on part numbers, costs, kits and so on.

 

[MWilt]

It cost about 53. 00 bucks, lets the turbo breath alittle better, lowers EGT and makes people say what the H--- is that?



Call you local Napa stores they usually carry them in stock,can't remember the part# though.

 

[Ncostello]

Click here to see what one looks like hooked up. Mine was made by Fleetguard. Napa/Wix and others make this filter also.



BHAF I used to use

 

[ffken]

can i just hook it up to my intake by itself without any special adaptors?

 

[Ncostello]

Your air hose will slip right over the neck of the filter... then tighten the clamp. Some use a sheild to keep heat from the turbo off the filter (radiant heat). You want to do something to limit ingestion of hot air to the filter otherwise you wont help lower exhaust gas temps. The sheild that goes around the turbo looks best IMHO (less intrusive than a mallory). Geno's has them.



However some dont use a sheild at all while still lowering EGT's. Be careful to protect the filter from the air box studs left over from the OEM filter box. You dont want them poking or wearing holes in your filter. You should try and secure the filter somehow.

 

[jrobinson2]

BHAF Part numbers:

Fleetgaurd# AH19037

Wix # 42790

Napa # 2790

Carquest # 87790

Donaldson # B15006

Baldwin # PA2820

John Deere# PMAH19037



Jared

 

[Sticks]

Ask and ye shall receive!

 

[ffken]

does the filter work best where it is or would it be better to relocate the battery and put the bhaf where the bat was for better flow due to a straight air hose into the turbo?

 

[bmoeller]

Having the BHAF in the stock filter location is fine. You can defanantly hear the difference in flow from the sound of the turbo. Since there is no housing, it makes it easier to hear the turbo music.



It replaced a K&N drop-in in my truck. Even with the grease it still didn't seal very well. Drive in a lot of dust.

 

[txwingrider]

Does replacing the stock filter with a BHAF affect my warrenty if I ever had to use it?

 

[jrobinson2]

Does replacing the stock filter with a BHAF affect my warranty if I ever had to use it?

Technically I doubt it would affect the warranty, but I don't think most dealers would like it. Why risk a fight? just put the factory air box back on for dealer visits.

Jared

 

[duaneparks]

Of note, when I went to a BHAF, I also purchased a 4" PVC coupler to reinforce the BHAF's "flange" that the intake tube connects to. Made for a nice tight union between the two that did not fail.



I did this because I had read on here of BHAF users that had the BHAF come loose from the intake tube, allowing unfiltered air into the engine. No biggie, just a precaution.



Duane

 

[txwingrider]

Thanks Duane ~~

 

[ffken]

does the bhaf filter as well as an afe? or do you run the risk of letting in larger particulate?

 

[RustyJC]

Being a paper element OEM-approved Fleetguard (or similar) filter, it should have better filtering efficiency than an oil-wetted gauze filter. The knock against paper element filters has never been their filtering efficiency - it's been their higher restriction and quicker fouling rate for the same size filter. The BHAF gets around these disadvantages by providing a much larger surface area that reduces airflow restriction and provides a larger surface to hold dust before requiring changeout.



Edit: To protect the filter from the airbox mounting studs, just pop the mushroom-shaped inserts where the bolts fit out of the stock airbox, turn them large side up, slide them over the mounting bolts and let the BHAF rest on them. Oh, yeah, I have a LarryB stainless heat shield on the turbo as well - a nice piece!



Rusty

 

[JR2]

Here is a pic of one installed on my truck. I had a heat shield at the time, but have since switched turbos and gone to a Larry B stainless shield that is attached to the turbo. I ran one for a long time with out a shield at all and had no problems.

#ad








I would reccomend getting a prefilter for it from outterwears, they protect it a bit from water and keep the big stuff off the filter (leaves, bugs, etc).



See a pic with the prefilter here.

 

[jgallentine]

When I first installed my BHAF it was resting on the aluminum part of one of the AC lines. The vibration of the filter was causing the metal mesh around the filter to wear on the AC line. You can easily prevent this by slicing a short length of 3/8" fuel line lengthwise and putting it on the AC line.