More snow in air filter

[TMutziger]

This is the third time this has happened to me in the last month. While breaking through big, powdery snow drifts trying to make it home, the air filter plugged solid with snow. It was packed in there so tight that I had to pry the air filter out with a flathead screwdriver and then try and melt it off with a hair dryer at our farm shop before being able to drive the last couple miles home. This is with a stock air box. I remove the PSM and put the stock lower half of the box back in the winter to try and help avoid this, but it still happens. When it does, my EGT's skyrocket, so pay attention to your pyro while four wheeling in the snow. Here are some pics if they uploaded right.

 

[LRutigliano]

Whats the deal with all of that yellow foam blocking your stock air inlet??

Are you only drawing air in thru the PSM location?

Did you remove the stock plastic baffle in the fender or maybe remove/cut your inner fender?

With the stock location blocked (which is 26 sq inches), you are only drawing air in thru the PSM location (which is 10 sq inches) and its acting like a vacuum cleaner...

 

[TMutziger]

No changes were made to the fender. Everything is as came from the factory. The PSM hole is completely sealed off. After the first time this happened, I noticed that the original foam seal between the airbox and the fender opening didn't make a tight seal. There was a small gap between the two so I stuffed the yellow foam in there all around the opening to seal it up better. I thought that maybe that was were all the snow was getting in.

 

[MVenditti]

Someone should invent a stock type box with a slide in block off plate in the fender location and a rear hole with slide in plate and 4in hose that runs to rear of engine compartment for winter.

 

[rscurtis]

Mack trucks had that capability about 45 years ago. IMO, there is no benefit to feeding very cold air to the engine in winter, as it upsets it thermal efficiency, espescially with an intercooler. The cold air helps volumetric efficiency, which is great for sled pulling or drag racing, but offers no benefit for normal driving.

 

[rbattelle]

I've always wanted to run the inlet pipe back to an inlet snorkel sitting just above the level of the roof right at the back of the cab.

Can't figure a good way to run a big pipe back there and up between the cab and bed.

-Ryan

 

[Blakers]

I tend gas wells for a living and have been driving in powder snow up to 3 feet deep all winter. I don't think I've ever had it get sucked into the air cleaner like that. What were your symptoms? I just changed the filter today and it hasn't been above freezing since new years. Nothing in the box except a few crumbles of leaf parts.

Trucks been running good except for slight stumble at idle every now and then. Trying to figure that one out now.

~Blake~

 

[BLNRAY]

i could tell you how to fix that problem,but we're already up to our armpits in yankees down here.

 

[CToney]

I have sucked snow in mine too. Not going through drifts but from drifting snow when it was quite windy out. When it is cold out and you are not towing warm air wouldn't hurt. These trucks are slow to warm up and seem to like it better when towing. The "CAI" might be the answer for snowy conditions. Remove the foam and make an opening that you can close when it isn't snowy to suck air from the engine compartment.

 

[TMutziger]

Just talked to a good friend of mine who drives a bone stock 2010 Ram 6. 7. He said his is doing the same thing. He carries two spare filters with him so he can keep rotating them. He said he called the dealership about it and they said he's the only one they ever heard of that its happened to. I'm thinking about putting the PSM back in and putting a pre-filter sock or screen over the end of the tube and also fashioning some type of screen over the fender well inlet to stop the snow. If the engine is drawing air from two different inlets instead of one, the suction effect at each should be less than just from one. If anyone else has any bright ideas, i'm all ears. This is getting pretty bothersome.

 

[TMutziger]

What were your symptoms? I just changed the filter today and it hasn't been above freezing since new years. Nothing in the box except a few crumbles of leaf parts.



Trucks been running good except for slight stumble at idle every now and then. Trying to figure that one out now.



~Blake~

After the first time it happened, I keep a pretty close eye on the pyro. It pegs out right now with a plugged air filter, and absolutely no boost. The truck gets very sluggish, very low on power and blows black smoke like mad. You can tell also by the sound of the engine. Just sound not right.

 

[07 ThunderRoad]

On the right side of the radiator is a soft plastic filler panel that stops the rain and snow from entering the right front fender at grill height. Is yours still there and is it tight to the headlight bezel and fender?

 

[JamesStevens]

I live in Alberta and we just got 1. 5 feet of snow in 12 hours, never had any snow or water get in my air cleaner box. If U go through a big puddle does the air cleaner get wet?

 

[TMutziger]

On the right side of the radiator is a soft plastic filler panel that stops the rain and snow from entering the right front fender at grill height. Is yours still there and is it tight to the headlight bezel and fender?

Yes, its still there and seems to be tight.

 

[TMutziger]

I live in Alberta and we just got 1. 5 feet of snow in 12 hours, never had any snow or water get in my air cleaner box. If U go through a big puddle does the air cleaner get wet?

I've never had my air filter get wet from a puddle, or at least I haven't noticed it by loss of performance, high egt, ect. like with the snow. This is my fourth winter with this truck and the second winter with the ranchhand front bumper replacement. The first two winters, it never happened once. Last winter, I can remember once that it plugged with snow, now three times this winter. Makes me wonder if it might have something to do with the different shape of the bumper without that plastic fairing under it that the stock one had. It seems a little more open in front of the tire up under the fender than before. I don't know, just a thought.

 

[JamesStevens]

The bumper on my truck is stock, that might be it.