Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
I've been doing research on the "best" air filter for our stock airboxes because I don't trust the "oiled" or "synthetic" aftermarket air filter claims for our trucks.
I found this: http://dieselairfilterflyersept2009.moparplaybook.com/DieselAirFilterFlyerSept2009.pdf
I went to the local Dodge dealer and bought one today. It was approx $26.
I have tried the aFe "oiled" 5 layer and Pro-Guard 7, the Amsoil Ea and the AEM dryflow and have compared them:
The reason I don't trust the aftermarket claims is that I don't believe they do as well a job filtering for the miniscule gain you might get for power. For example, the PSM Diesel site claims that the aFe Pro-Guard 7 is the best "stock" air filter for our trucks, yet the max hp gain is 2. 5hp and the max torque gain is 3. 6 ft-lbs with an 80hp programmer. Not much gain IMO for the risk of reduced air filtering efficiency.
I measured the following just to compare the filters I have purchased:
53034249AA (New Dodge air filter): Printed on the filter it states that it has a dust capacity of 540g, max air flow rate = 675 cfm, max pressure drop = 0. 36 psi. It has 42 "pleats" and they are 3. 75" tall. Efficiency is 99. 6%. Cost is approx $26, but may be as high as $33.
53032700AA (Previous Dodge air filter): Printed on the filter it states that it has a dust capacity of 450g, max air flow rate = 675 cfm, max pressure drop = 0. 51 psi. It has 88 "pleats" and they are 1. 75" tall with a 7/16" thick foam pad glued onto the bottom. Efficiency is 99. 5%. Cost is approx $21.
Amsoil EEA189: (Nanofiber stock filter): Has 46 "pleats" that are 1. 75" tall. Filter media feels like paper. According to PSM website, has dust capacity of 39 grams. Efficiency is 98. 3%. Cost is approx $45-50.
aFe 30-10102: (Pro-Guard 5): Has 22 "pleats" that are 1. 25" tall. This is an oiled filter. Don't know the dust holding capacity, but this is the old oiled filter from aFe with lower efficiency. Efficiency less than 99%. Cost is approx $70.
aFe 73-10102: (Pro-Guard 7): Has 22 "pleats" that are 1. 25" tall. This is their newer oiled filter. According to PSM website, has dust capacity of 233 grams. Efficiency is 99. 2%. Cost is approx $85.
AEM 28-20776DK: (Dryflow): is currently in my stock airbox. Don't know the pleat count or the size, but is very close to the aFe filters. According to PSM website, has dust capacity of 74 grams. Efficiency is 99. 4%. Cost is approx $75.
In summary, for the additional 2. 5hp at max rpm and 3. 5 ft-lbs torque (with an 80hp programmer) I could gain from using an aftermarket air filter... I am going to install the new improved (modeled after the 6. 7 filter) filter from Dodge and stop worrying about maintenance and filter efficiency.
Hope this is helpful to anyone considering an aftermarket air filter.
Regards,
Louis
I found this: http://dieselairfilterflyersept2009.moparplaybook.com/DieselAirFilterFlyerSept2009.pdf
I went to the local Dodge dealer and bought one today. It was approx $26.
I have tried the aFe "oiled" 5 layer and Pro-Guard 7, the Amsoil Ea and the AEM dryflow and have compared them:
The reason I don't trust the aftermarket claims is that I don't believe they do as well a job filtering for the miniscule gain you might get for power. For example, the PSM Diesel site claims that the aFe Pro-Guard 7 is the best "stock" air filter for our trucks, yet the max hp gain is 2. 5hp and the max torque gain is 3. 6 ft-lbs with an 80hp programmer. Not much gain IMO for the risk of reduced air filtering efficiency.
I measured the following just to compare the filters I have purchased:
53034249AA (New Dodge air filter): Printed on the filter it states that it has a dust capacity of 540g, max air flow rate = 675 cfm, max pressure drop = 0. 36 psi. It has 42 "pleats" and they are 3. 75" tall. Efficiency is 99. 6%. Cost is approx $26, but may be as high as $33.
53032700AA (Previous Dodge air filter): Printed on the filter it states that it has a dust capacity of 450g, max air flow rate = 675 cfm, max pressure drop = 0. 51 psi. It has 88 "pleats" and they are 1. 75" tall with a 7/16" thick foam pad glued onto the bottom. Efficiency is 99. 5%. Cost is approx $21.
Amsoil EEA189: (Nanofiber stock filter): Has 46 "pleats" that are 1. 75" tall. Filter media feels like paper. According to PSM website, has dust capacity of 39 grams. Efficiency is 98. 3%. Cost is approx $45-50.
aFe 30-10102: (Pro-Guard 5): Has 22 "pleats" that are 1. 25" tall. This is an oiled filter. Don't know the dust holding capacity, but this is the old oiled filter from aFe with lower efficiency. Efficiency less than 99%. Cost is approx $70.
aFe 73-10102: (Pro-Guard 7): Has 22 "pleats" that are 1. 25" tall. This is their newer oiled filter. According to PSM website, has dust capacity of 233 grams. Efficiency is 99. 2%. Cost is approx $85.
AEM 28-20776DK: (Dryflow): is currently in my stock airbox. Don't know the pleat count or the size, but is very close to the aFe filters. According to PSM website, has dust capacity of 74 grams. Efficiency is 99. 4%. Cost is approx $75.
In summary, for the additional 2. 5hp at max rpm and 3. 5 ft-lbs torque (with an 80hp programmer) I could gain from using an aftermarket air filter... I am going to install the new improved (modeled after the 6. 7 filter) filter from Dodge and stop worrying about maintenance and filter efficiency.
Hope this is helpful to anyone considering an aftermarket air filter.
Regards,
Louis
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My dealer here wants $41. 00 for the new filter. :{
