Problems with the aFe Filter????

[Greenleaf]

Guys,



Anyone notice any problems with the older style four ply filter elements.



I have a two year old aFe stage I (for 03 model year. Round/cone shaped) four ply that is looking strange.



The filter has not been damaged nor abused in any way. It appears to have many many pencil lead sized holes through out the media. I cannot see them untill the filter is removed and held to the light. Daylight is showing through.



The element is covered with the prefilter by aFe and has approx 26k miles on it. I simply removed it to clean it and was shocked to see the holes in this well cared for "lifetime" element. It has NOT been dropped,kicked,crushed,bent,smashed,punctured etc. etc.



Are these holes normal for the four ply element????????



The pn is afe24-90008 It is black in color. I was told they are not "supposed" to be black by Geno's Garage. It was black when it was new.



I have just purchased the 7 ply element for the other truck and cannot see these same holes.

 

[jwilliams3]

It is somewhat normal for the full flow AFE to see the holes.



Kind of scary, yes.

Do I run them, yes.

 

[john3976]

What does it look like once it is cleaned and freashly oiled?



Are these holes or just light spots in the gaze?



If they are just light spots, then I doubt you have anything to worry about. even with paper filters you can see through them if you hold them up to a light source. The air has to pass through some how, if the filters were so tightly made that light can not pass through them, air would have the same problem, as long as the filter catches the dirt it is doing its job.

 

[Greenleaf]

I simply claned it and sprayed it with a (somewhat) light coating of the aFe oil. It STILL has the daylight (holes). Only thing the oil did was turn the element somewhat yellow in color.



I never thought to look through the element when it was new. I probably wouldn't have installed it. Then again, so many use these, that I may have.



I'm going to use it as I'm most certain that it's not damaged. Just figure I'll have to buy another seven ply this summer sometime. Good thing I only operate on paved roads.

 

[john3976]

Just for your piece of mind look inside the intake tube and see if there is a light coating of dust inside of it.



If not then the filter is doing its job, if there is a fine coating of dust then the filter is not doing its job. The inside of the intake tube should stay pretty darn clean.

 

[Greenleaf]

Thanks,



I'll be looking at that when I reinstall it.