Question about Air Filter

[TKarnas]

Going to replace my airfilter for the first time since I bought the truck used. I am buying the filter from Genos. Item below. My question is the garage that I bought the truck from told me to remove the foam pre filter from the filter. Is this right ??? He said it would prevent flow from coming in?



FLEETGUARD AF26106 - AIR FILTER ('03-'07, 5. 9L) DODGE

 

[HBarlow]

When my '01 Dodge was young the first Fleetguard filters I bought for a year or two had the foam prefilters attached. Later Fleetguard apparently stopped putting the foam prefilters on.

I'd install the new filters you received from Geno's as they were shipped.

 

[Jack in Alaska]

I have always purchased my air filters at the local Cummins store for all 3 of my CTD's. Yesterday I bought a Fram filter from Walmart just because it was convenient.



Anyone got any good or bad to say about that. ???



I am about to head out on a 4200 mile trip to Arizona and do not want to compromise my engine.

 

[TimothyLong]

Going to replace my airfilter for the first time since I bought the truck used. I am buying the filter from Genos. Item below. My question is the garage that I bought the truck from told me to remove the foam pre filter from the filter. Is this right ??? He said it would prevent flow from coming in?



FLEETGUARD AF26106 - AIR FILTER ('03-'07, 5. 9L) DODGE

Removing the foam pre-filter will increase air flow through the main filter a little bit but will also allow the main filter to clog up faster. The foam pre-filter is there to prevent larger debris and dust particles from clogging in the main filter and extending the "life" of the main filter. Plus it's an extra layer of protection for the turbo. I run that same filter in my wife's '04, pre-filter intact, with no problems. I also ran it in my '03 up until I installed my Six Gun package. When I change them, the pre-filter AND the main filter are both plenty dirty.



IMHO, the little bit of extra air flow you may get by removing the foam pre-filter is not really worth the effort to remove it and you will more than likely have to change out the filter much sooner than if the pre-filter were left in place. So to directly answer your question, no, the foam pre-filter does NOT prevent air flow.

 

[DGamelin]

I put a 6. 7 air box and filter in mine. Before that I left the foam on until it got dirty. I clean my air filter with every oil change. When the foam looked bad I pulled it off and then when the filter looked bad I replaced it.



As far as fram goes I am not a fan. Back in the 80's I read a article that said fram used fewer paper weights for every filter they make out there, then GM did for there cars alone. So the odds of you getting the paper wait your engine was design for was very slim. What I was reading about was oil filters and how the wrong paper wait could open your bypass sooner and longer then it should = no filtering going on.





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93 250 2wd xc 354 auto 264k

04. 5 3500 4wd cc dully 373 6speed 87k

 

[Jack in Alaska]

Thanks for the reply on Fram filters. I only did the air filter. All of my other filters (fuel & oil) come from and always will come from Cummins. I will probably not ever do this again as the price difference was small. The Fram does not have the foam prefilter.

I will watch it carefully and probably replace it when I get to Az. as it is much more dusty there than up here.

 

[TimothyLong]

Thanks for the reply on Fram filters. I only did the air filter. All of my other filters (fuel & oil) come from and always will come from Cummins. I will probably not ever do this again as the price difference was small. The Fram does not have the foam prefilter.

I will watch it carefully and probably replace it when I get to Az. as it is much more dusty there than up here.

I heard the same thing about the Fram oil filters as DGamelin. Not sure about the Fram air filters, but keep in mind that a good air filter is the only thing between your turbo ($$$) and a lot of things that are bad for it. Given Fram's rep. with the oil filters, I don't think that I would trust their air filters much either. I might use one, if I had no other choice, to get me out of a pinch till I could get a Fleetguard replacement. Remember, that Fleetguard filter is a Cummins product and if it fails to protect your turbo, Cummins *should* stand behind it. I don't think you'd get that from Fram.

 

[Jack in Alaska]

Ok... ... ..... Ok... ... ... ... . you guys win. when I get back to Anchorage I will buy a Fleetgard air filter and pitch that no good, inferior, dirt passing Fram in the can. I bought the Fram because I was in a hurry and too lazy to drive across town to the Cummins shop. Never again.



I really did enjoy the roundtable thread on this where H. Barlow and the lawyer duked it out then fell into a big group hug about good/bad scum bag lawyers. Good entertainment. Thanks:-laf

 

[zzman]

I got the K&N cone shape filter that fits inside the stock airbox.

It is great, just clean it up with soap and water, blow dry and good to go.

It also has more filter area than the stock.

 

[rbattelle]

My question is the garage that I bought the truck from told me to remove the foam pre filter from the filter.

If it were me I'd run from this "garage" and never look back. I cannot imagine any circumstance where removing the prefilter is a good idea. TimothyLong points out the only conceivable advantage (airflow), but as he says the increase in flow is negligible.



It's customary for someone to point out this air filter test report in these threads. Enjoy!



Ryan

 

[Jack in Alaska]

Ok... ... ... ... the Fram is in the can and the Fleetgard is on the truck.

Only about $5 difference in price.

 

[TimothyLong]

Ok... ... ... ... the Fram is in the can and the Fleetgard is on the truck.

Only about $5 difference in price.

Peace of mind... priceless!

 

[TKarnas]

thanks everyone... I installed the new filter with intact. Its a fleetguard from Geno's. Thanks againto all