TSB 03 Filter Minder!

[Tony T.]

Does anyone know if there's been a TSB on the 03 Filter Minder for trucks built before I believe Dec 15 2002. Some sort of problem with the minder having the wrong calibration. Like it pulls down to quickly. I ask the part's man at the dealership this morning about it and he did not know what I was talking about.

 

[lmills]

Last issue of TDR magazine had a small right up about this problems. I didn't see anything about a TSB though. They had the part number for the incorrect filter minder and the part number for the correct one.

 

[Tony T.]

I seen the right up in the last issue, but I was wondering if there has to be a TSB before Dodge can replace it with correct one. First time I checked my filter was at 2500 miles clean on top bottom side had one little small lite sooty spot , always showed about 35% restriction since new. Reset minder and checked again at 8800 miles. Filter pretty filthy sooty, lite oilly residue, but still not as dirty as some I seen in pics on other post. Restriction was around 50% or so, took the filter out and took a air hose to it from top side down, helped a little but not much improvement in the looks of the filter. Reset the minder, next day after driving the truck, minder back up to 50% or so. Checked it again at 10,350 miles looked about the same at 8800 miles done the same with the air hose on the filter and reset the minder, now showing 0% restriction been driving it for about a week now and checking it every other day minder still showing 0% restriction. The manual makes a statment that under normal driving that a filter is to be never inspected depend on the Filter minder to let you know when to change it. Now if you have a person that goes by the book and never checks it (the filter) and the minder is showing 0% restriction or slightly greater and a problem occurs down the road with dirt being sucked into the engine who's liable you or DC. :-{}

 

[lschultz]

They are aware of the problem with the filter minder. Service manager told me they had something from DC about it and if somebody came in complaining about it they were replacing them with the newer ones. Think they have a stiffer spring is all. They did mine and it has not moved since.

 

[rustyrod]

TSB O3 Filter Minder

I went two weeks ago with my TDR article in hand to my dealer. He found the new number in the system for the "upgraded" filter minder, but he could not find where DC has a recall or replacement bulletin. My minder shows more than 50% over and over again since the truck was new. Two days after a new filter replacement it was back up over 50%. If someone out there has a bulletin number or whatever DC uses, please pass it along.

 

[Kel]

Tony,



I have the newer filter minder but wanted to set the record straight on one comment you made.



As the filter minder shows more restriction, the air filter is actually more efficient. Fuel mileage may suffer but you should not have a problem with dirt getting into the engine unless the seal is broken.



Now, the stock filters in these 3rd gen trucks are severely undersized, especially with the HOs. Fleetguard does not have a filter that will fit due to it not meeting Cummins requirements on intake air restriction. Hopefully they will come out with something soon. I changed mine at 10K and it was filthy dirty. My minder was only showing about 20% (go figure).

 

[rustyrod]

TSB 03 Filter Minder

I did not want to start modifying my 03 at all at this time so I purchased an Amsoil filter that fit exactly into the stock filter housing. The Amsoil filter has decreased the Filter Minder to under 50% which is much better than a new stock filter. I still would like to get the new minder but I am sticking my toes in until DC decides to do it without cost to me. If they are aware of the problem, which it seem they are, I can live with a false reading used only as a reference. I know where is reads new, so I can figure out when a filter cleaning is due. My first mod, when I get the urge to start doing them, is to rid myself of the restrictive stock muffler system and get nice 4" stainless plumbing.

 

[Badunit]

Mine pulled down to 35% when new. I cut a 4" hole in the bottom of the filter box and intalled a 4" drain pipe elbow (to keep road water from splashing up into the box) and now with a new filter it barely registers at all. Seems to me this means the air box itself accounts for 35% of the restriction.