What are benefits of BHAF

[JohnE]

dyno numbers I got

I dynoed my mostly stock truck last year. I had installed governor springs only at that point.



Stock air box & filter (no snorkle) produced 154/380

BHAF w/o shield produced 153/374



However, I discovered when they installed my stock box, the intake hose was folded so the engine was drawing mostly raw shop air.



If any of you have done extensive dyno work (I did many hours in a gas engine lab back in college) you will find that the hp difference between a fully open intake and filtered is significant



Advanced timing from 12° to 20° and produced 176/380

I think that proves timing advance is beneficial.

 

[JJW_ND]

It is a good safe filter

If your at stock power, BHAF will not imporve over a stock box other then maybe a better seal.



If up to 400hp (maybe more ... maybe less) it will help lower egts, less black smoke, over a stock box IMO.



When using Silicon values from 6K oil samples I found the K&N in the stock lowered the readings from the teens to upper single digits over a factory filter. Then after one cleaning and 70K miles later I had a sample flagged for high Si at 53. Changed to a Amsoil and seen values from single digits to teens. Ran this for another 70K then tried a BHAF (Fleetguard). Si has been in the lower single digits ever since. Boost at 20+ for 500 miles continious driving type air filtration type driving.



Dynoed power in the 340 - 360 range, with a noticable drop in egts and black smoke after BHAF.



If your engine bay gets a mud bath on a regular basis, the BHAF might not be for you. If you could eat Sunday dinner off your engine the BHAF will do fine. Only one 4" seal joint to watch unlike the stock bock. THere is no magic keeping it sealed. Fleetguard filters are designed to get slopped up, filled with snow, etc just not total submerged (need a Marine version then). It is not that fragile, just seems odd laying out in the open.



BHAF does flow more air but it has a limit that can be beat by other aftermarket (not in the stock box) filters.



Bill (illflem)... Your not much warmer in MT the here. I little warm air is a good thing for more months of the year up here anyway. A lot harder to plug a BHAF with snow then the stock box. In the summer I just drive a little faster and things cool right down.



jjw

ND

 

[illflem]

R. ebel, think I know the article you're referring to - Issue 30, Page 93d (Idle Clatter) K&N air filters may not meet Cummins Engine Company criteria for particle size of air filtration.



I'm still trying figure out how the Mega-Cannon in a more recent article was able to pull more CFMs than no filter at all.

 

[Big White Beast]

On any given sunday.....

Originally posted by illflem

I'm still trying figure out how the Mega-Cannon in a more recent article was able to pull more CFMs than no filter at all.

I like the football analagy here. It seems that one could really split hairs about a few H. P. or air flow. A lot depends on the truck and the weather. When dynoing these it would be really hard to keep the enviroment exactly the same for all tests. Even how well the truck was warmed up could effect the end results. Air density and other factors could readily contribute to the findings.



Oil, Air filters and transmission's! Find what works for you and use it. Trying to convince someone to change their mind is like trying to teach pigs to sing... ... ... ...



Garrett

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q

Like I said a clear statement, *direct from Cummins Corp* the K&N filters don't meet Cummins OR DC spec on dirt stopping capabilities will do it... .

Gary,



Here's the one I've seen.



Cummins FAQs



Rusty

 

[Piston Slapper]

BHAF CFM

I'm still trying figure out how the Mega-Cannon in a more recent article was able to pull more CFMs than no filter at all.

Me too Illflem, I scratched my head with that when I was on the pot reading my new copy!



I know, a little to much info... but puzzled me to...

 

[illflem]

Even the FAQ from Cummins just says they don't recommend free flowing air filters, not that it voids warranties, etc. I'm sure that any filter you would use besides the paper Fleetguard isn't recommended by them. Lots of things we do to our engines aren't recommended by Cummins, do we follow any/all of them?

 

[Big White Beast]

Hate to say it........

But it looks like Gary will be cutting bait on that fishing trip. That statement on the Cummins FAQ is pretty definitive as to why they don't reccomend them.



Garrett

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"Does DaimlerChrysler authorize the use of high-flow aftermarket air filters such as K&N with my Cummins engine?





No. DaimlerChrysler and Cummins do not recommend the use of increased flow air filters such as K&N, because they can allow contaminants into the intake that can ruin an engine (scoring the sides of the pistons, etc. )"





And THAT is about as close as you're gonna get to any statement direct fron DC or Cummins in regards to ANY filter other than what THEY provide for our engines, and there's a BIG difference between stating what CAN or MIGHT happen, and what has been proven and documented that WILL happen - and as Bill says:



"I'm sure that any filter you would use besides the paper Fleetguard isn't recommended by them. Lots of things we do to our engines aren't recommended by Cummins, do we follow any/all of them?"



This is a VERY standard disclaimer commonly used by virtually ALL manufacturers in order to steer customers to their own tested and approve products, and for greater control of variables that MIGHT contribute to problems - either due to product defect, or improper installation and operation...



Shucks, if the dealers and manufacturers had THEIR way, the customer wouldn't be allowed to lift the hood or work on their own vehicles... And we're rapidly getting to that point...

 

[John Berger]

Gary, I would not use a K&N in my truck. I prefer the Amsoil oiled foam filter and I have had outstanding results as verified through oil analysis, with this filter. I don't remember how long ago it was posted, but I do know there were some sealing issues with the K&N filter in our trucks. It was about this time that I think the Cummins/DC non-recommendation of the K&N surfaced. I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong on the sequence of events. By the way, I have never experienced nor heard of any filtration/flow problems with the Amsoil filter. My silicon readings always come back in single digits: as low as 4 ppm. I can live with that if I choose to. I'm really curious as to how the BHAF users are doing with their filters.

 

[Big White Beast]

John Berger......

Last oil test was also 4 ppm on silicone with the BHAF as the one before it.



K&N's or other oiled filters are a choice, that's it! If they were as defective as some say the manufacturers would have to pull them from the market. I chose a non-oiled filter because of signs of oil from the K&N getting into the air stream. That was from the factory and I had no desire to clean it and oil it the right way. Seemed like way too much maintenance for me. Again that was a choice.



The BHAF has been a good filter for me and with the prefilter it should be able to go for a few years without replacement. Replacement cost seems negligible to me after that amount of time.



Garrett

 

[emarsh]

I run a BHAF and will continue to do so. So whatsya going to do about it?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I can't imagine there would be any problems in using the BHAF, at least as far as efficiency and performance is concerned - I am using the K&N primarily as a test compared to the stock filter my truck came with, and due to a long history of excellent results with them in the past. In any event, Cummins would undoubtedly "dissapprove" of the BHAF the same as they do the oiled filters, and for all the same reasons - the POSSIBILITY of improper installation and operation... But if reasonable care and attention to detail is observed, absolutely NO reason why the BHAF wouldn't do a superior job in regards to flow and filtering efficiency - certainly as good or better than a K&N...



As far as what DC or Cummins recommends or approves of - keep in mind, they have in the past publicly stated they don't approve of diesel fuel additives, either - but strangely, sell one of their own...



Sorta seems to depend on which way the money is flowing...

 

[rjones]

Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q

I can't imagine there would be any problems in using the BHAF, at least as far as efficiency and performance is concerned - I am using the K&N primarily as a test compared to the stock filter my truck came with, and due to a long history of excellent results with them in the past. In any event, Cummins would undoubtedly "dissapprove" of the BHAF the same as they do the oiled filters, and for all the same reasons - the POSSIBILITY of improper installation and operation... But if reasonable care and attention to detail is observed, absolutely NO reason why the BHAF wouldn't do a superior job in regards to flow and filtering efficiency - certainly as good or better than a K&N...



As far as what DC or Cummins recommends or approves of - keep in mind, they have in the past publicly stated they don't approve of diesel fuel additives, either - but strangely, sell one of their own...



Sorta seems to depend on which way the money is flowing...

Well put... .

 

[Chipstien]

The only reason I wouldn't use a BHAF is that I think it looks "thrown in" and doesn't belong in our engine compartment. However there are others that will and have gotten it for this reason.

 

[John Berger]

I have considered going to a BHAF for one reason: more airflow. The Amsoil filter is doing a very good job, but it's in the stock airbox. The input here has been good and gives me alot to think about. I might just start with drilling holes in the box.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

John, that Amsoil filter is undoubtedly a good one, and your thoughts on drilling the airbox will probably be a good move - as was my own... You have probably already seen this picture - if not, and for others considering the same thing...



#ad




That mod, added to my switch to a K&N filter has kept my filter minder on zero for 6000 miles now - whereas the very FIRST pull with 32 psi boost and my Comp on 5x5 with the stock filter sucked it down to 2/3 - and the one oil analysis done since the switch showed 11 ppm silicon with 5000 miles on the engine at the time, and 4000 miles on the oil...

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

All BHAFs Not Created Equal

This is something to remember regarding BHAFs. . . they probably aren't created equal.





Fleetguard BHAF = 918 CFM flowrate, per Cummins

Wix/NAPA BHAF = 680 CFM flowrate, per Wix



What resistance these are measured at as far as inches of water I do not know, so these numbers can't really be directly compared. But if they are similar, it would explain why some have better results than others with the BHAF.



If you're getting a BHAF, only go with a Fleetguard.







https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36630&highlight=BHAF+CFM



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...6&perpage=15&highlight=BHAF CFM&pagenumber=11



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...6&perpage=15&highlight=BHAF CFM&pagenumber=12



Vaughn