CTD air filter prices?!

[Jeepin Jason]

OEM replacement filter from Napa is $70??? WTF?! Are air filters for these motors really that expensive? Also, the filter shown on Napa's website is a cone filter?

[XJRIDE]

oem should not be a cone filter replacement..its a drop in...u need one i have one, that came out of mine pretty clean lol...i know that the AFE drop ins are around the same price...

http://www.xtremediesel.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=261

[Jeepin Jason]

I was thinking it was a drop-in like on the Jeeps.... guess the pic was just a generic one then.

[tobyw]

Jason - Next time you're over on DTR, drop a PM to "Scotty". He is the proprietor of Scotty Air Systems (http://www.scottysystems.ca/airintakesystems.html), and has what is widely considered to be the best air intake systems for CTD Rams of any generation. :thumbsup:

[Jeepin Jason]

ok, well, apparently what I was looking at is what they call the BHAF (big honkin' air filter), and it is a cone filter. It's the equivalent of us getting a cone filter for a home-made cone conversion. That's why it costs so much and why the picture is a cone filter.

edit: Toby, thanks for the info on the Scotty system, I was actually looking at it earlier today from a link I found on CumminsForum.com. I'll probably stick with the stock intake on this rig for a while though. I don't want any issues if we have to take it in for any warranty work, and money spent on the truck is less to spend on the Jeeps. ;) Plus with a little Jeeper on the way now, we really gotta watch our spending!

[MBood82]

My buddy with the 97 F250 Powerstroke got circular filter (like a cone but not triangle shaped) that was originally meant for a lobster boat and is running that. I guess it was relatively cheap and a huge difference in area.

[sweathog]

;) Plus with a little Jeeper on the way now, we really gotta watch our spending!

Congrats! :rock:

I musta missed the anouncement. :chug:

:bangtard: nevermind, just read it in off-topic.

[woo man]

Hey jason, if you want good turbo sound cut the baffles out fo the tube that runs from the turbo to the box. I have a AFE drop in and cut the baffles out and it sounds great. nice whistle. pm me if you need info on how to do it. its easy i have done 2 now.

[Leadfoot]

ok, well, apparently what I was looking at is what they call the BHAF (big honkin' air filter), and it is a cone filter. It's the equivalent of us getting a cone filter for a home-made cone conversion. That's why it costs so much and why the picture is a cone filter.

edit: Toby, thanks for the info on the Scotty system, I was actually looking at it earlier today from a link I found on CumminsForum.com. I'll probably stick with the stock intake on this rig for a while though. I don't want any issues if we have to take it in for any warranty work, and money spent on the truck is less to spend on the Jeeps. ;) Plus with a little Jeeper on the way now, we really gotta watch our spending!

I don't know how this works for the Cummins, but on the Duramax's, many tests have been done to show that the factory air system can flow more air than the motor requires. Unless you put a bigger turbo or performance box on it, upgrading the air intake is unneccessary. As you already stated, then you run into warranty problems because the diesels suck so much air that they can get much more dirt through a K&N filter (or similar) and this is hard on the turbo. Not too mention it can suck the oil off of a K&N filter and coat sensors inside the intake which will cause more warranty problems. I believe AMSOIL has just released a new paper type filter than stops more dirt (micron wise) and flows more air than the factory. This might be a good alternative as well.

[Jeepin Jason]

To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the cone filters in Jeeps. There's just no bang for the buck in my experience. Plus, fuel mileage and power are probably the two biggest bragging rights companies use to try and sell their vehicles. If there was something as simple as going with a bigger and/or cone-shaped air filter, that would increase both power and mileage, they do it to boost their stats. Especially with Federal CAFE standards getting ever stricter.

In stock form the 5.9L boasts what, 325 ponies and 610 ft-lbs? That's certainly enough for what I'll be using our truck for, and if I feel the need to mod something, that's what our Jeeps are for. Shoot, I've already got to watch my foot making turns or that back end will start hopping! :lol:

I could certainly understand the need for a bigger intake when you start doing performance mods though. It's really insane the power you can get from these motors just from relatively simply bolt-on mods.

[tobyw]

It's not really about the shape of the filter, or even the amount of air it flows. What's important is the air intake temperature, thus the "cold air intake" craze. The cooler/denser the intake charge, the greater the power potential. The whole premise behind these intake systems isn't necessarily to get you *more* air, but rather to get you *better* air;) Once you start pulling hard with that diesel, you'll see why you might need that intake setup... Get yourself an EGT gauge and keep a real close eye on it.

[Jeepin Jason]

man, on my XJ it's was so simple... just do a tranny gauge and I'm good to go.... with these trucks, I need a tranny gauge, EGT (what exactly does EGT stand for? exhaust gate temp?), fuel pressure, and boost gauge... I just gotta start saving for that nifty Quadzilla Commander gizmo. :yes:

edit: and atleast the diesel guys seem to realize you need fresh outside air with these kits... most Jeepers just slap on a cone filter that's completely open to the engine bay and call it "sweet man!" (I've run these type kits in the past...)

[Leadfoot]

Yeah, people always run those filters under the hood and don't realize they are sucking in hot air.

Yep....EGT Exhaust Gas Temp. This is where real damage the turbo can occur because the exhaust flows through the turbo. For the most part a stock disel not be pushed passed it's rated limits is fine. In Tx it might be a good idea to have one, but I don't. Many aftermarket tuners make you install one and that will only cause warranty questions at the dealer. Until it's out of warranty I am just driving it and it is the dealers problem if EGT's fry the turbo. If you do install and EGT guage, be careful where and how because the metal shavings from drilling and tapping can get into things and cause damage.

My truck has the trany guage from the factory. I plan on keeping my eyes on it even though it has barely gotten hot yet. This would prob be a good idea to add if you plan on towing.

[tobyw]

I was shocked when I installed my EGT gauge, as I found it was actually quite easy to hit the "danger zone" while pulling hard, even in bone stock form :o This may not be such a problem with an automatic, as it might/should downshift properly to keep the RPM's and turbo spinning to expell the gasses and keep EGT's down. I had a tendancy to let it pull down to about 1600RPM before I grabbed a gear while pulling... But now with my mods, there's just no need to downshift;)