It is time to replace the air filter in my truck.I was curious about the difference between a drop in replacement and a whole new box.Would a drop in with a modified stock box work as well as a cold air kit or is the cold air kit that much better.Obviously the drop in is more affordable but if the cold air kit is that much better maybe it is worth spending the money.Thanks in advance for your opinions.

mike b

replacement filter to drop in is only available at this time from a dodge dealer , cummins doesnt have one and fleetguard hasnt been given an okay to manufacture, they are about 32 bucks U.S. , a ripoff yes and your fuel mileage will suffer for about 200 miles
good luck dont know nuttin about the other stuff you asked

I believe Geno's Garage has drop in AFE's. It's similar in theory to the K&N's but filters better. Around $80 some bucks if I remember correctly.The cold air kits are supposed to be great for lowering your EGT's and picking up little MPG's. So if you are doing some heavy towing or are going to do some BOMBing in the future, I would hold off on the drop-in and get the Scotty Air box. More money, but guys around here swear by 'em.-Steve

For info on the Scotty Sydtems check
www.scottyairsystems.com
and
www.wildcatdiesel.com

I prefer oil charged foam to the cotten gauze. Foam flows just as well if not slightly better than gauze, but filters as well as paper or better than paper. Gauze doesn't trap the smallest of particals unless it's really soaked in the spray oil, but once you add more oil, the air flow decreases.

I've used Amsoil air filters (open cell oil charged foam) for 10+ years. Before I discovered them, I used K&N. I sure got a lot more dirt and grit out of my Amsoil filters than I ever got out of the K&Ns. My oil stays cleaner longer as well. There are many documented cases of oil having higher than amounts of silicon (super fine sand) for those who use the cotten gauze filters. Foam is much easier to clean (with Ivory dish soap in the laundry room sink); no worries about damaging the filter.

Amsoil does not have a filter for the new CTDs yet. Uni, however does. It's sold under the "True Flow" Brand. I just put one in my truck. It made more difference than the Magnaflow muffler I had (for about a week). It starts a lot easier and runs much better. There is a little more turbo whistle too! ;D

Check out http://www.unifilter.com/ for more information.

To order a True Flow (best price I've found + great service), try... http://www.midwestspecialtyproducts.com/index.htm?PHPSESSID=b9d999f18b634216c2f37137c16922 8d

The filter part number is 30200. It's $54.59 w/free shipping (coupon code: 122503 when ordering) through December!

AMSOIL does now list a Air Filter for the stock drop in #TS189.
You will have to contact AMSOIL for more info.

Thanks for the input everyone.I think I will go ahead and pick one of the cold air kits.I just have to decide between the scotty and afe.

mike b

Does the Uniflow/TrueFlow drop in replacement filter
meet the Cummins filtration specs?

MonkeyLips,

I looked on the Midwest site and found the filters. Do they come with the oil?
Wetspirit

Back to the Amsoil, I have one for my `03 cost $40, I think, flow better than K&N and traps more dirt, Drop right in with no mods, just like stock.

I was kind of hoping for a few extra psi on the boost gauge, but no go there

No problems with the Amsoil filter sealing up? If it seals up good and is $40 bucks, heck I might buy one now.-Steve

Dmdbit,

You might consider a por Guard 7 filter or intake system.
We have been selling a lot of the Pro Guard 7 OEM replacement filters for the 2003/04 Dodges. They are a different design and have 5 layers of a progressively tighter woven gauze backed up by two layers of non woven poly. Per AFE they stop dirt as well as a paper filter but lose very little flow as compared to the 4 layer gauze filters that let in so much dirt etc. We used to be a foam only retailer till Pro Guard 7 was available, but due to its dirt stopping and flow capability it's all we sell.

Mark @ DPPI

Mark, what is your opinion of foam filters and what products do you carry? Are all of them drop in?

MonkeyLips,

I looked on the Midwest site and found the filters. Do they come with the oil?
Wetspirit


The Uni/TrueFlow filters come ready to install. They do not come with any extra oil. You can buy their clean and recharge kit for $11.95. I'm going to use Ivory dish soap and/or Kirkland Heavy Duty Cleaner Degreaser (really powerful stuff!) to clean, and super tacky Amsoil Foam Air Filter Oil (~$3.00/bottle, which will last about 4 cleanings) to recharge.

As far as them meeting Cummins specs, I don't know. I would image both the Uni/TrueFlow and Amsoil filters would if they were tested. I'll have to shoot Uni an e-mail and see if they have. Being a foam/oil air filter user for 10+ years, I fully trust that type of media at stopping all the dirt and grit.

That's good news that Amsoil got the filter out already. I didn't think they'd have one ready until at least Feb. I couldn't wait. ;D

I ordered the Amsoil TS-189 air foam filter yesterday that fits in the stock airbox. For the guys that already have these: Any noticable increase in MPG or quicker throttle response???

Thanks

MonkeyLips,

Which foam filters have you used over the last ten years? Are you seeing mpg increase, egt's drop, quicker spool, and clean oil? I was also wondering what your "cleaning" interval was?

I race desert, hare and hounds, enduros and believ that oiled foam traps dirt well...just have not heard many people talk about truck applications...

Thanks!

MonkeyLips,

Please disregard some of my last post...I missed what you said earlier.

I tried the same thing. Walked into cummins and asked for the 03 air filter and the guy said it was a dealer item too. :'( I was able to find a stock replacement at Napa. The Napa filter was about $28 bucks.
I would like a scotty ram air III but have to wait until the Mrs. will let go of the ol' purse. [laugh]



replacement filter to drop in is only available at this time from a dodge dealer , cummins doesnt have one and fleetguard hasnt been given an okay to manufacture, they are about 32 bucks U.S. , a ripoff yes and your fuel mileage will suffer for about 200 miles
good luck dont know nuttin about the other stuff you asked

No problems with the Amsoil filter sealing up? If it seals up good and is $40 bucks, heck I might buy one now.-Steve


Amsoil has changed their sealing material. It takes less than 10% compression to get 100% seal. It's better than the oil style filter.

Call me for the best price.

I ordered the Amsoil TS-189 air foam filter yesterday that fits in the stock airbox. For the guys that already have these: Any noticable increase in MPG or quicker throttle response???

Thanks

I didn't notice any performance difference, but the seal is absolutely molecule tight, and in 5000 miles the airbox is clean as new. There's no doubt in my mind that it's a great filter, and the airflow and filtration are superior to the stock unit.

questad,

My wife drives a '94 Jeep Cherokee. We have used Amsoil foam air filters and oil in it since new. It has 135K on the ticker. It doesn't burn a drop of oil.

I have used Amsoil foam air filters in five different gas trucks from Dodge to Mazda to GMC. Many of my friends and family use them as well.

We all clean and re-oil about once a year. Amsoil says to clean once a year or every 25K, which ever comes first; more often in dusty climates. IMO, I'd clean and re-oil twice a year, maybe more given your situation.

This Uni/Trueflow is my 1st foam/oil, other than Amsoil (for auto applications anyway). They state service requirements at 15K or 1/yr, which ever comes first. This looks about right mine looks about 2/3rds as thick as most Amsoil filters I have or have used in the past. That doesn't bother me; only means it holds a little less dirt.

I have always noticed some improved throttle response with foam/oil filters, just not as much as I have with this truck; my 1st diesel. Turbo lag seems reduced as well. The turbo whine is more pronounced in the lower gears/speeds/rpms. I like to drive with the stereo off just to hear it spool. ;D

As far as lower egts, I don't know. I've heard they do help some, but do not have any temp gauges to verify that claim.

I installed an AFE Magnum Force cold air intake and removed the stock restrictive air box. This new filter is the Pro-Guard 7 and supposedly filters as well as stock element.

It quite obviously flows a LOT more air and turbo spool-up is enhanced considerably. I haven't had the new filter/box on long enough to get a good mileage check and don't have my gauges yet either so cannot verify any decreases in EGT. The system seems to work very well so far...

Right on! ;D Where did you get it? Any pics?

Cquestad,

Foam works well for flitering dirt we used to sell the Unifilter's just for that reason, better flow than paper and stopped the dirt too! Now that Pro Guard 7 is avavilable it flows MORE air and still stops the dirt, more air is better so long as you don't get the dirt. So we no longer do the foam and sell Pro Guard 7 only, give us a call.


Mark @ DPPI

Hmm...maybe the AMSOIL filter is different for the 04 MOdel?


Eng Air Filter Mopar AF53032700AA
AMSOIL TS106($35.90) recharge Kit AF-BC (2.80)