The truck hasn't been eagerly climbing the hill that I live on like it use to, I suspected that maybe the air filter was getting dirty, but I was surprised how bad it was at 15k miles. The large amount of surface area provided the extensive pleating was defated by the solid layer of crud on top of the pleats, and there was a layer of crud on some of the outer paper. I noticed that the newer Mopar filters have a layer of foam on top of the pleats to address the problem. The engine side of the air box was really clean, as I didn't see any dirt when wiping my finger anywhere.

Has anyone used one or more of the oiled aftermarket filters as a prefilter for the OE filter ?

 

15000 is about what I got out of my first filter. It's much less if you drill holes in the bottom of the airbox!!

 

1sttruck did you notice what your filter minder was showing?

Mine is showing 60% with 40k and I have not noticed any drop in power. Perhaps the loss is there, just not noticable.

 

The filter minder showed about a 35% use. Now it revs a bit easier, seems to run a bit smoother, and does climb the hill on the way home a bit easier.

When I get some time I'll look into adding a large oiled filter or more than one oiled filter as a prefilter, and open up/add some more holes in the air box. I'd prefer to have the air enter from somewhere besides the engine compartment, in order to keep the air as cool as possible.

 

There is a problem with the early 03 filter minders reading inaccurately. They were updated to a new unit with a different spring. Mine shows 100% restriction at 14,500 miles. I seriously doubt everyone's filters are shot at the low mileage folks are reporting. My local dealer has the new filter minder in stock for me as well as the new style alternator bracket. They will be replacing these parts at the same time they replace my radiator. To make a long story short, they broke the radiator when they replaced the shroud that they broke when replacing the injection pump. Yes, that is the short version. The radiator is on backorder.

 

I changed my first one out at 11K miles and it was also really covered in crud. Couldn't believe how crapped up it was with only 11K on it.

And they aren't given those filters away$$$$

 

Mine was quite dirty at 11K when I installed my Pro-Guard*7 Magnum Force intake. Never dreamed it would have been that dirty at 11K miles .
Greg

 

I replaced mine at 12,000 miles, orginal one pretty dirty also had the miscalibrated filter minder replaced.

 

I think 10,000 miles is about the limit for a diesel. People don't understand that a diesel uses much more air then a gas engine. The gassers are always trying to maintain a fuel to air ratio, somewhere around 12.3/1. On the diesel engine, there is no intake air restriction, a they are drawing the maximum amount of air at all times. That is why diesels can idle for such a long time, and not burn much fuel. They are drawing the max amount of air, and using just enough fuel to ignite the mixture and keep it steady idle. Fuel to air ratios at idle are up to 200/1. When we need more speed or power, we simply add more fuel. The gassers have to maintain there ratio, so when more power is needed, they add fuel, and air at the same ratios of 12.3/1.
All this is just to show how much more air a diesel requires, they draw at least 5 times the am out of a gas engine. So it would make since that they need cleaning, or changed sooner.
Now you can also see why where is such HP gains when aftermarket intake air system are used, since so much air is being moved, any help with regard to lessoning the restriction and helping the flow is huge.

 

Changed mine at 6800 miles to Amsoil Foam Filter TS-189. The stock Dodge one looked fine, no crud build up either and filter minder looks same place as when I First bought truck in October. Now, just past 10k miles...

 

I changed mune at 8500. It was crudded up but probably could have gone longer. It pulled 35% on the filter minder when new and was up to around 60%, if I recall, when I replaced it.

I do not recommend replacing the "uncalibrated" filter minder. In my opinion, it is the correct one and the "calibrated" one is wrong. The air box is very restrictive and Dodge must have recalibrated the filter minder to match the poor box.

When I replaced my filter I also cut a 4" hole in the bottom of the airbox and installed a 4" drain pipe elbow in the hole to keep splashes out. The filter minder read zero for a long time after that. 9000 miles later and the filter minder is just starting to pull 10% or so.

 

The Amsoil stock replacement filters are the best filter for the stock air box. They flow very good and clean great. As for the "Filter minder" I think it was a lame attempt to give the Cummins a "Big Rig" look, more of a marketing gimmick then a real gage. As much air as diesels consume, you would be silly to Waite till it read that your filter was dirty and needed replacement. On heavy construction equipment YES, they need a quick, convenient way to alert the operator. But on the Dodge ram, just not happening.