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Air Filters and the "Filter Minder Gizmo"

Yahoo Message Number: 1528
I'd like to relate a story about how totally ineffective the Filter Minder guages are that are installed in CC and lots of other manufacturers products to let one know when it's about time to change your air filter.

We own a 2000 B&B Affinity with the Cat C-12 at present, however every diesel powered RV we've owned has had the same guage.
This is the small round guage with a vacuum actuated yellow disk inside a little clear round plastic housing that is supposed to give some indication of how clogged your air filter is getting.
We were in the Las Vegas Cat dealer about 3 weeks ago to have a coolant leak fixed and the tech ask me if I had changed the air filter, or visually checked it. The coach had about 29000 miles on it at the time. I said no but decided that it was not a bad idea since the tech was already under the coach. The filter minder indicated no restriction whatsoever. When the tech went to remove the filter it was so loaded with dirt (the finest talcum powder like silt I have ever seen) it fell on him and he actually had a bit of trouble getting out from under it.
We probably have less than 30 miles total in dirty conditions. You know, dirt roads in RV parks, a few dirt detours of short length, but other than that, pavement.

The filter was SO CLOGGED that the pleats were begining to seperate, and although the inside of the filter was still nice and white and clean the tech and the service manager told us that we were very close to "dusting the engine". In other words ruining it, and we should consider ourselves very fortunate as that would not be covered under warranty.

The tech checked the operation of the filter minder by applying a vacuum to the small hose leading to the device. The vacuum was not more than the filter minder would have received from the filter housing and the thing worked just fine. Both the tech and the service manager basically told me the filter minder guage is totally worthless, and shouldn't even be used, let alone relied on for any good information.

The service manager was also totally amazed by the, as he put it, "completely irresponsible enginering" that would allow an air intake to be placed where CC locates theirs. BEHIND THE DRIVERS where it is subjected to every bit of dirt that is thrown up by the tires. He was even more amazed when he factored in the fact that the side mounted fan would assist in causing any loose dirt to be blown up for the intake to suck in to the filtering system.
The moral of this story is NEVER rely on the worthless Filter Minder as a guage of air filter performance. I will, from now on, replace my filter once a year, and consider the $100 or so as cheap insurance against the inept design of the air intake system.

Lastly, I have several pictures of the old filter. If anyone would like to see just how much dirt was in the thing email me at murpeg@..., and I'll send you a couple of pics. It's absolutely amazing.

OK not lastly...

One other note. While Cat was repairing their leak (a cold leak between the short coupling hose between the water pump and the oil cooler) they noticed that the coolant hose that comes off the bottom of the CC installed surge tank (the one with the small sight bubble in it) had been routed from the bottom of the tank down to the water pump so that it layed against the EXHAUST MANIFOLD. CC did put a corrugated plastic split loom (like goes around electrical wiring) around it to protect it from the 1000 degree temps of the manifold, but as one can imagine, it didn't exactly do much. The hose had become welded to the manifold and when things heated up it started to leak. When things cooled down it basically sealed itself against the manifold again. This may not apply to those of you having a Cummins, but I know that both of our Cats hade the same setup, so you may want to take a look and see if there is any problem.

Regards,

murray and peggy

murpeg@...

Re: Air Filters and the \

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1529
Murray, Thanks for the "heads up". I am curious as to when (mileage) you last changed the filter.

We had a complete oil change at 8000 miles and I had the technicians remove the air filter for inspection and possible replacement. In our case the filter was still in good shape with relatively little dirt. The technicians were confident it could be re installed without risk. We will most likely replace it at 15000 which I think is a recommended interval.

David and Karen,
2000 Intrigue 11062

Re: Air Filters and the "Filter Minder Gizmo"

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1533
WOW, what a story ---- I'm going to have my filter checked immediately.
I have also heard about another kind of filter that we can remove, wash out and then reinstall. Does anyone know anything about those types of "permanent" filters?

Front Slide "lower glides"

We also have an Affinity, a 2001 B&B. So far it has bee a good coach for us. We have not had any real major problems. We just had one fixed on our slide that you might want to look at. On the outside, bottom of the living room slide, along the very forward edge of the floor, the rollers or some part of the slide mechanism had scraped off just a little bit of the bottom of the exterior plywood. After looking at the newer -- 02 and 03 coaches, I noticed that they now have a thin piece 4"x16" of stainless steel glued to both the front and rear exterior, lower sides of the slideout. Even though my coach is 6 months out of warranty, I called them and they paid to have the two pieces of SS installed. My slide has always worked fine, no leaks, etc., but I was concerned.
Has anyone with a CAT Engine installed anything to slow down the radiator fan while driving into or out of campgrounds?

Den, 2001 Affinity # 5972

Re: Air Filters and the "Filter Minder Gizmo"

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1534
David,

At all the Cat and Cummins seminars at FMCA rallies the tecks tell us that the biggest thing we waste money on is air filters. They should go to 40,000 miles and we should rely on the gauge, Thats assuming it is working. I reset my gauge regularly and I hope it is working. One of the worse things we can do is remove the filter and then reinstall it. The engine companies say never do that and never try to clean the filter. You will dislodge the dirt and suck it into the engine.

Bill G.

Re: Air Filters and the \

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1538
Hi Bill G,

The Cummins shop where I had my engine oil change said they would check the filter while doing the service and replacing the air compressor.

They showed me the filter, which was fairly clean, recommended it didn't need replacement at the time and re installed it. Not any mention of risk from dislodging the dirt.

What you write makes sense. Too late now for me to reverse the work. GGG

I will have the filter replaced at 15000 miles or trade the coach, whichever comes first. VBG

David and Karen,
2000 Intrigue 11062

Re: Filter Minder Gizmo--Does Yours Always Register??

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1544
Just a quick note to find out if anyone else has a filter minder that often doesn't register anything. I have had the vacuum checked and the guage changed, too. Only on damp or rainy days (or when the stars and moon are positioned just so) does the guage read anything.
CCI just blows off my inquiries and says that at 8,000 miles, that is NORMAL. Hope they know of what they speak.

Any other comments will be appreciated.

Don Baker
 

Re: Air Filters and the "Filter Minder Gizmo"

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1624
I have a CAT engine and I had a filter or something installed in it and it lowered the RPM' s Jim H