Air Filter and fuel filter options - Diesel Forum

south tx crawler · 02-21-2013, 01:53 PM

I am getting ready to change the filters in my 93 7.3 IDI non turbo. I have owned it for a few weeks and happy with it so far. I am thinking of getting a washable filter like a K&N or should I stick with the paper replacement. The other question I have is on the fuel filter it seems easier to replace with the 1 piece, any thoughts?

Rico444 · 02-21-2013, 02:41 PM

I've got a paper air filter and a NAPA 3417 fuel filter and have had no problems thus far. However, I did just recently put the fuel filter on (maybe 500 miles) since my old fuel/ water separator went bad and started dripping fuel.

chuckster57 · 02-21-2013, 03:16 PM

One piece fuel filters are good as long as they come with the port for the water in fuel sensor. I still use the two piece, trick is to lube the seal on the bowl before you spin it onto the filter.

K&N filters can start some heated discussions here. I use them in ALL my vehicles. Trick is to do proper maintance on them. I haven't had a single issue related to their use.

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LMJD · 02-21-2013, 04:06 PM

Me neither. Been using one for about 18 years for over 200,000 miles. If they're as bad as the "experts" say I should have been on my 3rd engine overhaul about now.
When our favorite K&N hater from back east weighs in, I'll have to remind him maybe this is why he sees filter failures, here's how two of his buddies from back there said they clean theirs:

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I have no concrete evidence, but I think it is Marvel Mystery oil. Same pink color. Maybe just thinned ATF, maybe colored mineral oil. Any thin oil will work, it traps the dirt in the element.
You can get spray cans of the sticky stuff used on furnace filters. Bet it's the same. My K&N needs cleaning, that's what I'm gonna use.

It's all in how carefully you clean them and reoil them WITH K&N's oil. I haven't been on their site in years but they used to describe the composition of their tacky oil, and explained why if applied correctly it works so well and a subsitute oil isn't going to get it.

drinkypoo · 02-21-2013, 04:13 PM

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Originally Posted by LMJD

It's all in how carefully you clean them and reoil them WITH K&N's oil. I haven't been on their site in years but they used to describe the composition of their tacky oil, and explained why if applied correctly it works so well and a subsitute oil isn't going to get it.

I think that's a lot of hooey, but what I'm sure isn't nonsense is that cotton filters have more fibers than synthetic filters, which is why K&N filters are still good; they're made with cotton.

I use the K&N oil anyway just in case it's not nonsense. It's not a big price difference, so why not use the real thing?

LMJD · 02-21-2013, 04:40 PM

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I think that's a lot of hooey,

Thank you for clearing that up, you've no doubt put as much time in researching and testing K&N's filter oil as they did formulating it and you found exactly what, other than hooey?

Mitchalvin · 02-21-2013, 05:08 PM

The K&N filter oil has some vegetable oil in to increase the tackiness of it so it will not flow off of the filter as easy.

drinkypoo · 02-21-2013, 05:09 PM

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Originally Posted by LMJD

Thank you for clearing that up, you've no doubt put as much time in researching and testing K&N's filter oil as they did formulating it and you found exactly what, other than hooey?

I found that manufacturers have a vested interest in telling you that their stuff is great and everyone else's is crap, and if you listen to them and believe what they say just because you said it, you make a fool of yourself. HTH.

LMJD · 02-21-2013, 05:31 PM

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Originally Posted by Mitchalvin

The K&N filter oil has some vegetable oil in to increase the tackiness of it so it will not flow off of the filter as easy.

Yeah, IIRC it also has some petroleum base to it too. It's sure gummy enough to do the job. I had just cleaned mine and suddenly got called to use my truck on a forest fire (chase truck) for 14 days and the dust was so thick the policy was headlights on day and night. I later pulled the filter and put in my spare for a long 2400 mile round trip and I couldn't find any sign of dust whatsoever that had got past the filter and settled on the oily intake ducting. As you probably know, that's where it's easily found whenever dirt gets past a filter.

Rustyshackleford · 02-22-2013, 01:03 AM

Air filter oil is diffrent than substitute oils I have used several diffrent air filter oils (traxxas,uni,k&n) and the one I like is uni its super thick and tacky and will catch some silt if you can find a oem style air filter with more surface area it will out filter the k&n and flow almost as much look at the vw tdis it has factory cold air and on a dyno it made 2hp over stock with no filter and only 1.2hp over stock with k&n I run a k&n on my truck and I would not switch to a normal filter but I would not buy a k&n (po bought it) they cost a lot

drinkypoo · 02-22-2013, 07:10 AM

I use a cheap cotton filter from eBay with K&N oil and don't get intake dust. The only downside I can see vs. K&N is that it's blue and not white so it turns purple and not red when fully oiled

I also got a filter sock to go over it, this is an absolute necessity. It keeps stuff like pet hair and thistle down out of your filter, as well as many of the larger dust particles. You still have to wash and oil it about as often as ever, but it makes it a lot easier to clean and it does make it take longer to clog, if that is a consideration for you. It is for me, since I live in ag land.

south tx crawler · 02-23-2013, 08:48 AM

Does any one have the part number for the 1 piece Napa fuel filter with the port for the water in fuel sensor?

Thanks for all the replys, I think I am going to go with the K&N, I am very anal about changing all my fluids and filters so keeping up with the K&N wont be a problem. Also what coolant are you all using on the 7.3 IDI?

For the oil change I am going with Rotella just because that what I used to use on my powerstroke and worked well and I am also going to use the FL1995 powerstroke oil filter. When I change the fuel filter should I put some Sea Foam or Diesel Kleen in the filter with fresh diesel? I was planning on using 2 stroke oil in the diesel for lube.

LMJD · 02-23-2013, 10:05 AM

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Thanks for all the replys, I think I am going to go with the K&N, I am very anal about changing all my fluids and filters so keeping up with the K&N wont be a problem. Also what coolant are you all using on the 7.3 IDI?

Personally I feel it's worth the money to buy two filters. After cleaning, they take quite a while to dry out even in the dry air where I am, so with a spare I can clean the dirty one whenever I get around to it.
I use Fleetguard extended life coolant concentrate (owned by Cummins) mixed 50/50 with distilled water. It's good for way over 100,000 miles in a pickup.

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I use a cheap cotton filter from eBay

Can't beat cheap no-name brand from Ebay when it comes to engine protection.