Clogged air filter = high pyro temps?

[Spencnaz]

Been getting some high pyro temps around 900 just driving up some steep hills around here locally.

I just cleaned out the K&N, it was sure dirty. Could a plugged air filter lead to higher pyro temps and lower power? I am/was getting more black smoke than usual (I had turned up the pump one flat when I did the head gaskets).

I would say yes, but a K&N is supposed to flow well even dirty.

[Evel486]

Yes a plugged air filter will definitely cause black smoke and low power. A dirty K&N does NOT flow well. They claim it still filters, though.

[Spencnaz]

But would it be a cause of high pyro temps as well?

[Evel486]

Absolutely.

[Spencnaz]

Well I'll find out tomorrow morning on the way to work. I cleaned and re oiled the filter and it's sitting in a plastic tub ready to go.

[CDX825]

A clogged air filter will cause high EGTs because of the lack of air. Same thing as turning up the fuel to high.

[M.L.S.C.]

Well I can see the thing still filtering when it's clogged, but clogged is clogged, it restricts airflow - hence what Justin said happens.

[Spencnaz]

Ok,

I let the oil soak into the K&N over night and reinstalled. I do think I've got a bit of an exhaust leak though, as I can hear it underneath the cab, that's another issue for another time.

Pyro temps were where they should be this morning, around 600F cruising in traffic at 35-40mph. I'll keep an eye on it on the drive home.

I think I may also have gotten some bad diesel fuel at the fueling station, I've been running #2 so I can stock up on biodiesel this winter for the coming year. I dumped a bottle of PowerService in just in case.