I have a 2003 F250 2wd 7.3 a/t. I have the severe air filter system that came stock from ford. The filter is really costly and I would like to change to something else. I'm told that Ford makes another filter system for the 2003. Any ideas what would be best? Should I just stay with what I've got or get something different?

 

The severe air intake system is a great filter that should last a long time. You absolutely do not want to downgrade to the stock air filter set up for the 7.3. Most get rid of that cheap set up so they don't ruin their motor.

You could switch to a less expensive air filter set up like a 6637 and probably sell your AIS set up, but that wouldn't necessarily be a better filter set up, just less expensive.

 

Thanks for the help! The really odd thing is when I changed my filter my fuel mileage got worse and I smell fumes in the cab. could the filter be bad?

 

If your air filter was overly restrictive you would get a bunch of black smoke out the tail pipe.

If your fuel mileage seems to have gone down suddenly and you now smell fumes inside the cab, I'd crawl on top of the motor with a flashlight and see if you have any puddles of diesel on top of the motor or any drips below the truck. Worn o-rings on the fuel bowl drain valve are a common source of a fuel leak that could cause your symptoms.

 

You AIS intake is one of the best filter systems around. I just spotted a cheaper filter for it here. Ford 7.3L Powerstroke Fleetgaurd SEVERE DUTY AIS Replacement Filter Element AF26158 Still expencive but those filters should last 50k miles.

Like Chris said, if you have fumes in the cab, you have a leak.

 

Leaking up pipes can also make the cab smell like diesel fuel.

Stewart

 

Fumes = leaky exhaust or fuel. Look around. Fuel in the valley is a fuel leak, soot on the firewall is exhaust leak.