All,

I am new to your site. 2002, F250, 7.3, 265K, completely stock. I bought the AIS system from my dealer 10 years ago and had them install it. When I travel long distances in rain, the filter gets completely satuated to the point it sets off the clogged filter light (no problem in any other driving conditions). I drove to Ohio from NC last Tues. Had to replace the filter 3 times. (carry lots of spares unfortunately).
I have talked to Ford and Donalson over the years......no help. When I talk to the after marked folks, they say get rid of the AIS. No water is visible from the top of the filter to the turbo.

I am driving from NC to OKC for Christmas. Would really like to find a fix.

Any thoughts??

Charlie

 

Hey Charles, welcome to FTE.

The topic of the thread you posted in was AIS related, but your question really should have it's own thread since you have a problem with yours, so I cut your post and moved it to the 7.3L PSD forum where they guys can all chime in with their opinion and get you some help.

Stewart

 

Charles, have you done what we call the Zoodad mod, where you cut a hole just in front of the AIS snorkel to allow air to pass through the grill directly to the intake?

Mark

 

Also do you have the intake opening in the fender or not

 

I have not done the zodat mod.
The hole is there for the fender sleeve but is not used.

Charlie

 

If you haven't done the zoodad mod and your not using the fender sleeve and the AIS cover is on, I dont see how your filter is getting so wet that you have to change the filter 3 times in one trip. Somethings just not right. Is there a drain hole in the bottom of the housing so if water does get in there it can drain out? If your getting water in the small hole on the grill, then Im afraid you might get more water in when you do the zoodad mod. Yes you will get more air also to help dry the filter out. Just never heard of this type of problem. Those filters aint cheap.

 

I've had freezing fog load up my AIS until the Filter Minder triggered under heavy throttle, but the truck just ran fine. When does the light trigger, after a WOT run... or just regular load? I suspect it's not the water per se that's getting you, but the fine mist and intense humidity. Is there anything at all added to the nose of the truck? I wonder if there is a new dynamic at play on your truck that my truck never experienced (or I never caught).

 

I have the Zoodad mod and don't have this problem that I know of. My 38r turbo will set the indicator with a dry filter tho so, who knows? There is a small drain hole in the bottom of the housing. Make sure that is clear andnot covered with a leaf, bug, or dirt. Other than that I have to agree with Tugly. You might also put the fender sleeve in so water dripping form the hood/fender flange does not get drawn in.

 

Thanks to each of you that have responded. After this recent trip, this problem has gotten my attention. I find this even more bizarre than every.
I pulled out the filter this morning. There are two small drain holes that are clear. When I pulled out the wet filter last week there was water under the filter but not a puddle. The pipe to the turbine was dry.

Everything in the truck is stock. The filter minder works fine normally showing between zero to 10% compression on any given day. (I check it every time I fill up with fuel as I do the oil). No problems unless I have this long duration saturation problem. Even with the gauge activated, the truck runs fine but makes me nervous. Even when the filter is totally saturated with water, there is no indication that water droplets are getting into the intake. Fuel mileage seems to drop a little based on overhead gauge that I monitor closely in this situation.

I am going to take my truck to another Ford dealer tomorrow for another review. After all, this is a box with a filter, a snorkle to the grill, and a pipe to the compressor.
If this does not bring forth any insight, then I have several options unless you guys come up with others:
1. Cut off the snorkle: Even with the radiator or inside the engine compartment. Maybe 6 inches. Not sure.
2. Take the snorkle out and drill some holes in the bottom. I am not an engineer so I do not know if water droplets would fall out or if some hot air would help reduce the wetness. I have read that the temperature of the air is not as important as the boost for making power. I am not sure on this one.
3. Change out the AIS for a less capable filter system. Not my preferrence. Also I would not like any increase in noise.

I must come up with something before 15 Dec. Again, thank you for all your input.

S/F
Charlie

 

You could just remove the snorkel and run without it for a while. Also, do you have a hole in the AIS housing for the fender sleeve, or are you referring above to the normal hole in the inner fender?

Mark

 

Mark,

The AIS filter box does not have the hole to attach the fender sleeve. The truck body sheet metal has the hole in it but not used.

The only way air can get into the filter box is through the snorkle.

The external filter box, cover, or snorkle has never been wet when opening the hood. Hope this helps.

S/F
Charlie

 

I'll have to go out and look at mine. I wonder how the water is getting in. I know the snorkle terminates about 1.5" from the header panel so the water must be spraying off something there.

 

Thank you.

 

Charlie- I dont know if there enough room but can you use a pvv 45 or 90* elbow & mount it out in front by intake next to radiator ? Just try it temporarily & see if that helps. Just a thought

 

The AIS is the quietest filter I know of, so changing from that may prove to be a disappointment. A stock truck should never pull in a Filter Minder with a new cartridge... really. I jacked up my truck to over 300 HP and never had a Filter Minder trigger until 20,000 miles of dust had built up (or the aforementioned freezing fog). My most recent upgrade to over 400 HP did trigger the FM with a new filter. I now strongly suspect you have a wimped-out Filter Minder.