A few months ago I installed the Kwik filter mod on my 2000 Powerstroke. It has been an excellent upgrade...until today.

This morning my truck was running a little rough. I had to drive about 30 miles a little later in the morning and noticed that when idling and when in 3rd gear, the roughness was getting worse. Then the check engine light came on.

This afternoon when returning home it was running a little rougher still. I'd describe it as feeling like the truck is shaking a little like driving on a washboard gravel road. So, I planned to drop it off at the shop tonight so they'd have it first thing in the morning to check out.

When I got home I opened the hood to see if I could see anything of interest. I did see something of major interest. My 6637 filter had come unfastened from the intake tube!! All at once I thought how bad this could be.

So I fastened the filter back on and a little while later I had a buddy ride with me around the block to check it out with me and see if there was any improvement since attaching the filter.

There was no improvement. My truck stalled a few houses down from mine and would not crank back up. It turned over, but would not start. I had AAA send a tow truck over to haul it to the shop for me.

Is it possible that the air filter has nothing to do with what's going on? And if it is due to the filter coming off, how bad is it going to be? I am pretty down about the whole thing. I mean...did I wreck my turbo and possibly my engine?

Thanks for replying to this.

 

Did you get a look at the turbo wheel?

 

Yes, very possible. You need to find out what exactly turned on the check engine light.

You would pretty much have to think worst case scenario.....

 

Hey guys, thanks for the quick response. I did not check the turbo before the truck was towed. Wish I had now that you mention it.

When you said "worst scenario"...how bad could it be? Also, should I find out what codes the computer is throwing and post them here? I'll be checking in with the mechanic tomorrow morning.

 

Worst case scenario would = Dusted engine, and you'd pretty much be in need of a rebuild.
But, a dusted engine won't trip a CEL for the most part, it'll be low on power, have lots of blowby, maybe cranky to start when cold. But, it won't just die all of a sudden.

 

Have you been running around on paved highways, or on dirt roads? That might make a lot of difference. How long ago did you last see your filter still attached, time and milage-wise?

Pop

 

SpringerPop--
It was running a little rough on highways yesterday morning and the night before. Unfortunately, yesterday I drove down a dry gravel road a couple hundred yards each way. Man, I hope my engine's not screwed!

 

even so i think you would be ok here.


what year is the truck? warranty still on it? did you put the oem filter and housing back on before you got towed to shop? it's sounds to me like you have some other problems and not a dusted motor. anyone you know have a code reader or see if a parts store will let you use a quality one.

 

A couple of hundred yards on even a very dusty road isn't going to kill the piston rings. Doing it every day for a month might start doing some harm.

You might want to pull an oil sample and send it off to Blackstone to see if you have really abnormally high silicon in the oil. That would be an indicator of too much dirt ingested. But I think I'd not unnecessarily worry about "dusting".

This is all likely due to something else, and it only caused you to investigate under the hood, only to find something obvious. There is likely no connection. Just be glad you found it. Put the filter on tighter when you fix that part.

But that goes without saying......

Pop

 

Hey guys, that's a relief to hear it's not necessarily a dusted engine!! I did fasten the filter on before having it towed. And my truck is long past warranty, so the OEM filter was not necessary.

I am, however, considering having them put the Ford version of the Kwik Filter on for me...that heavy duty filter upgrade they came out with.

I don't trust my installation of the Kwik filter mod enough.

 

Have you ever replaced the CPS (or CAMP, cam position sensor) sensor?

 

No. I have not replaced that. And thank goodness that is the first thing my Ford shop that's checking it out mentioned. That will be great it that's all it is!

 

could be a high probability that is the problem. I replaced mine about a year ago, nothing wrong, just 50 bucks to install a new one, hopefully get another 75K out of and the one I took out, is in the glove box just in case.

 

If your Kwik filter installation is like mine, you simply clamp the tube to the mouth of the filter using the original clamp used to connect the tube to the airbox. There may be some variation to that if you had to extend the clamp. In any case, you could simply drill through the clamp or use some of the clamp spaces, and run 2 or 3 metal screws down into the plastic filter mouth. the filter could then never slip off, and it would be easy to eventually change the filter in a year or so. The Ford heavy duty AIS has a good rep, but it is expensive compared to the simple Kwik filter.
Warren

 

Alright...just received word from the shop that it's my IDM. They said it is gone. They don't know about the harness yet...it may be okay. They said there's nothing wrong with my engine. I'm breathing a sigh of relief. The IDM job is kinda costly but nothing like what I could have been facing.