LBZ Clean Air Filter

[BigDogYJ]

WARNING: This is going to be long-winded. I tried to clean it up as much as possible but.... ahh well....

Ok, so I have noticed this twice since I purchased this truck.
The first time was shortly after I bought it (~50k). Second time was more recently (~75k).

I started noticing a strange shifting issue. First sign was when the TC locks in 5th usually when cold or first few times in the morning it almost does like a double-clunk (??) or rough lockup. Basically it locks / unlocks / locks within 1-2 seconds, so you get a strange slip--bump feel.
For the rest of the day you usually don't notice it much. Its most prevalent when cold. Although throughout the day shifting feels sloppy and somewhat lagging when accelerating for freeway on ramps, etc.

So I start to get concerned that the tranny is not happy. Panic mode starts to set it and I de-tune the truck. (I usually on run the PPE 90HP tune.) No change, I reset TAPS (trans shifting learn mode) with the PPE. After it does the quick learn, No change. So now I'm looking at budget thinking how the hell am I gonna fit a SCIV in here... :doh:

Then I realize while checking the oil during a fillup the other day, I should probably clean the air filter. So this last weekend I soak it in dish soap solution, dry it out and re-oil it.

All of a sudden its like a new tranny/truck. Shifts great, no more rough TC lockup.

I'll be honest the air filter is probably the most ignored maint item on my truck. everything else, i am religious with. Only thing I can guess, is that the air intake is restricted (clogged filter) and computer is expecting a certain amount of power to be generated and so it shifts based on that instead of the actual power being generated???? Hell I'm thinking out of my a$$ at this point....

My buddy that works at a GM dealer (not a Diesel tech) thinks I've lost it. (probably not far off) But I swear this has happened twice now and I can't explain it. :rolleyes5:

See... I told you it was long-winded!

Anybody experience this, or am I just a moron for not maintaining the filter properly?

Flame on!

 

[Unit453]

You know, I didnt see this before but I've heard of this previously. You're the 3rd or 4th person who's posted about this.

Its been a few months but has anything changed?

This was with your AFE fitler?

I cleaned my S&B recently and took it out about 6 months later and it looks absolutley disgusting again. I never really liked the idea of reusing these filters. They never quite filter like when they're brand new. I thought a pressure washer would be perfect for getting the bugs and crap out of it but they dont recommend that. Tap water from the sink alone dosent do crap in my opinion. I'm just gonna end up replacing my filter with a new one.

 

[BigDogYJ]

No worries. I didn't see any replies so I figured you all thought i was crazy.

So its been about 4 months and nearly 10k miles later. it still shifts great just like it did after i cleaned it back in March. Very Strange.

I never was fond of the reusable filters either, but I can't really complain about it much. It must be doing its job, as long as I do my part its all good.

I did notice that soaking it in hot water with some dish soap for about an hour really did a good job. Running it under tap water doesnt seem to do anything. The oil seems to keep the dirt and crap trapped in there.
I'll probably make it a regular maint thing around 10-12k to clean it out real good and keep it happy.

 

[Unit453]

I used to wash my AFE filter out when I had my 04 with a pressure washer. I never got it real close but it got all the crap out of it with ease. Tap water dosent do crap. You just let it soak in soap and water? Then what? Rinse it out?

 

[BigDogYJ]

Yeah after it soaked (probably 2-3 hrs) I rinsed it with the tap water then shook it pretty good and let it dry in the sun for probably another 4 hours.
It kinda sucks because it takes like a whole day, but I usually plan it around a time when I dont need to go anywhere, like when Im doing all the other maintenance items on my truck or trying to finish the Jeep.