Changed The Air Filter Today

[GaryKD]

Hi All,
I put this in the Newmar forum because the un-install/install of the air filter may be different for different manufacturers. The signature coach is on a Spartan MM chassis and has an ISC 330 HP engine. The coach has 54K miles and in January will be 5 years old. The gage to tell when to replace the air filter had just begun to move up. It was nowhere near the level that indicates to replace the air filter. I replaced the air filter because we have just finished 2 months of filthy southwest USA travel. The desert, in the sumer is not only hot, it is filthy. Dust and dirt all over. The dirt gets into everything. It's like trying to keep sand out of the coach when we are at the beach.

The only way to get the old filter out is to remove the engine cover, in the back bedroom. There is a clamp at each end that holds the intake and clean air outlet hoses. There are also two clamps that hold the air filter to its' mounting brackets. Removal of and installation of the air filter is very straight forward. Once the 4 clamps are loosened, the filter slides forward into the bedroom. The hardest part and what took the longest was getting the engine cover off. I think Newmar over seals this cover. I understand the importance of having it sealed, but what I had go go through was ridiculous. After removing the 9 screws and bolts holding the cover in place, I ended up using a pry bar to break the seal. Once the seal is broken, the cover is a bit tricky to find a place to set it without getting a bunch of crude on the bedroom floor and without scratching the wood work. The cover is heavy and bulky.

All that said it took a total of about 2 hours from start to finish. This includes getting set up and all the cleanup after everything is put back together.

One does get rather dirty. Everything in the engine compartment is dirty. Then again it could just be me. I tend to attract dirt.

[Jimary]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryKD Hi All, One does get rather dirty. Everything in the engine compartment is dirty. Then again it could just be me. I tend to attract dirt.

Your not the only one! I can't wear any thing white or even light colored.

[Brigadoon]

When we get back to S. Fla. in November, I will need to change my air filter, also.

Where did you purchase your new filter?

Thanks.

[GaryKD]

Hi Terry,
My coach is on a Spartan chassis. The chassis builder is responsible for installing the air filter, based on the coach builders requirements. I called Spartan. They sell the filter for my coach. To save on shipping, I bought the filter, from Spartan, at the annual Newmar International Rally, in August.

[Harm]

Just join SCIC (Spartan Chassis Int'l. Club) for $10. per year and order all your chassis filters from Spartan anytime with free shipping.
www.rvchassisparts.com

[Brigadoon]

Thanks Gary and Wayne- Looks like I'll be joining the Spartan Chassis Club!

[Latitude]

I just ordered the Filter and am gonna get it installed when I do the Emission test prior to license renewal!!!

I was expecting or at least hoping to not have to bring it thru the bedroom!!!

Gary Is the bedroom the only option??

Rick

[GaryKD]

Hi Rick,
Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Getting at the front clamp (clean air clamp) is almost impossible from the rear of the coach. The rear opening may look like the filter will fit through it, but it will not. From a un install/install view, the bedroom allows access to the front (clean air) clamp and the front bracket clamp. The rear access allows access to the air intake clamp and the rear bracket clamp. Lastly, once the four clamps are loose, the filter is real easy to slide out. The new filter is real easy to slide in place.

[tmitchell]

On my 2004 DSDP it was easy to access and change the air filter. The worse part of the job was getting the vinyl like intake hose off the aft end of the filter. It was as if it was bonded in place. When I got the filter off, I checked inside the air box, where the air is drawn through toward the filter, to make sure there wasn't any construction debris left over in there. I also checked out the slobber hose at the bottom of the air box, to make sure it was functioning.
Tom

[read & learn]

Rick, we just change out our air filter. By we, I should say a friend who knows what he was doing. Broke his butt, but did everything from engine compartment outside. Crawled right in over the radiator, standing on work platform.
Last year out west did it's toll on filter.
Remember when the yellow hits the red time to change. Someone told me to change when gauge turns totatlly red no no no. The yellow was touching the red for about 4 months as I notice it end of February.
He also put in by-pass oil filter system and synthenic engine oil.

[GaryKD]

Hi read & learn,
Did you take pictures or a video? I'm considered thin (some even say skinny) but I would not attempt what your friend did. I'm sure the pro's know how to do this stuff better than those of us who do the task once every X number of years. I would really liked to have seen this. Then I'd buy the guy a drink of his choice.

[read & learn]

Gary
I reread my post and I may have given you the wrong impression when I said "we" that I was there when George did the work. No I was only stating what he told me and how he did the job.
I know he did not open the floor because he said "If I have to open the bedroom floor hatch who's going to clean up the mess?" Now not being a very good house husband I said maybe we can have your wife come out and clean up the mess. Well after a good laugh I left the MH.
The next day he got down to business and crawled in the opening. Now was he totally inside the engine compartment No, but enough that he was able to reach and loosen everything up. Was it easy, no he said the filter was a really tight fit.
Yes, this is what he does for a living. You may have met him in DuQuion, IL at the rally, he was the AMSOIL guy.
He also used a Donaldson Air Filter, not a spartan filter.

[KarenEK]

Is your unit a rear or side mounted rad.?
What does an air filter cost?
TIA
Salsa Gypsy
Peter K

[Dav5942]

Be careful! Friend just changed his on his Travel Supreme-cost him $21,000 for a "dusted engine" rebuild-he did not install the new air filter correctly!