AFE Airfilter

[Perry White]

I was in the HVAC for 25 years and I'll go with what Gary says on the filters. The dirtier the filter the better it works,As long as the airflow isn't restricted it's doing it's job.

[spike45]

Originally Posted by Twomed

Ok Gary I'll bite....what's wrong with Farr Ecolites that comes stock on Monaco's and a bunch of other coaches? And with some internal pics and specs which I couldn't find on the Cummins site, what makes the AH8503 worth 33% more in cost than the Eco series?
Thanks

I do not think ours is worth that price. Did you price it at a Cummins distributor or RV dealer? Shop around, there are dealers who can do better. Try International Truck who used to be the lowest overall cost distributor of our products.

I do not like the Ecolite air filter as I have investigated too many engine dusting situations where we could not find the air cleaner to be at fault but still plenty of evidence the dust came through the air cleaner. On the ISL 400HP engines you need 950 CFM air flow at peak HP. A typical Ecolite will be about 24 inches long and 9.75 inches diameter per the inner element dimensions. Those are rated to flow that much. That air cleaner can flow that much but the face velocity is too high for the paper to be able to trap and hold the dust particles. Since all air filters improve in efficiency with the collection of dust, the Ecolite with high air flow is compromised due to the high flow pulling the dust through the paper thus prolonging or even preventing the collection of a "dust cake" that increases the efficiency of the element. OEM builders like the small compact design not knowing that it comes at a "cost". I lay the blame on the issues I have seen with this product on the shoulders of the chassis builders who select this product because they want as reasonably small package to allow the coach builder more room for their design features.

If you use your MH in the Southwest or any arid to semi-arid climate with higher levels of airborne dust, this is not your air cleaner. The bad news is that it is hard to replace this product with a more efficient and larger air cleaner as that will require more room........something I doubt you have.

[Twomed]

Glad Monaco used the 11"x 24"

[MonacoMama]

Originally Posted by spike45

I do not think ours is worth that price. Did you price it at a Cummins distributor or RV dealer? Shop around, there are dealers who can do better. Try International Truck who used to be the lowest overall cost distributor of our products.

I do not like the Ecolite air filter as I have investigated too many engine dusting situations where we could not find the air cleaner to be at fault but still plenty of evidence the dust came through the air cleaner. On the ISL 400HP engines you need 950 CFM air flow at peak HP. A typical Ecolite will be about 24 inches long and 9.75 inches diameter per the inner element dimensions. Those are rated to flow that much. That air cleaner can flow that much but the face velocity is too high for the paper to be able to trap and hold the dust particles. Since all air filters improve in efficiency with the collection of dust, the Ecolite with high air flow is compromised due to the high flow pulling the dust through the paper thus prolonging or even preventing the collection of a "dust cake" that increases the efficiency of the element. OEM builders like the small compact design not knowing that it comes at a "cost". I lay the blame on the issues I have seen with this product on the shoulders of the chassis builders who select this product because they want as reasonably small package to allow the coach builder more room for their design features.

If you use your MH in the Southwest or any arid to semi-arid climate with higher levels of airborne dust, this is not your air cleaner. The bad news is that it is hard to replace this product with a more efficient and larger air cleaner as that will require more room........something I doubt you have.

Spike45...Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!
You have brought up new questions and concerns now though ...Is there any chart showing the different filters air flow ratings?? How do we know that the filter installed has enough flow??
(We use the AF25354 on our 400 ISL.)

[moisheh]

MM: Are you sure that is your AF. Our Dynasty has the same engine ( 425ISL) and uses a P537448 Donaldson which crosses to an AH 8503 FG. This filter is 25 inches long and flows 1200 CFM @ 5 inches of H20. Perhaps your unit has to use a smaller fiter due to rad position.

BTW that FG filter is available @prices from $112.57 to just over $140.00 for a Wix

[Twomed]

Racor Fuel Filters and Fuel Filter / Water Separators

Air Flow info...BTW Ecolite is a division of Racor-Parker, pretty well know in the filtration world.

OR....

The P537448-02 will handle 1200 CFM and can flow either direction.

Cliff Darby | Engine Aftermarket Tech Support.
Donaldson Co., Inc. | Engine Aftermarket
Phone: 952-887-3951 | 800-374-1374 x 3951 | Fax: 952-887-3716

In answer to my question to Donaldson some time back.

The 11x24 also crosses to: NAPA 7448.....WIX 53-7448....FG AH8503...Ecolite 062891-002

[Steve Ownby]

I would love to set up my ISM with a Optiair 1300 but I can't figure out how to plumb it in the available space. From the literature I have seen the outlet for these housings is on the end of the housing and the inlet is on the side. If it could flow the other direction I think I could make it work.

Any thoughts Spike45? Are there any vendors around either online or otherwise who would be willing to help a motorhomer noodle through a conversion? I really am not comfortable with the Ecolite but it's what's back there.

Thanks for any input.

[moisheh]

Often when you buy a filter that is not a popular item they are all made by one company. I have some Wix fuel filters for our Bluebird. They are in Wix boxes but are stamped Racor. The Wix air filter for our last MH was also not made by Wix. In the automotive world many of the oddball filters are made by Champion ( not the spark plug company).

[Twomed]

Steve...check the info above. That filter can flow either direction so maybe it will fit for you.

[spike45]

MonacoMama,

Few air filter companies publish the air flows on their products. However, they will tell you the rated flow if you call their technical support groups. When I get back in the office tomorrow, I will look up yours. The filter you are using fits a Donaldson Radial Seal housing. I am always glad to hear that the Farr Ecolite filter is not being used. I am no fan of that filter as I have seen more dusted engines with that filter operating in ISL and high dust environments than I care to.

[spike45]

Originally Posted by Steve Ownby

I would love to set up my ISM with a Optiair 1300 but I can't figure out how to plumb it in the available space. From the literature I have seen the outlet for these housings is on the end of the housing and the inlet is on the side. If it could flow the other direction I think I could make it work.

Any thoughts Spike45? Are there any vendors around either online or otherwise who would be willing to help a motorhomer noodle through a conversion? I really am not comfortable with the Ecolite but it's what's back there.

Thanks for any input.

I know what you want, Steve, as the available room does not make installation easy. Only the Ecolite product is advertised as dual flow, that and all the aftermarket replacements like ours and everybody else. The problem with that is that air filters clean better in one direction, not both. It is called the 'wire side'. The difference is in the media. The OptiAir only flows outside-in as opposed to you present setup of inside-out with the Ecolite.

I spent a week in Arizona this past January looking at how we could replace the Ecolite on fire trucks that were having repeat dusting issues. The constraint on all models except one was.....no place to put it.

[spike45]

Originally Posted by moisheh

Often when you buy a filter that is not a popular item they are all made by one company. I have some Wix fuel filters for our Bluebird. They are in Wix boxes but are stamped Racor. The Wix air filter for our last MH was also not made by Wix. In the automotive world many of the oddball filters are made by Champion ( not the spark plug company).

Actually, it is Champ of Salem Illinois. They also make Luberfiner.

[moisheh]

Thanks for the correction. With you around we have to watch that everything is right . Or else!!

[Twomed]

Check post 20 above regarding air flow. The paste from Cliff Darby at Donaldson Tech support is a direct email response regarding airflow directions.

Not to be disparaging but I begin to wonder abour sweeping statements like "only Ecolite advertises dual flow" and when you do cross references you end up with all these other numbers.

Kind of like the consultant that becomes an expert when 500 miles from home.... just saying.

I like this forum for help in finding what works, not particularly, only this product works.