Air Filter for Banks Power Pack on Cummins ISC 350

[crah]

I'm curious what others are using for an air filter with the Banks kit. I have the AFE oiled filter, and can never get my boost above 30psi (very seldom hit 30psi). I've checked for air leaks throughout and tightened every band clamp in the system. Perhaps my restriction is from not enough air? Anyone with the Banks system please chime in.

Thanks,

[Mr_D]

We have the stock Farr Ecolite on ours. I regularly see 35 psi boost, but the filter minder always shows 15" or higher even with a new filter.

Looking to change to a bigger filter but it will take new 7" ducting as well, plus I will need to have fittings welded on the new alum. tubing.

You do NOT want to use an AFE or K&N filter as they let more than twice as much dust in as the stock filter and it's way over the Cummins specs for "dusting" an engine.

There is a gentleman that was a service person for filters. Spike45 is his handle here. He just sent me a spec book with some other filters. Doesn't look like I can use them though.

[spike45]

Originally Posted by crah

I'm curious what others are using for an air filter with the Banks kit. I have the AFE oiled filter, and can never get my boost above 30psi (very seldom hit 30psi). I've checked for air leaks throughout and tightened every band clamp in the system. Perhaps my restriction is from not enough air? Anyone with the Banks system please chime in.

Thanks,

If you are not achieving expected boost pressure, it is not due to your air filter, as poor as it is. As another has stated, they achieve 35 PSI with the stock air filter (also a poor filter). Your air filter has almost no restriction because it is very "open" thus it cannot stop dust sufficiently. Since it is this way, your lack of boost is due to not enough load on the engine or the Banks setup is not quite right. It should have given you more air flow as I believe they employ a different turbocharger than the stock Cummins Holset turbo. Along with the turbo change there had to have been some increase in the available fuel delivery from some device attached to the engine harness (not sure how they do it) .....a means to deliver more fuel than the stock Cummins ECM would allow.

Under what conditions are you seeing the 30 PSI? If you do not sufficiently load the engine, the ECM will not increase fuel delivery. Do you see any black smoke from the exhaust during acceleration? Are you certain your boost gauge is accurate?

Increasing air flow capability alone is not enough. With increase air flow must also come with more fuel to burn to go with that extra air.

One last thought, do you visit iRV2 Powertrain Garage, Cummins Engines forum. There you will find more about your engine more frequently than on this location

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by spike45

Since it is this way, your lack of boost is due to not enough load on the engine or the Banks setup is not quite right. It should have given you more air flow as I believe they employ a different turbocharger than the stock Cummins Holset turbo. Along with the turbo change there had to have been some increase in the available fuel delivery from some device attached to the engine harness (not sure how they do it) .....a means to deliver more fuel than the stock Cummins ECM would allow.

One last thought, do you visit iRV2 Powertrain Garage, Cummins Engines forum. There you will find more about your engine more frequently than on this location

Gary is correct.
The Banks turbo is different, it's still a Holset but different geometry and still uses the same blades as the original. There is also a "Bighead" actuator on the boost dump valve, new wiring harness, black box, EGT and boost gauge.

What boost gauge are you going by? My VMSpc won't show over 26 or so, the Banks gauge shows 36.

[crah]

I have both the stock boost gauge and the banks gauge. They both run identical so i am under the assumption they are both accurate. I'm only seeing the 30 psi in rare form with foot mashed in 6th gear climbing grade. If I gear down, I don't see much past 25 psi at most. I have the full banks power pack with new turbo and the automind controller. I don't see any smoke in the mirror but my wife did tell me she saw a little bit of black smoke going up a small steep hill in 1st gear on a side street.

[dennis45]

I did not change my air filter. Still have the OEM 8" Ecolite.
I use the original readout from the TripTec and I see Max mainfold pressure of 25 PSI and Max EGT of 1300 Deg (Banks EGT guage). The Banks Big Head actuator can be adjusted to increase manifold pressure but the key is the 1300 Deg EGT which is telling you the engine has reached Max HP output. I called Banks and their tech guy confirmed that 25 PSI is max manifold pressure. The Big Head wastegate actuator uses a larger diameter diaphram to operate faster to reduce turbo lag. As stated, I did not use the Banks PSI Guage but after reading this thread, I will hook it up and compare it to the TripTec readout.
Side Note: The banks install on my ISC made a huge difference not only in power but went from 6.5 MPG average to 8.5 average. On level freeway driving with the cruise set at 65 MPH, I will even see as high as 9.5-10.0 MPG Average.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by dennis45

I did not change my air filter. Still have the OEM 8" Ecolite.

Side Note: The banks install on my ISC made a huge difference not only in power but went from 6.5 MPG average to 8.5 average. On level freeway driving with the cruise set at 65 MPH, I will even see as high as 9.5-10.0 MPG Average.

The smallest EcoLite is 9.75" diam. from what I find in the specs here.

I posted a message on the Simply Smarter site about the VMS reading stopping at 25-26. They said the sensor probably wasn't designed to read higher so even the VMSpc wouldn't read higher. I go by the Banks gauge now.

I haven't noticed the mileage increase so much as the power increase. Now I'm in the so called economy mode on the Allison most of the time. The power band is sooooo much wider. The stock 350 reaches 1050 ft lbs at 1400 rpm and goes down from there. With the Banks I never get that low till 2100 rpm even at the start of the power band which is 1200 rpm.

On my VMSpc I see 12-14 mpg at 60-62 mpg on a level highway, but then I also see 3 mpg going uphill and 256 mpg downhill!

[dennis45]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

The smallest EcoLite is 9.75" diam. from what I find in the specs here.
I posted a message on the Simply Smarter site about the VMS reading stopping at 25-26. They said the sensor probably wasn't designed to read higher so even the VMSpc wouldn't read higher. I go by the Banks gauge now.

I haven't noticed the mileage increase so much as the power increase. Now I'm in the so called economy mode on the Allison most of the time. The power band is sooooo much wider. The stock 350 reaches 1050 ft lbs at 1400 rpm and goes down from there. With the Banks I never get that low till 2100 rpm even at the start of the power band which is 1200 rpm.
On my VMSpc I see 12-14 mpg at 60-62 mpg on a level highway, but then I also see 3 mpg going uphill and 256 mpg downhill!

Good eye Mr. D, my filter is the EcoLite 9.8 X 24.
When I questioned the people at Banks, they said 25 PSI is normal but logic tells me it should be higher if there is more air. So, as stated earlier, I am going to connect the Banks electric guage and see if there is a difference. I have my rig in getting some reno work done so as soon as I get it back I'll hook it up and repsond to this thread.
As far as MPG, I am going by my TripTec readout also. It displays current and average daily and average trip MPG. I have compared the readout average to actual miles Vs. Gallons calculation on a couple of fill ups and find it to be pretty accurate.
First time out after I installed the Banks kit I thought I was seeing things. I re-set the screen twice and got the same readings. At 2 MPG, it won't take long for the cost of the kit to pay off plus the added benefit of more HP. Just makes my rig a lot more enjoyable to drive.

PS, I have my rig at a place in Spokane called Truline RV. Ever heard of them?