You can pull it out from the top, carefully squeezing it. I bought a new one when I ordered air filters. Now that it is warm and snow isn't filling up the front end I have taken it completely out. After a couple of inspections I have seen no worse wear to the actual filter. I thought it might help fuel mileage a little but with the air conditioner running it does not matter now. Can't win.

 

thank for the info.i trying to also find out if these foam filters can be cleaned and used over.i've had foam filters on some motorcycles where you clean and put back on.

 

Don't bother putting it back in.. just keep the main filter in there and change it every 10k (direct from Ford engineering) :thumb:

 

direct from ford engineering? is there a bulletin? was wondering where you got the info from.

 

Funny you just asked this question, I changed my filter Friday and decided to clean the foam filter. Just like cleaning any other foam filter, I used warm water until clean then pressed out the excess water and then did the same thing with a towel. Done and done!

With this being said, what the hell is the purpose of it?

 

lol,i guess the purpose is to restrict the air flow to the motor.i've had foam filters and cleaned them and let them air dry,i'll give it a go on cleaning because it will certainly be a hell of alot cleaner than it was.thanks.

 

Where is this filter y'all are talking about? I haven't noticed one on mine.

 

In the bottom of the stock plastic air box. Time to upgrade guys, day I drove my truck off the lot it only went 5kms home and had the CAI installed!!

 

When the box is open the foam filter is on the right side bottom while standing in front of the headlight.

HighHP, what CAI did you go with?

 

S&b. Love it. Cheaper then my airraid on my last truck and way nicer

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

 

Would you mind posting a picture of it installed? Do you have the oil or dry version?

 

I'll get one when I get to work. I went dry. I've heard stories of turbos getting dusted and stuff from not properly maintaining oiled filters, whether it's true or not I dont know but I'd rather not take the chance of taking out a turbo over a stupid little air filter.

 

Thanks!! I checked them both out.. I wouldn't go oiled either.. taking the chance of coating the intake tube, the MAF sensor or worse as you said, turbo.. no thanks.

I see their flow rates state 32% better but I wonder what they are with the pre filter removed. That pre filter seems to be so restrictive, I wonder if just having the primary filter in does as good of a job as the aftermarket as far as flow rate goes.

For those who haven't seen the pre filter..

 

Little dusty but you get the point.

 

Thanks for the picture, I had the AFE on my old truck but a friend just installed one of these on his EcoBoost and he really likes it. I am also liking the dry filters as well, I had oiled on my Duramax and while I never had oil in the intake, MAF or dusted turbos it was still a PITA to take care of, I actually had 2, one for when it was ready to be changed while the other on was drying and then absorbing the oil.

 

Has anyone ran the stock filter without the prefilter with an extended period? I always assumed it was to keep the filter from collapsing under high boost.

 

Just got off the phone with the guy who knows the engineers. He said the pre filter is in there because it won't pass emissions (does anyone care about that on here lol). All the trucks they export, the pre filter is not in there.

Also, he said that the stock air box without the pre filter is just as efficient with air flow as the aftermarket. Said not to waste your money.

I actually believe this.. The stock 6.0 air filter (donaldson) was better then any aftermarket filter.. this is one thing Ford designs very well.

 

It will be coming out as soon as I am outside and remember it!

 

Not to sound unintelligent but is there any way it would void the warranty if i took it out?
thanks,

 

Maybe if you have some sort of turbo failure but not likely.

I switched to a CAI mainly for looks. Ford has always had good flowing air filter designs for stock power. I don't know what they can support as HP starts going up though.

 

Good question matthewdtr-not an unintelligent question and thanks for asking it. I wondered the same after you asked it. TCM

 

Here's my take on the subject after removing the air intake lid and taking a look inside. There are two separate paths for air to get from outside the box to the engine. Route #1 is a big opening facing forward that get's it's air from outside the engine compartment. This air passes through the large part of the paper filter and into the engine. Route #2 is a small opening on the right side that draws it's air from within the engine compartment. The air passes through the foam pre filter and then through a small paper filter and into the engine.

The only advantage I can see from removing the foam pre filter is allowing a slight bit more air through to the engine. Assuming the paper filter media is the same for both the big and little filters (which it appears to be) the filtration should be the same making the only disadvantage the inclusion of some warm engine compartment air.

Is the smaller intake there to allow air into the engine just in case the large opening clogs with snow? And is the foam there to keep out water splashing up through the engine compartment?

The size of the filter media for the filters are:
Big Filter: 45 pleats x 2 sides x 6" wide x 3.25" deep = 1,755 in^2 = ~88% of total
Small Filter: 13 pleats x 2 sides x 6" wide x 1.5" deep = 234 in^2 = ~12% of total

I suppose the extra 12% could help some as long as there aren't any disadvantages that we're missing here.

Whoa...that was a little longer of a post than I had in mind when I started typing

 

I am thinking about removing the foam pre filter since a couple people said its not needed and the turbo is a tab bit louder. Anyone run this way for an extended period of time?

Is it really not needed as stated above?

 

Thinking about this instead of even replacing the stock air filter.

K&N 71-2582

 

For the month I had mine out I did not notice the turbo to be louder.
I also found some colored staining on the underside of the air filter after running it through the car wash.
So I put it back in. Fuel mileage seems the same anyway. I am on my second one.