Air Filter crud discovery today!

[Dans65]

Hey Folks,

Sorry, I don't post much these days, got a lot things going on at home and family.

But anyway, my car has been running rough since last week, even after I did a tune-up. Never thought to check the cleaner when it only was done back in October and never put even 2k on it yet. So I removed it and took it home from the underground garage where I store it. I took the mass air off and some dirt came off on the dryer. I took my ratchet and tap it until it stopped. Holy Jomoly! That's a heap of dirt from the black dust that's in the garage, and it's been there maybe 3 months? Glad I checked.

Dan

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/album.php?albumid=983&attachmentid=53308

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/album.php?albumid=983&attachmentid=53309

[Bad Moose]

Wow!

[carlewms]

And you are breathing that stuff as well probably.

[Bob Cowan]

Dirt gets on the air filter when the engine is running. And a little if it's sitting exposed in the wind. Hard to imagine that all of that got on to the filter while the car was parked in a garage. If it got all that dirt on the filter just sitting there, did it cover the rest of the car, too? The outside of those parts look pretty clean.

And how can it be inside of the filter and MAF? I suspect the dirt was inside the filter and/or MAF when you installed them. Which means for 2,000 miles, you're engine's been breathing that stuff. Have you done a UOA?

Your profile doesn't say anything about forced induction.

[6t8dart]

Your wife s going to kill you!

[Sanford]

Where is the filter placed? In front of the tire?

[ram_g]

There is something very odd with this. What does the crud feel like - gritty (like sand) or rubbery? I would be looking for some rubber or plastic part in the ducting/MAF that is "perished". As Bob C. has said you really have to question how that stuff is inside of the filter (and then what in the world has it done to your engine).

[Dans65]

Okay Folks,
The air filter is located in the right wheel well forward of the tire, it's open with no air box containment. I park it on the second lower level and it takes about 4 minutes to get to my spot. The car is covered almost immediately after a drive. I believe there must have been a fire in the garage, because that black dust is everywhere. There's about 10 exhaust fans on the north and south side of the garage.
The dust was powdery, no grit, very fine to the touch. I have been parking in this garage for about 3 months now and I never had this issue in the last garage I used, but that one was more ventilated.

Well I cleaned and lubed the air filter and made this shield for it, it's not sealed, but will protect it from rocks and other fine debris. I am thinking of getting or making an air filter sock (Condom, LOL!), for when I drive it in and out of the garage.

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/album.php?albumid=983&attachmentid=53503

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/album.php?albumid=983&attachmentid=53504

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/album.php?albumid=983&attachmentid=53505

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/album.php?albumid=983&attachmentid=53506