Air filter problem! OH NO!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 320
Likes: 1
From: San Jose CA
Air filter problem! OH NO!
I was wondering if anyone with some techincal knowledge of the innerworkings of a motor can help me out? I checked under my hood the other day. I haven't gotten under there for a LOOOONG time. The last time I took a look was maybe over 10k miles ago. The problem is I noticed that the filter element to my halltech stinger fell off! Basically my motor's been sucking filterless air for god-knows how long. I was wondering if anyone could tell me potential problems that can happen in this case? Possible warning signs I should look for? I haven't been belching out smoke out the back, nor is my oil extra dirty. Would there be possible permanent power loss in the long run?
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: debary fl
Originally Posted by Virt
I was wondering if anyone with some techincal knowledge of the innerworkings of a motor can help me out? I checked under my hood the other day. I haven't gotten under there for a LOOOONG time. The last time I took a look was maybe over 10k miles ago. The problem is I noticed that the filter element to my halltech stinger fell off! Basically my motor's been sucking filterless air for god-knows how long. I was wondering if anyone could tell me potential problems that can happen in this case? Possible warning signs I should look for? I haven't been belching out smoke out the back, nor is my oil extra dirty. Would there be possible permanent power loss in the long run?
I think you probably got lucky, at least I hope so.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,783
Likes: 556
you might want to change your oil now. I hope you are not in a dusty environment. The problems other then bug injestions would be long term extra dust and grit in the oil with some extra wear on the running train. You might want to do an oil analyisis at blackstone that would tell you if you had increased wear metal in the oil as well. Short term probably not a problem. Long term I might not want to buy your used car. Although the cars are low maintence you might want to get in the habit of checking your oil and fluids a bit more often then every 10,000 miles.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 20,054
Likes: 44
From: Swansea IL
Let's get back to the part about the "filter falling off". It's held in place by a common worm gear clamp, in fact you most likely used the OEM clamps. Did you not tighten the clamps correctly and recheck them after a few hundred miles of driving?
I'm just curious and like to know how these things happen.
Tom
PS: In addition to the oil change I'd run a bottle of fuel injector cleaner through a tank of gas.
I'm just curious and like to know how these things happen.
Tom
PS: In addition to the oil change I'd run a bottle of fuel injector cleaner through a tank of gas.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Liquordale Florida
I pop my hood to show off my maggie so often that I get a chance to do a quick visual inspection of the compartment.
Don't you even add oil, windshield washer fluid, etc.?
While short term damage is unlikely (depending on how long you ran without), long term wear will likely be reduced, depending on how much crap you sucked into your engine.
Rick
Don't you even add oil, windshield washer fluid, etc.?
While short term damage is unlikely (depending on how long you ran without), long term wear will likely be reduced, depending on how much crap you sucked into your engine.
Rick
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,759
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From: AZ
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10-'11-'12-'13 '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Originally Posted by SickRick
I pop my hood to show off my maggie so often that I get a chance to do a quick visual inspection of the compartment.
Don't you even add oil, windshield washer fluid, etc.?
While short term damage is unlikely (depending on how long you ran without), long term wear will likely be reduced, depending on how much crap you sucked into your engine.
Rick
Don't you even add oil, windshield washer fluid, etc.?
While short term damage is unlikely (depending on how long you ran without), long term wear will likely be reduced, depending on how much crap you sucked into your engine.
Rick
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 320
Likes: 1
From: San Jose CA
Hmmm I think there's some confusion here. I change the oil every 3k on the spot. Sometimes I round off a bit (3 oil changes per 10k miles). When I said I haven't been under the hood, I meant I haven't personally been under the hood. The last 3-4 oil changes I've taken in to the dealer. I've just been too busy to do them myself. I'm not some sort of crazy idiot that just doesn't change his oil lol.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 320
Likes: 1
From: San Jose CA
Originally Posted by AFVETTE
Let's get back to the part about the "filter falling off". It's held in place by a common worm gear clamp, in fact you most likely used the OEM clamps. Did you not tighten the clamps correctly and recheck them after a few hundred miles of driving?
I'm just curious and like to know how these things happen.
Tom
PS: In addition to the oil change I'd run a bottle of fuel injector cleaner through a tank of gas.
I'm just curious and like to know how these things happen.
Tom
PS: In addition to the oil change I'd run a bottle of fuel injector cleaner through a tank of gas.
I did tighten them to what I thought wsa tight enough, and I did check them again after a couple hundred miles, and then at the first oild change after the filter installation. Everything was fine then
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Originally Posted by Virt
Hmmm I think there's some confusion here. I change the oil every 3k on the spot. Sometimes I round off a bit (3 oil changes per 10k miles). When I said I haven't been under the hood, I meant I haven't personally been under the hood. The last 3-4 oil changes I've taken in to the dealer. I've just been too busy to do them myself. I'm not some sort of crazy idiot that just doesn't change his oil lol.
You said you change the oil every 3,000 miles, then you say you have it changed. There is big difference. Chances are that if you changed your oil you would have seen the problem. That's something to consider.
It's also a good idea to look under your hood each time you buy gas, the manual does say to check the oil each time you buy gas so you should be looking at things frequently.
That blather out of the way, an engine can eat a lot of dust before it shows any symptoms, then it starts going downhill fast. I've seen engines eat a remarkable amount of dust during off road durablity tests with a failed air filtration system.
You gave up some engine life, whether it will matter to you during the time you have your car is a big unknown. The best you can do now is to prevent such things from happening in the future. And enjoy your car.
Last edited by xs650; Jun 2, 2006 at 02:16 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 62
From: California
Retighned the clamps real good this time and check them from time to time. If you kept your MAF screen in tack, check for huge debris that may gotten stuck on it. Who knows that MAF screen might have saved your engine too.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Corona California
Originally Posted by AFVETTE
I guess we file this under "**** happens" and move on. I just ordered and received my Halltech Stinger and will pay extra attention to my assembly.
Tom
Tom
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
Originally Posted by Z512GO
glad I bought a Callaway system thats sealed
Same here. Callaway and I check mine at least twice a week. Having run a Vararam on my C5, I know the importance of periodically checking the seal and integrity of these aftermarket cold air intake systems.I'd definitely change my oil tomorrow.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 8
From: NJ
I take the engine out of my car more than you change oil lol! There is nothing you can do now but change the oil and take this as a lesson learned as others suggest. If you are going to mod the car then you should develop the habit of looking over the motor and getting familiar with it on a very regular basis. If that's not your cup of tea then don't mod it and let Daddy GM take care of it. I'm sure sir that you don't want a lecture so I'm off the soap box.
There is no real way to indicate if any damage is done other than a disassembly. The oil filter is there for a reason and will pick up that debris eventually. I would not lose too much sleep over it.
There is no real way to indicate if any damage is done other than a disassembly. The oil filter is there for a reason and will pick up that debris eventually. I would not lose too much sleep over it.
