Drove 3,000 miles with no air filter!

[Deadpool392]

What dealership do we need to avoid?

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[boomer382]

At dealer now. They say that there is no way it would have ran so long without throwing a code. They think someone stole it. Seems weird. Why would someone steal an air filter? They are looking it over now

Their explanation about the computer throwing a code earlier makes sense but someone stealing an air filter???

 

[texanjeeper]

Your oil is going to be really dirty, that much is for sure. I would change it, and then probably change it at about 2,000 miles just to be sure that it's clean.

 

[TinMan2020]

At dealer now. They say that there is no way it would have ran so long without throwing a code. They think someone stole it. Seems weird. Why would someone steal an air filter? They are looking it over now

Their explanation about the computer throwing a code earlier makes sense but someone stealing an air filter???

ahhh. The CYA with plausible deniability explanations.

Reminds me of when I used to work in a tire shop. I remember watching techs rubbing dirt on scratches that they created just to tell the customer that it was already there pointing out the dirt over the scratch.

 

[boomer382]

Just updated, they said the computer said the code occurred after 4 consecutive starts and less than 200 miles.

I want to ask another dealership for their opinion but do y’all think this is a plausible situation?

I did leave my truck in a parking lot over night about a week ago. It’s the ONLY place I can think of where someone would steal the damn air filter. The manager here said they target Jeeps since you can open the hood and often they have K&N filters. It’s possible there was a K&N in there but I wouldn’t know because this was the first time looking

 

[MaximusTX]

When I worked at JIffy Lube in High School we had several New Dodge Rams come in for their first oil change and several of them were missing their air filters. I remember it being very odd that almost every new Dodge Ram that came in for almost a month was missing the air filter in it. I haven't seen again until I saw this thread.

 

[KevinC]

Then on the test drive the rear locker light started flashing. Salesman had no clue. Service people were gone for the night. Light stayed on. They fixed it a few days later.

I guess I’m the sucker.

Based upon what you have already explained in this thread, I would be more worried about the rear locker light coming on than a missing air filter. Or at least worried the same.

The rear locker light coming on is not something a dealership can/will fix in a few days. There was a time the whole axle had to be replaced. All it is though is a sensor that gets infiltrated with gear oil and throws a code. But...dealerships could not get a new sensor and was told to replace axle. I would be worried, seriously. Who know they may have pulled the bulb just to make the light not come back on. I've seen the check engine light bulb done back in the day.

 

[boomer382]

Based upon what you have already explained in this thread, I would be more worried about the rear locker light coming on than a missing air filter. Or at least worried the same.

The rear locker light coming on is not something a dealership can/will fix in a few days. There was a time the whole axle had to be replaced. All it is though is a sensor that gets infiltrated with gear oil and throws a code. But...dealerships could not get a new sensor and was told to replace axle. I would be worried, seriously. Who know they may have pulled the bulb just to make the light not come back on. I've seen the check engine light bulb done back in the day.

looking at the paperwork from that visit now. They said they replaced the locker switch and cleaned the connector. That didn’t solve the problem so they removed differential and replaced the locker position sensor. Replaced differential and refilled fluids. Problem was solved.

At least that is what the paperwork says. I remember I was here for 5 or 6 hours that day.

 

[Deadpool392]

@boomer382, what dealership are you using in NC?

 

[KevinC]

looking at the paperwork from that visit now. They said they replaced the locker switch and cleaned the connector. That didn’t solve the problem so they removed differential and replaced the locker position sensor. Replaced differential and refilled fluids. Problem was solved.

At least that is what the paperwork says. I remember I was here for 5 or 6 hours that day.

The locker position sensor is the one I was talking about. If they replaced it, you should be good to go.

 

[ecidiego]

The locker position sensor is the one I was talking about. If they replaced it, you should be good to go.

Until it fails again and again. Need to pot the things. It's another defective part Jeep couldn't care less about redesigning.

 

[jac04]

Why would someone steal an air filter?

I think it's because they are almost $70 MSRP and with the right tools you could pop one out in less than 30 seconds.

 

[Gvsukids]

I think it's because they are almost $70 MSRP and with the right tools you could pop one out in less than 30 seconds.

https://www.amazon.com/Filter-PC994...p_m_grid_dv_rp_0_1_ec_ppx_yo2_mob_b_ts_rp_2_t

Off brand
$13.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Tons of variables, what-ifs and so on with a missing air filter.
from what i've seen in some areas, I'd not laugh at the thought of theft. Seriously, I see stupid things get stolen, or someone pranking like loosening lug nuts- maybe it's a new tiktok challenge. Likely? I didn't say that, just said - don't laugh, it's not impossible.

Goofy thing is that when you remove that air filter, it's not small and would be sitting somewhere - and no one noticed it?

I see comments on valves - no, not on a gasser........assuming he's got a gasser here.......valves are really the least likely to have a problem. I'd not sweat valve issues because these get washed down with each injector firing. I'd be thinking ring and cylinder wear. You'd be amazed at what valves can take. Unless you did desert driving, sorry, the valves were not getting sandblasted. I've rebuilt, built and repaired and done too many valves jobs on engines over the years to take that seriously. Diesels - totally different matter there. I'd expect other damage in the case of a diesel.
Valves will be the least of his problems if there is truly a problem.

To the OP -
Want some fact? Send an oil sample in to Blackstone Labs. That will tell you if there's excessive silica, iron or other things in the oil that don't belong.
You can gather the oil for a sample either during an oil change, or pull some out through the dipstick tube to send in. Blackstone will send you a free sample bottler and mailer. It takes some time, but really, there's not anything that can be proven or disproven until you have REAL numbers from the oil. anything else is people tossing stuff up and seeing if it sticks.

looking at the paperwork from that visit now. They said they replaced the locker switch and cleaned the connector. That didn’t solve the problem so they removed differential and replaced the locker position sensor. Replaced differential and refilled fluids. Problem was solved.

At least that is what the paperwork says. I remember I was here for 5 or 6 hours that day.

There's a TSB and sensor kit that's supposed to resolve that issue........................

I did leave my truck in a parking lot over night about a week ago. It’s the ONLY place I can think of where someone would steal the damn air filter. The manager here said they target Jeeps since you can open the hood and often they have K&N filters. It’s possible there was a K&N in there but I wouldn’t know because this was the first time looking

If there was - and it's gone, be glad of that.
Like I said earlier, it's weird what gets stolen and what gets left behind. Since the same filter fits hundreds of thousands of Jeeps - who knows! 5 bucks is 5 bucks to a crack-head.
Is that what happened? There's no way in the world to know other than people saying what they think - without any real knowledge of what happened.

Your oil is going to be really dirty, that much is for sure. I would change it, and then probably change it at about 2,000 miles just to be sure that it's clean.

Yeah, there's this idea which is sound and solid.

Nope. Sorry. You can run these with NO damage with 6 quarts.
The bit about too much oil just doesn't count on most gas engines unless it's well over full. but these, thousands of them running around with 6 quarts for thousands of miles.
We used to run 6 quarts in our performance V8s - as a matter of making sure there was always oil in the sump after extended high speed runs where so much oil was up top and not getting back fast enough.
The windage tray in a 3.6 also helps reduce any problems.

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