Frequently Asked Questions

HOW DO I CLEAN MY AFE AIR FILTER?

Before you start to clean the filter, determine whether you have an oiled or oil-free filter. See #1. Also have the appropriate cleaning kit for your filter: #90-50500 for gold, #90-50501 for blue and #90-59999 for oil-free. Follow the steps below. 1) Use a soft bristle brush like a paint brush to remove large chunks of debris and dirt from between the pleats. Gently tap the filter on the ground to remove any loose dirt being careful not to bend any of the pleats. 2) Spray the cleaning solution that comes in the Restore Kit, on the dirty side of the filter. Let the cleaning solution soak in for about 10 minutes. 3) Rinse the filter from the clean side of the filter to the dirty side. Repeat spraying and rinsing until the water is clear. Since media will be stained, it will not be completely white and may still appear dirty. 4) DO NOT USE A HIGH PRESSURE WATER NOZZLE when rinsing the filter. 5) Let the filter air-dry. DO NOT USE COMPRESSED AIR TO DRY THE FILTER! It may take a couple of hours for a Pro Dry S to 12 to 24 hours for a Pro 5R depending on humidity and temperature. 6) If you have an oil-free Pro Dry S filter, the cleaning process is completed and the rest of these instructions can be disregarded. 7) After the filter is dry, apply small amount of oil on the top of each pleat. It is not necessary to apply oil down in between the pleats. It is also a good idea to not apply oil all the way to the urethane. Leave about an inch of media un-colored. DO NOT DROWN THE FILTER WITH OIL! The oil will wick out a great deal. 8) Leave the oiled filter for 8 to 12 hours to allow the oil to fully wick. Finally, spot apply oil to areas that still do not have "color" to it.

WHEN OR HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CLEAN MY AFE AIR FILTER?

aFe recommends that you follow the manufacturers recommended service schedule. You can find that in your vehicle owners manual. Once you reach that mileage mark, take a look at the filter. If you can still see the aluminum mesh on the filter then it is still ok and does not need to be cleaned. Check the filter every other oil change. When it gets to the point where you cannot see the aluminum mesh on the filter anymore, then it is time to clean the filter. You should clean the filter around the 25K - 30K mile mark under normal conditions. In extreme dusty or dirty environments, you should check more frequently. Over cleaning the filter will shorten the life of the filter and reduce its filtration efficiency. Accumulating some dirt actually helps the filtration. Important Reminder - If you can still see the aluminum mesh on the outside of the filter, it is still fine. Clean the filter when you can not see the aluminum mesh on the outside of the filter.

IS MY AFE AIR FILTER "STREET" OR EMISSION LEGAL?

Since replacing the stock OE air filter with a high-flow performance air filter such as aFe does not change or affect the stock intake tract and emission controls, a performance air filter is considered "street" or CARB emission legal.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE THREE MEDIA PRO 5R, PRO DRY S AND PRO GUARD 7 - THAT AFE OFFERS?

aFe offers three different types of filter media for most of their filters and intake systems because everyone has different driving conditions and different driving needs. There is the Pro 5R, Pro Guard 7 and Pro Dry S. Without going into details of each media, the basically differences are: 1) Pro 5R is 5-layers of progressively finer mesh oiled cotton gauze which offers maximum airflow. This media is ideal for those who drive mostly on paved street and highway who want maximum horsepower. 2) Pro Guard 7 is 5-layers of progressively finer oiled cotton gauze used in the Pro 5R media backed by another 2-layers of finer porosity synthetic non-woven media which offers maximum protection. This media is ideal for those who do a lot of unpaved, off-road driving in severe dusty and dirty environments where protection is more important than maximum horsepower. This media is most popular with compression-ignition diesel truck owners. 3) Pro Dry S is a 3-layer progressively finer porosity synthetic non-woven media, which is oil-free and offers maximum convenience since it does not require re-oiling. This media is ideal for those who dont want the hassle of re-oiling a filter.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AFE FILTERS AND OTHER MANUFACTURER'S FILTERS?

Consumers are welcome to compare aFe products with others. Here are several things to look for: 1) Media construction: constant mesh or progressive mesh. aFe is the only company that uses a progressively finer mesh media. 2) Pleat design: Tight or open? Pinched or rounded? aFe uses an open, rounded pleat design that allows better airflow through the tops and bottoms of each pleat. 3) Pleat height: Deep or shallow? aFe pleats are 30% deeper pleats than competitors for longer service interval and greater dust holding capacity. 4) Filter seal: Soft or hard? Flat or progressive? Additional sealing gasket or grease needed or not? aFe uses a pliable, progressive bump seal that requires no foam gasket or filter grease.

HOW CAN I TELL WHETHER I HAVE A PRO 5R/PRO GUARD 7 OILED OR PRO DRY S OIL-FREE FILTER?

If the filter is blue (Pro 5R) or gold (Pro Guard 7), then it is oiled. If the filter media is grayish white (Pro Dry S), then it not oiled. With conical filters, look at the top. If it has the "aFe" or "Pro Guard 7" logo printed on the end, then it is an oiled type filter. If the filter has Pro Dry S printed, it is an oil-free filter. There may also be a part number on the filter. Look for a small circle plug on the urethane part of the filter. There will be a part number located on it. Any numbers with 10-, 30-, 24- are Pro 5R, 11-, 31, 21- are Pro Dry S and any filter number beginning in 7 will be a Pro Guard 7 air filter.

CAN I USE SOMEONE ELSE'S OIL ON AN AFE FILTER?

You are recommended to use an aFe restore kit oil.

WHAT KIND OF MPG IMPROVEMENT SHOULD I GET WITH MY AFE AIR FILTER?

Due to the 30-40 cfm of additional air entering your engine, you may see a marginal gain in mpg vs the factory filter. aFe does not and will not claim to improve your fuel mileage because everybodys vehicle, driving condition and habits are different. aFe does however claims to increase the torque and horsepower of your engine, make the engine run more fuel efficient and improve the quality and amount of air that goes into your engine. This will allow the engine to use less fuel driving under the same conditions that you are driving in now.

WHAT IF I HAVE A LATER MODEL TURBO DIESEL WITH A DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER (DPF)? WILL THE SCORCHER WORK?

Your Scorcher programmer is 100% compatible with DPF-equipped vehicles. Your diesel vehicle is required to be equipped with a DPF to promote cleaner emissions. The filter reduces the amount of harmful exhaust emitted from the tailpipe. As soot builds up in the DPF, it will begin restricting the filter. The soot that gathers is automatically purged in one of two ways; passive regeneration or active regeneration. Both occur automatically and require no action on the drivers part. Scorcher products do not currently have the capability to turn off the DPF function (DPF-Delete).

HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO CHANGE MY FUEL FILTER? IS THE WATER SEPARATOR BOWL ON THE DFS780 REUSABLE?

Fuel filter change intervals will vary greatly depending on usage and fuel conditions. We have found 10k-20k miles replacements under normal conditions. And yes, the water separator bowl can be transferred from your old filter to your new aFe filter.
THE OTHER COMPANIES USE TWO FILTERS, WHY DOES DFS780 & DFS780 PRO ONLY HAVE ONE?

Other competitors use separate filter and water separator (not two filters). Both the DFS780 & DFS780 PRO integrate water separation into the supplied high-efficiency fuel filter, eliminating the need (and expense) to replace two units (the DFS780 adds an additional clear water separation bowl). Additionally, both systems were designed to work in conjunction with the factory fuel filter for even cleaner fuel.

HOW MANY GALLONS PER HOUR DOES THE DFS780 FLOW?

aFe tests each DFS780, DFS780 PRO & DFS780MAX before they leave their facility to ensure peak performance and have been engineered to flow up to 187 GPH, which is capable of supporting over 2,000 horsepower.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I TOW? BENEFITS?

When towing, you typically push the fuel system to its limits due to the continuous high loads. As the fuel requirements go up, the stock fuel system cant always supply enough fuel, causing a loss in power. All three versions of the DFS780 will provide more than enough fuel for almost all towing situations that there will be no loss of power.

HOW MUCH HP DO I NEED TO USE THIS PUMP?

Though the DFS780 can be used on a totally stock diesel vehicle, it was engineered for modified vehicles. BSFC (Brake Specific Fuel Consumption) for most modern turbocharged diesel engines is about 0.36 lbs/HP/hr. Since #2 diesel weighs about 7 pounds/gallon, which gives us about 19.5 HP/gallon/hr. The DFS780 will flow enough fuel (at rated pressure) to support over 2000 HP.

DO I HAVE CHOICES OF WHERE I CAN INSTALL THE UNITS?

On the DFS780, each application features a specifically engineered mounting bracket and custom-fit fuel hoses. The DFS780 PRO features a "semi-custom" design with a multi-fit bracket and cut-to-length fuel hoses utilizing factory connections. The DFS780 MAX offers a billet aluminum universal mounting bracket for a DIY-type install.

WILL I LOSE MPG?

As with most modifications, it varies. But the general feedback has been slightly improved fuel mileage.

WILL I FEEL THE POWER?

The more modified the vehicle, the greater the power improvement. Most people report immediate "seat of the pants" drivability improvements.

I WANT TO SELL MY TRUCK. CAN I PUT THE FUEL SYSTEM BACK TO STOCK?

The DFS780 & DFS780 PRO were engineered for simple install and removal, allowing the vehicle to be easily returned to stock (unlike the competitors, they do not require you to drill/cut/modify the fuel tank).

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BOOST-OPERATED AND FULL-TIME SYSTEM?

For most applications, they offer two (2) versions of their DFS780 - boost-operated and full-time. The boost-operated kits feature a boost switch to energize the DFS780 fuel pump. This allows the vehicle to run on the stock fuel system during light load conditions and then when the power demands increase, the DFS780 pump "kicks in." On the full-time system, the pump is active when the ignition is switched on.

HOW MANY MICRONS IS THE FILTER?

The DFS780 & DFS780 PRO models include an aFe fuel filter that is capable of filtering down to one (1) micron. Additionally, the DFS780 Fuel Systems were designed to work in conjunction with your stock fuel filter, giving you the ability to have multi-step filtration.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AN AFE INTAKE SYSTEM AND OTHER MANUFACTURER'S SYSTEMS?

Here are several things to look for the fit and finish of aFe intake systems: 1) Do you have to assemble the housing? aFe housings are usually one piece and come pre-assembled. 2) How many parts are included with the system? aFe minimizes components as much as possible for easier installation. 3) Is any cutting, drilling or modification of the vehicle required? aFe systems use stock mounting points and require no modification to the vehicle. 4) What are the performance numbers? Through the use of molded plastic tubes and 3-angle adaptors that direct airflow more effectively, aFe consistently delivers excellent horsepower and torque numbers.

IS MY AFE INTAKE SYSTEM "STREET" OR EMISSION LEGAL?

Air intake systems do alter the stock intake tract and therefore, require an exemption from CARB emission requirements. As a California based company aFe submits their intake systems to CARB for exemption so that the intake system can be used legally on the street. However, obtaining CARB exemption takes time and not all aFe intake systems are exempt. Many aFe intakes have CARB EO numbers making them 50-state legal. When an aFe intake system is not exempt, they would be legal only in racing situations and not for street use in the 13 states that have adopted California emission standards.

WHAT KIND OF MPG IMPROVEMENT SHOULD I GET WITH MY AFE INTAKE SYSTEM?

aFe has had countless people call in to say that their fuel mileage has increased with diesels and gas engines alike from 1-5 mpg. aFe does not and will not claim to improve your fuel mileage because everybodys vehicle, driving condition and habits are different. They do however claim to increase the torque and horsepower of your engine, make the engine run more fuel efficient and improve the quality and amount of air that goes into your engine. This will allow the engine to use less fuel driving under the same conditions that you are driving in now.

SHOULD I HAVE TO CUT MY AFE INTAKE IF I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY INSTALLATION?

Absolutely Not! aFe intakes are designed to install with no cutting or notching. To make maximum power and performance, aFe intakes use the largest filters and boxes available.

I HAVE SOME OTHER MODS LIKE INTAKE, EXHAUST, TUNER AND INTERCOOLER. WILL THIS WORK ON MY TRUCK?

Yes. All three DFS780 systems are a perfect complement to other performance-enhancing modifications.

HOW DO I UPDATE MY PROGRAMMER?

Your Scorcher programmer is designed to be easy to update. Simply follow the Easy Update section of the Getting Started guide. All you need is an internet connection, aFe Power username and password and a few minutes.

HOW DO I CHANGE MY VEHICLE'S CALIBRATION?

Refer to the Program Your Vehicle Section in the getting started guide that is included with each Scorcher programmer for detailed instructions. A pdf is also available for download on any Scorcher programmer website landing page.

DOES SCORCHER WORK ON CAB AND CHASSIS TRUCKS?

Scorcher supports complete truck models such as F-150, Silverado, Ram 1500. aFe does not support cutaway cab and chassis pickups built from cab and chassis frames. These vehicles are considered incomplete.

WHY DO I NEED AIR SEPARATION?

Diesel fuel tends to "entrain" air due to its surface tension. Because of this, air can be trapped in the fuel and delivered to the high pressure pump where it gets compressed to 25,000+ psi. When these high pressure air bubbles are released through the fuel injector, they cause cavitation which is like small "explosions" that eventually ruin the injectors.

DOES SCORCHER TUNERS SUPPORT CUSTOM TUNING?

Scorcher tuners are engineered to have multiple tunes per unit and includes tunes that are specifically designed around aFe performance products. Custom tuning is not offered at this time.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES IN THE DOWNLOAD PACKAGES/UPDATE OPTIONS?

A Standard Update gives you the latest Scorcher operating software and tunes for your vehicle. Standard updates download automatically when using the Easy Update software. Once this is complete, you will have the option to choose additional downloads and features such as Data Acquisition and advanced tunes that only aFe Power supports. Read each package to know what is right for you.

WHAT AFTERMARKET ACCESSORIES WILL MY SCORCHER PROGRAMMER WORK WITH?

Scorcher programmers are engineered to work with following parts right out of the box: throttle body spacers, shorty headers, cat-back or turbo back exhaust systems, air filters, intake/exhaust manifolds and cold air intake systems. Compatibility may vary by make and model.
ARE DPF-DELETE EXHAUST SYSTEMS LEGAL?

aFe DPF-Delete race exhaust systems are for "Race Only" and used solely for competition. Its use is limited to closed-course racing that is formally sanctioned by a recognized racing organization. Any other use, including recreational off-road use, could be in violation of local, state and federal laws. This system also requires an aftermarket electronic module to work properly with the vehicle.