Hey guys, Ok im going to be putting on my BHAF today!!! and I have a question. Do you really need a heat shield? and if so where would I go to get a cheap one?

I have been running a BHAF for about 125,000 miles (maybe more) and have not had or seen any need for a heat shield. Unless you plan on running with extremely high EGTs (at that point your filter is the least of your worries) you won't need one either.

I heard something somewhere and it kinda made me think. In reality, all you might need the shield for is to keep the filter from melting or deforming from the turbo being RIGHT there. Otherwise, wouldn't you want the heat from the turbo to warm the IAT's up? I mean, that's what we are doing with the mpg fooler is telling the computer that they are warmer. Might as well give it the real thing if you don't have the fooler. Just my thoughts. Just for the record, I have been running my BHAF for about a year with no shield. All good here.

  Ilikeoldfords said:

In reality, all you might need the shield for is to keep the filter from melting or deforming from the turbo being RIGHT there.

If you deform your filter from the heat you have a lot more to worry about than buying a new filter...........

2.5 years without a heat shield and no problems.

Great thanks guys for the impute!! Saved me some time and money!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I made one out of some extra stainless sheet metal I had laying around. Bent it 90* and drilled holes in the bottom so that it bolted to the platform where the stock box mounted and then 90s up around the filter. I cut it so that it sits within a quarter inch of the hood when it is closed. I have touched it in the summer time on a hot day after working the truck and it has been hot to the touch so I think there could be some merit for one during the hot months.

I must interject here. Don't worry yourself over a heat shield. Although, maybe it would be worth going through any extra trouble in building a box for the filter so you can have a shroud around the exhaust manifold and then have a switch inside to divert cold or cool air to the filter via a valve.

Yea I'm not really to concerned about the heat shield I'll just run the BHAF and check the heat after a run just to see. However the thing I'm most concerned about is cleaning my turbo after five months of having the K/N on there! It doesn't have any Pitts or anything yet. Just some oil in the compressor housing and on the silencer ring that u can wipe off with a rag. Unfortunately I'll have to remove the turbo to get the compressor housing off in order to clean it real good! Damn K/N filter!!!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Building a box is not a bad idea and one I've been considering. That or find a good OEM box to put back in (mine was cracked). For every 10 degrees you can cool the intake air temp you gain 1% of your net horsepower. On a 250 horse engine that is 2.5 HP. In colder weather this probably has no bearing but in the heat of the summer on a 90+ degree day I could see the under hood temps easily reaching 30 degrees (or more) above ambient temp. If your running your engine hard under a heavy load and/or in stop and go traffic I don't think your doing it any favors at this stage of the game. JR

Actually the only thing my heat shield does is keep it from flopping around. As for heat shield really don't need it being warmer air better for MPG's values in the winter time.

Heck, I took out the OEM air box and had the three studs sticking through still so I put the caps back on them. The air filter just sits on them and has not moved a bit, since! I did zip-tie on some pipe foam to the A/C line to keep it from getting rubbed on. The corner of the battery rubs the filter a little, but I'm not worried.I too had a K/N before as well from the previous owner. I did a little cleaning on the turbo, but that was really the extent of it. Been a couple years atleast now.I'd really like to be able to invest some time and money into a setup to allow the filter to receive cold or hot air. Fab a shroud to go over the manifold or part of it and then have a valve to actuate between the two, cold or hot.

hexOrz, how'd you get those caps out of the OEM box? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I ran a k&n for quite a while before switching to the BHAF. I wiped off some oil at the inlet and that was all. The pipe going into the inter cooler was clean. Been fine for near 3 years now.

  chrisrmerritt said:

hexOrz, how'd you get those caps out of the OEM box? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Its been a while, so I don't remember. I'm pretty sure it was just a matter of removing the filter and unscrewing them?

Lol hexOrz, yea I tried that it didn't work. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I believe you would have to take the inner fender off to remove them. I left mine in place and used them to bolt my shield downJR

I left mine in place to bolt my shield also. I made my shielding from a heat shield that is used under a BMW that keeps the catalytic converter from burning the car down.

The studs are still in place, the plastic caps that secured the airbox to the studs are back on them to "pad" the filter from them. But they also help in centering and securing the filter. Were on the same page, right?

I was able to incorporate the studs into the design of my home made heat shield/cold air box. If you don't need to use them then yes, cap them off so they don't damage your' air filter and if you need to reinstall the stock air box they're still there.

hex0rz, yep same page I just couldn't figure out how to take them off without damaging them. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk