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Topic: Ford F53 Water injestation in the air intake
Posted By: kmb1966 on 09/03/18 02:01pm

We have a 2001 Itasca Suncruiser with Ford F53 V10 gas engine.
There was a technical service bulletin for water injestation into the air intake. At times, during heavy rains while driving, the air intake would suck in water, drowning the air filter and causing the engine to stall or lose power. The fix for this from Ford (since parts are no longer available for the fix) was to use a dryer vent hose and reroute the air intake higher up inside the hood. I did this, but the problem continued. So, I brought it to the Ford F53 service center and they suggested that I raise the dryer vent hose even higher inside the hood, so we did that (raised to the maximum amount pointed the open end toward the rear). But still the problem continues. Water gets sucked in while driving. I am using the flexible aluminum dryer hose. Has anyone had this problem and what is the REAL fix for it (other than not driving during rain of course). ???
Does the Banks Cold Air Intake fix solve this problem??

Posted By: carringb on 09/03/18 02:10pm

Banks intake will solve the problem. Plus, combine it with a free flowing muffler (which you're probably due for if you still have the original) and you'll gain a little more power too. Note: there's plenty off muffler options besides banks which work as well. I went with magnaflow last time around.

2000 Ford E450 V10 VAN! 450,000+ miles
2014 ORV really big trailer
2015 Ford Focus ST


Posted By: Trackrig on 09/03/18 02:10pm

Where is the dryer vent hose pointing to or at? Have you tried pointing it back towards the fire wall behind the engine?

Bill

Nodwell RN110 out moose hunting. 4-53 Detroit, Clark 5 spd, 40" wide tracks, 10:00x20 tires, 16,000# capacity, 22,000# weight. You know the mud is getting deep when it's coming in the doors.


Posted By: kmb1966 on 09/03/18 02:16pm

Trackrig wrote:

Where is the dryer vent hose pointing to or at? Have you tried pointing it back towards the fire wall behind the engine?

Bill


YES, we expanded the metal dryer vent hose up and turned the opening facing the fire wall. We even have the dryer lid on the hose (with the flapper removed). This is pointing to the fire wall, not open toward the hood.

Posted By: John Wayne on 09/03/18 02:20pm

Did you make a big p trap at the bottom before bring it to the top. And the Ford models had a type of duck bill sober drain at the bottom so water in the p trap drained out.

John & Carol Life members
01 31'Sea View single slide, F53 V-10 with 134,000 miles and counting.
2012 Jeep Liberty Smi brake system
Security by Bentley
God Bless

KF6HCH


Posted By: kmb1966 on 09/03/18 02:38pm

John Wayne wrote:

Did you make a big p trap at the bottom before bring it to the top. And the Ford models had a type of duck bill sober drain at the bottom so water in the p trap drained out.

It looks basically like this, except I used the metal dryer flexible vent hose.

air intake modification

Posted By: theoldwizard1 on 09/03/18 05:23pm

A small amount if water ingestion is not a problem, but a large amount can cause catastrophic engine failure. Some intake systems allow water to pool in an area and then the engine gets a big slug when you go around a corner.

If the area where it is pool is in FRONT of the mass air flow sensor, simply drill a hole in the low spot.

Posted By: STBRetired on 09/03/18 05:23pm

Have only had that issue a couple times, usually when it is raining so hard I am looking for a safe place to pull over. I carry a spare air filter so I can swap the dry one in if the air filter gets saturated. Try to keep your intake away from the wheel well and protected from road spray as much as possible. Provide a small hole (1/4") in the lowest point in the "J" so that water can drain out.

1999 Newmar MACA 3796 F53 6.8L
2016 Ford Edge Sport
Roadmaster Sterling A/T with Brake Buddy Select


Posted By: kmb1966 on 09/03/18 05:30pm

It made the SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT come on. Scangauge returned a code P0103 which refers to the air flow sensor detected a problem. It was very wet inside the area where the airfilter is located. Very frustrating since I have performed the modification that Ford says to do. The air intake is somehow able to suck in water even with the modification. I am afraid of drilling a drain hole as suggested because I am concerned it will suck in water thru the drain hole instead.

Posted By: Hikerdogs on 09/04/18 05:09am

One of the things I see missing on all the home made versions of the air intake is the duck bill at the bottom. With the Ford version some water could still get in the tube. At the bottom bend of the tube there was a duck bill drain similar to the one on the AC evaporator box. If water did go down the tube it was able to drain out before gettng t the filter

Here's a link to the subject on another forum:
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f23/ford-f-53-v-10-air-filter-collapse-270797.html

Post #12 shows the Ford version. Note the flat rubber drain at the bottom of the tube about 6" to8" before the filter

* This post was edited 09/04/18 06:47am by Hikerdogs *

Hikerdogs
2013 Winnebago Adventurer

Posted By: Dutch_12078 on 09/04/18 05:50am

I used a flexible plastic rain spout extension to form the snorkel for my F53. At the bottom, I drilled a couple of small holes and covered them with a one-way flap made with folded vinyl tape.

Dutch
2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A
F53 chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS
Bigfoot Automatic Leveling System
2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump
ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/Blue Ox baseplate


Posted By: kmb1966 on 09/04/18 05:56am

Hikerdogs wrote:

One of the things I see missing on all the home made versions of the air intake is the duck bill at the bottom. With the Ford version some water could still get in the tube. At the bottom bend of the tube there was a duck bill drain similar to the one on the AC evaporator box. If water did go down the tube it was able to drain out before gettng t the filter

Here's a link to the subject on another forum:
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f23/ford-f-53-v-10-air-filter-collapse-270797.html

Post #12 shows the Ford version. Note the flat rubber drain at the bottom of the tube about 6" to8" before the filter


Thank you, yes I see the post#12 picture, but I don't see the rubber drain at the bottom that you are referring to. Wouldn't the rubber hose 'suck' air also and pull water into the system also?

Posted By: Hikerdogs on 09/04/18 06:42am

The drain tube is flat at the bottom end similar to this:


https://www.environmentalmarine.com/kit-........Bjq6h3QIVF57ACh2JyQx6EAQYAyABEgJz7vD_BwE

The weight of the water in the tube will cause it to open. When the water is evacuated the end closes so no air or moisture can be ingested

Posted By: zigzagrv on 09/04/18 08:33am

I have done the dryer vent hose on my 2002 and have had no problems since. I did leave the shield on at the bottom of the intake and just cut enough away for the vent hose to come out. The open end of the vent hose is just about even with the top of the filter housing.

Ron

2003 Gulf Stream Ultra Supreme 33'
F53 Class A
2013 Ford Edge toad


Posted By: kmb1966 on 09/04/18 08:45am

Today, I drilled a hole in the bottom bend of the dryer vent tube, and at least a half cup of water poured out of the hole!

It would appear that there are 2 factory holes (about the size of a nickle) in the air filter canister assembly (usually hidden by the rubber strap) that are able to suck in water. Surely these should be covered?

* This post was edited 09/04/18 09:03am by kmb1966 *

Posted By: RDG on 09/06/18 01:36pm

kmb1966 wrote:

Today, I drilled a hole in the bottom bend of the dryer vent tube, and at least a half cup of water poured out of the hole!

It would appear that there are 2 factory holes (about the size of a nickle) in the air filter canister assembly (usually hidden by the rubber strap) that are able to suck in water. Surely these should be covered?


The holes are inspection holes. I used some plastic plugs to take care of that issue

2001 Forest River Georgetown 346S Motorhome

Posted By: kmb1966 on 09/06/18 02:53pm

RDG wrote:

kmb1966 wrote:

Today, I drilled a hole in the bottom bend of the dryer vent tube, and at least a half cup of water poured out of the hole!

It would appear that there are 2 factory holes (about the size of a nickle) in the air filter canister assembly (usually hidden by the rubber strap) that are able to suck in water. Surely these should be covered?


The holes are inspection holes. I used some plastic plugs to take care of that issue

thank you! YES. I just covered these two holes with some foil tape. If it was possible for the outside of the canister to get wet, it was also possible for water to enter via these 2 large round holes!
I will likely install the Banks cold air intake that is supposed to take care of this water injestation problem, but for now it is ducttape and foil tape to the rescue.

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