Last Updated on November 12, 2011

Cover Cleaning questions:

1.  What do you use and what process do you use to wash your covers?  Simple Green Degreaser, thoroughly rinse in water, wring out the excess water, repeat if necessary, and let the cover dry on a fence, wall, or nearby bush while I use the same Simple Green Degreaser to clean the rest of my engine bay.  IMPORTANT... only soak the cover for 5-10 minutes, as any extended soaking in harsh cleaners can damage the graphics.

2.  Can I throw the cover in the clothes dryer if I'm short on time or just don't want to wait?  Sure, BUT... if you have a graphic image on your cover, use AIR ONLY -- NO heat.  The use of heat can damage the heat transfer image.

General questions:

1.  Do you ship to other countries?  Yes, but there is a minimum upcharge of $5 due to the extra handling requirements.  We work hard to not overcharge for International shipping.  We have thus far shipped to Canada, Costa Rica, Finland, and Australia and found that the shipping costs are not much higher than typical US shipping costs.

2.  Can you make covers for other filter elements besides those listed?  Although we have done this in the past, we will only consider this option for large orders where the customer can supply a filter element for pattern-making (to be returned to the customer with the order).

3.  What if I'm not happy with my cover when I get it?  First... you need to let me know right away.  I will do everything reasonable to ensure your satisfaction.

4.  Do the covers restrict air flow?  Very slightly, just as any and all prefilters will... BUT, the effects on both performance and mileage are so small you can't even measure them.  The filter elements I am "covering" are all rated for much, MUCH higher air flow capacities than the stock filter, and the small impact of this open-knit fabric has not made enough difference on my truck for me (or any of my customers) to either measure it in terms of SOTP feel (Seat Of The Pants) or in mileage decreases.  One of my wholesale customers has done some preliminary testing which indicates only a 1.5-2.0% reduction in air flow.

5.  Do the covers extend the life of the filter element?  Yes, they do.   Just how much improved life you will experience will vary from driver to driver depending upon driving habits, ambient air conditions, etc.

6.  How fine of dust particles does the cover "prefilter"?  I cannot answer that because it has not been tested.

7.  Are the covers water resistant?  This is a rather fun issue to talk about.  Firstly, it may be considered impolite to answer a question with a question, but I have to start with that just to set the stage for properly thinking through the realities which surround this issue.  In all honesty, why would you want or need water resistance on a prefilter?  Answer:  "I'm in deep muddy water often enough for this to be a concern for me and how I use my vehicle".  That's a fair answer.  However, let's move to the next question... Why would you think that something designed to pass air through it will keep water out when it the filter is being operated under a vacuum with enough suction power to pull the water droplets through the material anyway?  

This issue has been discussed in forums all over the internet.  The one I frequent the msot if the diesel subforums on Ford-trucks.com.  In those fofrums, people have repeatedlytestified that they have run through frog-strangling downpours with no evidence of a wet filter once they get home, and that is without a cover.  The point of the discussions there wre centered around the practicality of using paper pleated open element filters instaead of gauze-type construction.  Obviously, if water gets onto a paper pleated filter element while it is under suction, the wet paper will either cause the engine to choke or the wet paper will collapse with chunks of it getting into your air intake components, and no one has ver reported experiencing that yet (as far as I know).

Now, if you're in the mud and sloshing muddy water up into your engine bay, you will still be faced with the reality that the vacuum induced by your engine's intake is going to suck water through any prefilter you use.  It may sound nice to be able to say that your prefilter is water resistant, but that is only going to hold true if the engine is not running when it comes into contact with the water.

Just so you know that I have taken this issue seriously, though, I'll share with you a brief story of my experience with it.  I have run water from the kitchen faucet over covers from competitors who advertise "water repellency"  -- gently, mind you --  and some of the water immediately ran through the cover just by gravity.... imagine what that water would do if I pulled a vacuum inside the cover!  It would suck the water right inside the cover to your filter element!  Perhaps not all of the water, but certainly a lot of it would go right through.  If the water would not pass through, it would create a hydraulic seal the exterior of the filter cover combination and potentially cause your turbo to crush the filter element!

8.  What kind of fabric are the covers made from? 100% polyester knit fabric with an "open" knit.

9.  Can you offer fabric colors other than what you have listed?  It is possible.  If you just HAVE to have a color different from my standard offering, I can come up with a few more options, but most of the other colors are not nearly as crisp or nice looking as the several I offer.  Additionally, non-stock color options are special order, will delay shipping, and increase the cost for the cover.  Graphics are not available on these special order colors unless the graphic is provided by the customer.

10.  Can you accept credit card payments?  Only if you process your card through Paypal.  I have had hundreds of customers use their credit cards via Paypal's invoicing service with no trouble whatsoever.  

11.  Will you accept personal checks?  Only upon approval before placing the order, and then we wait for the checks to clear before shipping the order.  Money orders are much simpler and require not "clearing time".  Business checks?  Yes, but they must clear before the order will be shipped.

12.  Do you offer wholesale discount opprtunities?  This is now the only type of order accepted, and the order must be for at least 20 covers.

13.  How long does it take to get a cover?  My schedule varies greatly depending upon my other work load and the availability of my sewer.  I keep the autoresponder from my email account up-to-date with current work load issues.  Please remember that this is a "spare time" business activity for me, and since I do work another full-time job and have a family with children, there is always a potential for a delays.  I try to communicate delays as quickly as they occur.  We currently have a monthly standing order which consumes most of the time available from my sewer, so any additional wholesale orders will have to be scheduled with ample lead time.

14.  How are the covers typically shipped out?  Typically, wholesale orders will ship via FedEx Ground.  Expedited shipping must be arranged before the order is accepted, and there will be a surcharge for this service.

Warranty & Return Policies:

1.  There is no specific warranty offered on our products.  Should you have an issue with workmanship or materials, please contact us right away and we will evaluate the situation thoroughly and responsibly.  Please BE AWARE that cloth covers should be protected from contact with harsh chemicals, rubbing, or  contact with sharp or pointed objects which can easily snag or tear the material.  We are not liable for replacing any covers damaged from any such contact, misuse, or abuse.

2.  Returns for whatever reason must be arranged before the item is shipped back to us.  Return shipping will typically be borne at our expense, but individual situations may vary.

Additional questions about the 6637 filter element setup:

1.  What should I do with the air temperature sensor when I remove the stock airbox?  Most people either let it ride on the wheel liner under the filter or zip-tie it to the brake master cylinder.  Mine has been riding on the wheel liner for two years without a problem, and I don't have to worry about moving it around if I'm working around the master cylinder.

2.  Should I re-install the FilterMinder in the 6637 filter element?  Neither I nor Ford believes that the end of the filter element is the proper place for this device.  There have been some studies and there is also some common sense that has led me to that conclusion, and I'd be happy to share the details if you really want to dive into the subject.  Primarily, though, when you look at the later versions of the Ford diesel intake systems (after 2004), you will find that even Ford learned that the better location for vacuum testing on thtese elements is in the intake tube where 100% of the air is passing through to the turbo.

Copyright (c) 2010 Family-Designs.com. All rights reserved.