Just went off roading for the first time over the weekend. The limited slip must have been the key to getting me out of some places where I was sure I would need to get a tow. The 4x2 X was more than up to the challenge though. I was with a 4x4 Cherokee. I followed him most of the way in case I got stuck - but in doing so, I was driving through a cloud of dust most of the way. If I had been thinking, I would have taken out the K&N filter I *JUST* installed a day earlier and used the stock filter. Now I'm afraid I've completely saturated the aftermarket filter with dust. What do people usually do when traveling in caravans? Seems like dust could be a real problem for vehicles after periods of long exposure. Not to mention the amount of dust that was inside the cabin.

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Silver Ice 2001 SE V6 4X2

About the only thing you can do is try to hang back a little bit farther. Then when the day is over, wash it and armor-all the hell out of it. (the inside)

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Ducky
2001 Solar Yellow.
3pak XE V6 4x2.

[This message has been edited by bydo37 (edited 07-17-2001).]

That's what I tried to do. I think I'll wait for a couple of rainstorms next time I want to go for a ride. I think that will help keep the dust down a bit. Man, it took me a good hour and half to clean out the inside. It's not a new Xterra anymore...

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Silver Ice 2001 SE V6 4X2

you must put gaffers or duct tape over the vents at the base of the windshield (on the outside, next to the wipers). this keeps dust out and isn't a problem at all.
your K&N filter improves when it gets dirty (as k&n says). just tap it out if it is totally coated and it will be fine. if it is dry, reoil per the instructions. it would be worse if you had the stock filter in- yours is just fine.


[This message has been edited by neil (edited 07-18-2001).]

We have a major problem with the dust here in AZ, and when you have 18 Xterras traveling in a row it gets VERY dusty. The best thing I've found to keep dust out of the vehicle is the in-cabin filter, what a difference! The first few times we went out the inside of my X was trashed with dust. After I installed the filter it must have cut down on 90% of it. I learned this from looking in another member's X that had the filter installed when I didn't, it was night and day for the dust problem. Make sure you're also using the "recirculate" button on your AC/vent/heater and it won't tend to suck in the dust.

Mike

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Arizona Xterra Club, visit us at www.azxterraclub.com
No pavement, no problem

Two other suggestions:
1) Some people in our group tape vacuum cleaner bags(cut to size) onto the air intake below the windshield(for the cabin air). It sort of pre-filters the air going to the micro-filter.

2) I just close the system 100%. I tape the air intake shut with gaffers tape and use "recirculate" ONLY.

Now if I could only figure out how to kept the dust off the lens of my external mounted cameras...



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LAXterra
2000 SE 4x4
Change is my friend...boredom is my enemy.

Like this..


http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1485609&a=13495012&p=51752421&f=0[/URL]

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1485609&a=13495012&p=51753111&f=0[/URL] [URL=http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View...&p=51753071&f=0 http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1485609&a=13495012&p=51753048&f=0
http://albums.photopoi" TARGET=_blank>h...albums.photopoi nt.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1485609&a=13495012&p=51753116&f=0
It took me almost 5 hours to clean her up on sunday! Hell the inside was worse than the outside but it was worth it. I took the gear basket off though because it didn't seem worth the effort.
A word of advice... stay away from armour all,I used simple green (diluted)to clean the inside than went over all of it with turtle wax 2001 protectant.Except for the underside of the truck, you can hardly tell it was dirty at all.


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'01 Silver Ice V6 XE 4x2 3-PAK blah, blah, blah-Damn nice truck!!

[This message has been edited by Silver Raider (edited 07-19-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Silver Raider (edited 07-19-2001).]

What's the harm in using Armor All?

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Silver Ice 2001 SE V6 4X2

Armor All attracts dust.



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If you always sweat the small stuff, you will eventually die from dehydration.

Oh, yeah, I guess I already knew that. I thought that that you guys were going to say that Armor All harms the plastic or discolors surfaces or something.

Another question: Where are the in-cabin microfilters located?

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Silver Ice 2001 SE V6 4X2

XSE- its behind the glove box assembly. If yours didn't come with it as an option you can have the dealer or you can do it your self. The part costs about $30 and it takes about 30 minutes to do.

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Benjamin/KB2HCW
'01 Silver SE 4x4
"Que bella machina!"