Diesel industry icon Charles (Charlie) L. Ekstam recently succumbed to his long fought battle with cancer. His vibrant friendship, brilliant wit and vast knowledge will be sorely missed by so many across the diesel engine community. Fortunately, for our community, his vision, passion and mission will carry on through his company, PureFlow Technologies, Inc. This dynamic company, now headed by Charlie’s wife Dora Serrano, represents the full range of AirDog Fuel Preporator products that he invented and patented during his amazing lifetime. Charlie and Dora built their company together and she is committed to advancing and enhancing his legacy. The AirDog Fuel Preporator lineup of diesel fuel air separation systems were born as a direct result of Charlie’s own experiences of entrained air robbing performance from his truck. For years, companies such as Cummins, Caterpillar and Detroit, had documented entrained air as an issue across the diesel engine industry, yet no one seemed to be able to determine a solution – until Charlie emerged from hours upon hours of extensive research with the original AirDog Fuel 
Preporator in 1993. Charlie’s patented invention of the AirDog Fuel Preporator was a game-changer for the industry, as evidenced by a 1996 article in the OOIDA Land Line publication. In their September/October issue, it stated that there were three great diesel engine inventors: Rudolph Diesel, who invented the diesel engine; Clessie Cummins, founder of the Cummins Engine Company; and Charles L. Ekstam, inventor of the patented fuel system called the Fuel Preporator. This system provides virtually any diesel engine with dramatically better performance in horsepower, torque and emissions, while providing substantial savings. Since the introduction of the original AirDog Fuel Preporator in 1993, Charlie continued to refine and perfect a wide range of fuel separator systems. In 2002, the AirDog line was introduced with applications for pickup trucks, as well as medium and heavy duty product lines. Over the past two years, they have also rolled out their Champ product line, featuring the AirDog Champ I and Champ II. Charlie’s vision was to have a full range of fuel separation systems for all diesel engines. The AirDog Fuel Preporator lineup covers virtually all diesel engines including Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit, Paccar, Volvo and Mack, as well as all diesel-powered pickups. Charlie will be deeply missed, yet his dream and his passion live on in the AirDog Fuel Preporator range of products, which will continue without him. His legacy will provide our world with dynamic savings, extra performance and quality air – for generations to come. Thank you and God speed, Charlie!
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Daniel J. Linss
Daniel J. Linss has been with 10-4 Magazine since the beginning in September of 1993 and has been the Editor and Art Director since March of 1994. Over the years, he has also become an owner and one of the main photographers for 10-4 and is well-known for his insightful cover feature articles and honest show reports. Married for over 30 years with three grown children, Daniel produces 10-4 Magazine each and every month from his office in Central California.
2 Comments
RIP Charlie, still using the original model FP I bought from you in 1996.
Charlie was very generous with me when I called to inquire if my little diesel ASV RC30 (31 HP-3013 CAT engine) skid steer that I was using as a tractor would be helped by the Air Dog II. Charlie said he didn’t know but would like to know and sent me an Air Dog II to try out. It did make a little, but definitely noticeable difference in performance which was just what I was hoping for. I gave him a full report andI made an illustrated instruction manual how to modify ASV skidsteers with CAT engines to accomodate an Air Dog II. He had just undergone a kidney transplant and I never heard back from him. I am delighted to see that he obviously recovered fully and that some years later the Champ series were given birth by Pure Flow. It was a wonderful experience to work with an inventor that didn’t over inflate what his product would do. I hope there is a Heaven because it would be good to him.