CAI or drop in air filter, worthwhile?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

armoredsaint

Full Access Members
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Posts
321
Reaction score
157
Location
Ohio
Looking at some KN CAI and drops, plus some others. I've had previous experiences on my other vehicles, I know there's always a concern about the micro-fine dust that can still get into the MAP sensors etc...
 

Grey ghost

Full Access Members
Joined
Apr 26, 2019
Posts
360
Reaction score
134
Location
Melbourne fl
An oiled filter traps dust. I have a vortex unit because it has a sealed box. It works well. But I have a tuner so it helps a bit more
 

stamp11127

Full Access Members
Joined
Mar 10, 2012
Posts
6,207
Reaction score
1,246
Location
Temple, Georgia
Here is an opinion based on facts from an old school individual/instructor:

1) If the company doesn't provide dyno results comparing their product to factory - it is show only
2) Those that do provide the results you will probably see the most results near WOT
3) How often are you driving at WOT?
4) If the filter isn't away or removed from engine heat - in a box, you have a hot air intake. Most of the students I get have #4 on their truck. Performance drops but sound level increases. In their thinking sound indicates power level.
 

Grey ghost

Full Access Members
Joined
Apr 26, 2019
Posts
360
Reaction score
134
Location
Melbourne fl
Few manufacturers dyno test every model. According to the people at 5 star tuning most cold air kits are similar in horsepower increase.
I do agree on the sealed box like what I have. It is slightly less noisy but it does sound better.
All in I think it's worthwhile. AFE and others make nice products, the K&N system is decent. A drop in filter won't do much.
 

Calidad

Full Access Members
Joined
Oct 1, 2019
Posts
765
Reaction score
400
Location
California
The hot air intakes crack me up. In planes we have these in cowl intakes we can switch too to avoid external intake icing issues. You pull a lever and switch intakes. The power loss with a hot intake is huge you better off staying stock and buying a power washer to keep your truck cleaner.
 

Fozzy

Full Access Members
Joined
Sep 5, 2019
Posts
1,199
Reaction score
1,161
Location
Riverton
Since 2012 to the present. Ford intakes have been really well designed. Minimal HP gains from the aftermarket unless you do bigger turbos, injectors, tunes. That can take advantage of the higher flow rates. On the Powerstroke and F-150 forums , most just like the sound difference they make. I put one on my 6.7 Powerstroke with zero gains in performance or sound because it was a closed intake. If you took the lid off it had a little whistle. But every time I go in to the dealer for service they complain about it like my truck may explode on their lift. Not worth it unless you’re going all out. IMO.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Deadman

Full Access Members
Joined
Mar 17, 2019
Posts
2,561
Reaction score
1,684
Location
Wisconsin
The worst is the racket some of these stupid intakes make. Ive had them on previous vehicles and they sometimes sound horrible! I don't want my car to sound like it can suck...... I'm not into that kinda thing!
 

TobyU

Full Access Members
Joined
Apr 5, 2013
Posts
2,479
Reaction score
873
Location
Ohio
Won’t get more than a very small bump in HP and a ton of additional engine noise.


This is about it and I will add sometimes a little bump in MPG.

Regardless of what marketing hype, I have done a few over the years but mostly K&N along with cutting the heck out of the air filter box...so no snorkle tube etc.

Different makes don't respond the same way.

I did a 98 Durango wit 5.2 and it was louder at hard or WOT and the MPG definitely improved by at least 1.2 MPG around town.

Had a 99 Trans Am with LS1 and factory 16 inch tires/wheels with auto trans. It was stock other than K& N and hacked up the airbox so more into the front of it.
Friend has 02 Ram Air 6spd with the factory wheels (I think 17s).

My car was faster than his EVERY time. We raced the roads from dead stop, rolling at 15mph etc. My car always pulled his. I am 80lbs heavier than he is.
I didn't race him with factory airbox and filter so I can't say how much I gained but I know the Ram Air is supposed to be faster but it wasn't in these two cars case.

Sometimes you can hurt things by too much hot air being sucked in. This can reduce mpg or introduce pinging or detonation.

So....It depends. YMMV
 

rjdelp7

2000 XLT
Joined
Nov 30, 2014
Posts
1,529
Reaction score
378
Location
NY
The OEM paper filters are designed to last for 30K mi. To accomplish this, they are more restrictive. A K&N drop in will require more maintenance, but allow more air flow. A engine is just a massive air pump. Air in, exhaust out. The increase in power or MPG is very small. My 2011 Mustang has the K&N 33-2431. The SCT tuners have a setting if you use this filter. I am pretty sure it does improves performance. A Cold Air Intake can suck in hot engine air. The PCM will retard timing and reduce power, if this happens. A CAI, will void your warranty. I read a post about removing a air silencer, on the new Expeditions.
 

Deadman

Full Access Members
Joined
Mar 17, 2019
Posts
2,561
Reaction score
1,684
Location
Wisconsin
K&N is like not having an air filter in at all. Fine dust GOES RIGHT THRU them. Trust me we ran them on ATV's and such and the inside of the intake was Nasty. Without a foam pre filter, I would never ever run one.
 

GC2019

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2019
Posts
89
Reaction score
59
Location
Buffalo, NY
K&N is like not having an air filter in at all. Fine dust GOES RIGHT THRU them. Trust me we ran them on ATV's and such and the inside of the intake was Nasty. Without a foam pre filter, I would never ever run one.
This...
No chance I run any of this aftermarket junk.
 

Fozzy

Full Access Members
Joined
Sep 5, 2019
Posts
1,199
Reaction score
1,161
Location
Riverton
Number one problem with an oiled filter is USER ERROR. Poor maintenance or improper oiling. This is the filter out of a 600HP pre runner that spent a week pre running the Baja. Yes you can argue they rebuild their motors often, but this is a living and do or die for these racers. If you have never experienced the silt in Baja, it’s like baby powder. K&N would be out of business decades ago if they where as bad as people claim.

693b54c38be57763bb3655c0a9c8b780.jpg3804494a260cbbb9f2e9964297a83b4f.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Fozzy

Full Access Members
Joined
Sep 5, 2019
Posts
1,199
Reaction score
1,161
Location
Riverton
S&B is one of the best. One cool thing they do with the oiled filter. They give you a measured amount for the size filter you have. It helps with the user error of under or over oiling.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

GC2019

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2019
Posts
89
Reaction score
59
Location
Buffalo, NY
Number one problem with an oiled filter is USER ERROR. Poor maintenance or improper oiling. This is the filter out of a 600HP pre runner that spent a week pre running the Baja. Yes you can argue they rebuild their motors often, but this is a living and do or die for these racers. If you have never experienced the silt in Baja, it’s like baby powder. K&N would be out of business decades ago if they where as bad as people claim.

693b54c38be57763bb3655c0a9c8b780.jpg3804494a260cbbb9f2e9964297a83b4f.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
K&N is still in business because of threads like this, and because most people don’t realize a dirty filter, filters the best. Clean it and you have zero filtering. Leaving it dirty gives filtration, but less than stock flow.
For some reason, people are wanting to trade off OEM for aftermarket thinking their Expedition this case, will now perform better. It won’t..

Hold a K&N up to the sun and look at it. Enough evidence right there.
I can only imagine what this intake manifold looks like before the filter started plugging the holes with that silt build up...
 

Fozzy

Full Access Members
Joined
Sep 5, 2019
Posts
1,199
Reaction score
1,161
Location
Riverton
K&N is still in business because of threads like this, and because most people don’t realize a dirty filter, filters the best. Clean it and you have zero filtering. Leaving it dirty gives filtration, but less than stock flow.
For some reason, people are wanting to trade off OEM for aftermarket thinking their Expedition this case, will now perform better. It won’t..

Hold a K&N up to the sun and look at it. Enough evidence right there.
I can only imagine what this intake manifold looks like before the filter started plugging the holes with that silt build up...

If you oil a cloth filter and see pin holes when you hold it up to the light you did it wrong. First check you do when oiling one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

TobyU

Full Access Members
Joined
Apr 5, 2013
Posts
2,479
Reaction score
873
Location
Ohio
K&N is still in business because of threads like this, and because most people don’t realize a dirty filter, filters the best. Clean it and you have zero filtering. Leaving it dirty gives filtration, but less than stock flow.
For some reason, people are wanting to trade off OEM for aftermarket thinking their Expedition this case, will now perform better. It won’t..

Hold a K&N up to the sun and look at it. Enough evidence right there.
I can only imagine what this intake manifold looks like before the filter started plugging the holes with that silt build up...

Obviously you hate K&N and similar oiled filters BUT you are giving inaccurate info.
cleaning it does NOT give you ZERO filtration.
A clean non oiled one will give you far less filtration but a oiled one gives you better.
Most oiled filters do not filter as well as a paper element when they are freshly installed but filtration does go up as they get a little dirty which doesn't take long.

Personal preference s to how much filtration you think you need....The answer is NOT the most.
There is a give/take relationship.

Remember many vehicles (some old) and detroit diesel engines used metal foil style oiled and oil bath filters for decades and they probably do not filter quite as well as paper BUT these engines still lasted major amounts of miles--like 300-450K between rebuilds.
 
Top