07 EB Expedition lag/hesitates under WOT with K&N CAI?

[1mpg]

I love the sound of the k&n cai makes when I'm flooring it and I like the look of the drivers I pass on the highway when they hear me passing them but I've also notice that the truck kinda hesitates or lags a little when I'm stepping down on the gas. If I slowly press down on the gas pedal I won't really get that lag and I never got that with the stock intake box. It feels like it needs more fuel as it sucks in all that air. I'm somewhat new at this and I'm not trying to break a speed record or go crazy modding my truck as my wife is the primary driver of it. Normally I'm easy on the gas pedal and so is my wife when she drives it and you really can't tell there's a CAI in it until you step on the gas pedal. Could it be possible that I need a tuner to compensate on the air & fuel mixture from the get go?

 

[bedrck46]

being its the wife's EXPY why do you want to put her through all of that unless you would enjoy hearing her complain about the hesitation that wasn't there before

 

[bedrck46]

but if you piss her off you may want to change your location to

IN THE DOG HOUSE

 

[1mpg]

Nice but it's "our" Expy and she's the primary driver as her work commute is a lot closer than mine. I'm not putting her thru anything as she doesn't go thru those hesitant situations. She's easy on the gas pedal and I have had her compliment the sound of the cai and so far she hasn't floored it or I would know about it when she tells me it's hesitant or that something isn't right.

 

[bedrck46]

ok I get it your the man in the family and wear the pants but she carries the belt that holds them up

maybe you should have her floor it and get her opinion

 

[01yellerCobra]

First thing is to make sure everything is tight. I'm guessing it is since you only have the issue at WOT. Is the new MAF housing diameter the same size as the factory housing? If it isn't then you need a tune to compensate for the difference. My Spectre came with an insert to make it the same diameter as stock and I never had a hesitation. Something else is when was the last time the plugs were changed?

 

[NMExpi]

Not just when was the last time plugs were changed but what about fuel filter and or a tank of sea foam through the motor carbon deposits can a plugged fuel filter can also be a misleading cause of your symptom.

 

[FordandPolaris]

I would also try just resetting the computer to allow it to relearn the new fuel air mixture. Just unplug the battery and turn the key and plug it back in. Let it idle for 5 minutes and you're good to go

 

[1mpg]

@bedrck46
This is a forum where auto enthusiast come and help each other's with productive solutions when posting on a thread. You have not posted anything helpful in 3 posts and are thread trolling so I would greatly appreciate it if you kept your 2 cents out of this thread.


@ 01yellerCobra & NMExpi
We bought the truck about a year ago with 80k miles on it. When we purchased it I inquired about the most recent tune up and oil change as that is all I thought it needed. I wasn't aware of the dreaded spark plug removal that these engines have and I didn't bother to ask the dealer to change them since I'm quite handy with tools and I've always done all the maintenance on my vehicles. I'm actually looking for an expirienced shop around town to do the spark plugs as I don't want to deal with the headaches of having one break upon removal. The fuel filter hasn't been changed since I've owned it so I will look into changing it and the maf housing diameter looks like the stock air box to me. I will also try running some seafoam on the gas tank.

 

[1mpg]

I would also try just resetting the computer to allow it to relearn the new fuel air mixture. Just unplug the battery and turn the key and plug it back in. Let it idle for 5 minutes and you're good to go

I did unplug the battery when I first installed the k&n cai but I'll try doing this again when I get home today.

 

[bedrck46]

well my 2 cents tells me your problems started when you installed the k&n kit as you stated it didn't do it with the stock intake Now that tells me either you did something wrong or something is wrong with the kit or something else is your problem or that you are the problem I realize you are impressed with the sound but being your wife is the main driver you should do as I suggested and let her feel the hesitation that wasn't there before and listen to her opinion

 

[bedrck46]

now think of it this way You wife is out in the expy and all of a sudden she comes upon a situation in which she needs to floor it in order to avoid a possible accident and then the expy hesitates and she thinks something went wrong and she panics because she wasn't use to the hesitation. Is your wife's safety less important than the macho sound you enjoy

 

[NMExpi]

I did unplug the battery when I first installed the k&n cai but I'll try doing this again when I get home today.

A dirty maf can also cause this sort of issue. Fuel filter and sea foam will help ford recommends every 15k on fuel filters, depepending on condition of fuel and region. Where are you located? which year is your expi? the 5.4 isn't bad to do spark plugs on unless you have a mid 2000's with the 3 valve head. those are the ones to worry about they have a tendency of plugs rusting in the head and breaking upon removal. if it is a 3 valve I would recommend taking it to a dealer becuase there is a specialty tool that has to be used to remove the broken plugs. Also if you do the plugs yourself it is recommended to do them after the motor is at operating temp (the aluminum in the heads is softer less likely to break a plug), and spray a penetrating oil down into the plugs once you get the coil packs out to help ease of removal as well.

 

[1mpg]

A dirty maf can also cause this sort of issue. Fuel filter and sea foam will help ford recommends every 15k on fuel filters, depepending on condition of fuel and region. Where are you located? which year is your expi? the 5.4 isn't bad to do spark plugs on unless you have a mid 2000's with the 3 valve head. those are the ones to worry about they have a tendency of plugs rusting in the head and breaking upon removal. if it is a 3 valve I would recommend taking it to a dealer becuase there is a specialty tool that has to be used to remove the broken plugs. Also if you do the plugs yourself it is recommended to do them after the motor is at operating temp (the aluminum in the heads is softer less likely to break a plug), and spray a penetrating oil down into the plugs once you get the coil packs out to help ease of removal as well.

Im from CT and I have the 3v engine in my 2007. The hesitation thing isn't that bad at all that can cause driving problems like hard take offs. I had a 2000 expedition prior this one and that thing would dangerously hesitate sometimes so it turned out to be a fuel pump issue. I have a friend with a 04 f150 and a k&n cai that tells me his truck also gets those lag kicks like if the truck needs more fuel or something. In no way is my truck a danger for the road I just thought I'd post in here to see if there was a solution for this. The truck is coming at 10k miles while in my possession so I will change the fuel filter and probably call a dealer for a spark plug replacement quote. I think those plugs are factory parts so I'm not taking any chance on them and I'll let the experts handle it.