k@N Filters

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G

Guest

I"m looking at installing a K@N filter in my 4.6L Expy.
Any difference in performance?

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OP
OP
G

Guest

Maybe a little better gas mileage and maybe a little more power. I doubt you will be able to feel any difference.
 
OP
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G

Guest

I've tried them on another vehicle to no avail. Measured vacuum, ACT temp, and 0-60... WOT vacuum down, ACT up, 0-60 inconclusive... I'll put one on the 5.4 when the time comes just so I dont have to buy anymore Frams.

Check the 2.9L forum on my "homepage" in the FAQ sticky post there are a few saved discussions about them.
 

Grasshopper

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Theoretically, they do all that kschaper says, but I have one in my wife's '00 5.4L Expy and my supercharged 97 4.6L tbird and don't feel a difference. I have no research but it's probably an intangible increase (long haul?).
You also have to reoil it at a periodically and you have to make sure your MAF is clean. It'll gunk it up. Make sure you know what your doing when you clean your MAF.
 

smo0othride

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For the price of the K&N, plus the cleaning package... think of how much gas you could buy. Plus, what are you going to do with the 3 extra HP it gives you? I think for the price and the risk (I've heard K&Ns have caused lots of engine problems by letting dirt and filter oil in).... they're just not worth it.
 
OP
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G

Guest

I have one in my 5.4L and all I notice is more engine noise.
I wouldn't buy one again.
 

BikeRider

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Originally posted by smo0othride
For the price of the K&N, plus the cleaning package... think of how much gas you could buy. Plus, what are you going to do with the 3 extra HP it gives you? I think for the price and the risk (I've heard K&Ns have caused lots of engine problems by letting dirt and filter oil in).... they're just not worth it.

To me, its a win only situation. Think about this, you don't ever have to replace the filter again, and that alone saves you $15 a hit each 10k miles. If you keep it for 40k miles minimum, you have paid for the K&N.
 

PBH

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Increased air flow, reduced filtration. Not a good idea overall, it will reduce engine life by bringing in more contamination.
 
OP
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G

Guest

K&N Filters / DONT DO IT!

I live on a long gravel drive. Lots -o-dust. I put a k&n filter on my Porsche 944 Turbo at the dealersa recomendation. Bad Idea! It let huge amounts dust and gunk in the mass airflow sensor. All of that k&n oil plus the dust caused serious, costly, and frequent repairs to the maf. Imagine what it could do to a truck with a larger engine sucking 2x as much air!

Just my .02
Blair
 
OP
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G

Guest

Just took mine out and went back to a paper filter.
Had my oil analyzed after 3000 miles by Blackstone Labs and their report showed my silica(dirt) level was 16.Should be at 6.
I always use quality oil filters.
Dirt is getting in through the K&N.
More air=more dirt.
Like I said above.No gain,just more engine sound.
 
OP
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G

Guest

K&N

I put a K&N Generation II kit on my truck (5.4L EB 00). It is by far the BEST investment I have ever made on any of my vehicles. In fact! my wife liked it so much (b/c my 00 4wd EB could now waste her 00 2wd EB) she made me buy one for her machine! Now I did not by the plain filter. I got the kit that replace the everythingin the engine cmompartment up to where the air goes into the carb/fule injector.

I noticed a definite increase in horsepower too. Now, I don't live on a dirt road. The K&N if a finer filter than a paper filter so I don't know how much I would put into these ideas of it letting dirt into the engine, but I do beleive the guy who lived on a dirt road and his horror stories. I clean my filter about every 6-8000 miles. Just hose it off, oil it and stick it back on.

Jon
 
OP
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G

Guest

If you are in dusty conditions alot I would not do it. Here in Phoenix I am mostly on the roads 98% of the time so I run an Airaid with K&N filter, on my '99 Expo I noticed a good power increase doing the Airaid/Poweraid and a Flomaster catback. Power increased as well as gas milage a bit. I will do the same on my '03 as well as a programmer/chip.
 
OP
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G

Guest

so would you say doing the whole intake is ok, instead of just the drop in filter?
 
OP
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G

Guest

I just installed my filter kit last month and I definately noticed an increase in HP and better gas milage. I think its worth it only if you replace the whole intake, not just the filter. I'm in Los Angeles, CA so there isn't a lot of dust out here, so I don't imagine I will face the same problems as those that have been mentioned. Only time will tell.
 
OP
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G

Guest

I actually purchased mine on ebay from seller www_socalmotorsports_com for $229.99 + 15.00 s/h. So I think I got a pretty good deal. Plus it comes with complete installation instructions, so it was a breeze. It may be hard to find on ebay. I had to wait a few months till i found an actual K&N filter kit. Make sure you get a real K&N, not the generic ones. Check the guy I got mine from, he may have more.

I also here that Mac Products (www.macperformance.com) makes pretty good kits too. Comparable to K&N, so check them out as well.

Good luck.
 

shagnasty

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I have an Amsoil filter in my rig. It is a superior filter to KN because it addresses the silica issue by having multiple filtration media. Check out their web site for more details. I've had good results so far.
 

TLW

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I just put a K&N kit on my 2003 4.6 Expedition with a Magna Flow muffler. I have had great results with K&N in the past. I have heard of some problems with the drop in filters not sealing correctly but I never had a problem with them (new K&N kit has a cone filter so this is not an issue), most people clean them to often & use way to much oil on them causing MAF problems.
The dyno sheet that came with the kit shows @ a 10hp gain at peak & starts coming in @ 2000 RPM. The engine definitely revs quicker above 2500 RPM but seems about the same below 2500. Not sure how much is the filter kit & how much is the muffler as both were done at the same time. To soon to tell about gas mileage especially since the wife puts her foot in it to hear the exhaust.
Will be putting a chip in this week, I was trying to do all 3 at the same time but the chip got delayed.
:p
 

smo0othride

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After all those upgrades, you should get it dynoed just to see how much power you really gained, and then on future cars you'll know if it's worth it.
 

MANDOS04

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Originally posted by joe b
I have one in my 5.4L and all I notice is more engine noise.
I wouldn't buy one again.


Man thanks for saving me the 60 bucks u saved me from buying the K&N Filter! Good thing I bougth a good ol STP air filter. Thanks for the head up. By the way is there a CA intake for the 04 Expo?

OK just read some more on the K&N issue im confused I got one guy saying engine noise is more present an another guy saying it almost gave him 10 HP with the filter an exhaust. Damn brand names always saying there better than the rest!!
 
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