Any thoughts on K&N Filter Kits?

[gb387]

I like to ask these questions here on MOL since it seems no one gets in a posting war and I feel I get a better mix of honest opinions.

So.... Anyone have any thoughts on the kits (K&N) similar to what I have posted below? I would like to get a slightly better gas mileage and if they boost HP a little more that’s fine but not the ultimate goal.

[g15389]

gb387,

A friend of mine got one for his short cab Chevy Z-71 with the 5.7L V8 a few years ago (I think it was a '98). He noticed a bigger difference in the performance then the gas mileage. If I can remember correctly he got 1 or 2 MPG - not sure if it was because he was watching how he was driving or because it was helping

He was pretty happy with the performance boost though.....

G-

[sean]

I hear they do add better milage but I couldn't say I'd expect a big gain. I ordered K&N air filters for 3 cars, maybe I'll see some gains with better filters.

Here's some info from K&N's page:

How much of an increase in miles per gallon should I see from using a K&N air filter or intake kit (Fuel Injection Performance Kit – FIPK, Typhoon, 77 Series, 57i, or AirCharger)?

Results will vary depending on your vehicle, driving habits, load on the engine (towing for example), existing air system restriction, and other factors. Many K&N users report an increase in miles per gallon. See our testimonial page. K&N air filters and intake kits provide less restriction on your engine’s air intake than typical original equipment manufacturer (OEM) filters and air box systems. Less restriction can provide for more efficient combustion. Our internal testing is performed using employee and customer vehicles. We usually have the cars for a short period of time that will only allow for fit checks and dyno (power curve) testing. If you take advantage of added power by driving harder, you will not see much of a gain, if any, in MPG. Also if you add a K&N filter and the primary source of air restriction in the OEM system is the air box, you won’t see much of a difference in power or MPG unless you add a K&N intake kit to reduce the restriction

[Lt1Corvette]

We put a simailr system on a buddy of mines suburban, 502 big block I believe. With the intake+ exhaust+ high flow cat, picked up about 2.5-3 mpg. Don't know if he picked up hp or torque. But he had no regrets.

[FromThisSoil]

I don't understand how extra airflow would add extra MPG. Extra oxygen = extra fuel to balance out the mixture. I think performance filters are only for minor HP gain.

[sean]

I believe it works because cold air intakes have better airflow plus **** in cold air rather than hot ambient air around the engine. Cold air being dense is able to be compressed more for a better combustion which equals somewhat better milage. Since temperature differences aren't going to be huge, milage gains probably will be minimal if at all.

[Don]

Originally posted by FromThisSoil
I don't understand how extra airflow would add extra MPG. Extra oxygen = extra fuel to balance out the mixture. I think performance filters are only for minor HP gain.

All other things being equal, extra oxygen in the mix means a more complete burn of the intake charge which in turn = more efficient fuel use = less fuel required to do the same amount of work.

Granted this is very slight, we're not talking huge numbers here, but I personally have picked up roughly 2 mpg in my car (2.2l 16v 4 cyl) If I could put my right foot on a weight reduction plan, the increase could be a few mpg more

**edited to add: Many engine control computers monitor the throttle position (via sensor) to determine how much fuel to send to the engine. Even the ones that use an air-flow meter are still biased to run slightly rich (rich is safe...less chance of detonation-engine damage) so a simple bolt on like a free-flow filter or Cold Air Intake will not even be visible to a throttle position sensor which means the same amount of fuel is delivered but with more O2 and the F/F filter doesn't increase the flow to a point outside of an airflow sensor equipped vehicle's *range* of *normal* airflow that would trigger a fuel increase. and a cold air intake (not more air, just colder/denser/more oxygen) doesn't affect the readings of either system.

[F-150]

Re: Any thoughts on K&N Filter Kits?

Originally posted by gb387
I like to ask these questions here on MOL since it seems no one gets in a posting war and I feel I get a better mix of honest opinions.

So.... Anyone have any thoughts on the kits (K&N) similar to what I have posted below? I would like to get a slightly better gas mileage and if they boost HP a little more that’s fine but not the ultimate goal.

I thought about getting a k & n kit that would give me 18 more horsepower and slightly better gas mileage but I also thought about a supercharger and just getting a better engine. So I'm in really no hurry. But you don't really mind about the horsepower gain so maybe if the k & n kit gave you noticeable gas mileage it'd be a good investment. Have you thought about getting your truck dyno tuned? I heard it's definately worth it because over all the performance of your vehicle will be dramatically better.

[2000]

I have one in my truck. can't say I saw mpg increase but I have the 8.1 so it drinks gas reguardless. where I did see a diference was when I pulled my travel trailer (8000 lbs or so loaded) I was not in the throttle near as much on climbs and accelerating. didn't seem to make a noticable increase in porformance when the truck is empty, but thats not what my type of truck was made for to begain with. hope that helps.

[gb387]

There is some good info posted here, thanks guys! Any recomendations on where to get a K&N FIPK kit?

[sean]

Originally posted by gb387
There is some good info posted here, thanks guys! Any recomendations to get a K&N FIPK kit?

What kind of car do you want to install it on? These are easy, quick ways to add 10-20 hp.

[Blr123]

Re: Re: Any thoughts on K&N Filter Kits?

Originally posted by F-150
I thought about getting a k & n kit that would give me 18 more horsepower and slightly better gas mileage but I also thought about a supercharger and just getting a better engine. So I'm in really no hurry. But you don't really mind about the horsepower gain so maybe if the k & n kit gave you noticeable gas mileage it'd be a good investment. Have you thought about getting your truck dyno tuned? I heard it's definately worth it because over all the performance of your vehicle will be dramatically better.

This is a big topic here in the UK mainly because we don't have such massive engines as in the US and fuel is so expensive ie $8/gallon.

Based on what I've read and seen I doubt you would get an extra 18BHP just from a K&N kit but a K&N + a custom re-map would probably do it, although a performance exhuast should give good gains on it's own, better still just go for all 3.

Also the K&N is not regarded as being one of the best, the best appear to be PiperX or BMC CDA, here in the UK anyways.

Bryan

[sean]

There's a lot to consider. Also instead of thinking in terms of better milage AND more hp, its better to aim for one. For hp gains an intake system cannot come close to a supercharger, an intake just frees up restriction on the incoming air as well as brings in slightly cooler air. A supercharger forces more air into the cylinder to create more power. Of course a supercharger will be 20 times more expensive than an intake.

[LT22]

First of all a new intake gives you more hp and a slight better mileage, but if you want more mileage you buy aftermarket exhaust, this also gives you more hp and mileage. Factory standard parts which are called orignal parts, such as intakes and exhaust system are both air stricted when you buy aftermarket products they simple free the restriction, but by buying these products your car will make that agresssive growl, IMO I really like. American cars hands down intake K&N and Cat back exhaust BORLA, good thing about BORLA they have a million mile warranty. If you really care about your car yu can also do this
cleaning your intake valve, carbon deposits build up there, simply cleaning with some engine cleaner or wd40 will restore lost hp and mileage always have a clean airfilter.

[F-150]

Originally posted by gb387
There is some good info posted here, thanks guys! Any recomendations on where to get a K&N FIPK kit?

http://shop.knfilters.com/knshop/
I think this is where you could get them from the K & N site.
If you're not into buying online I think that an autozone could order one for you.