Air intakes-- need some advice/recommendations

[JayRolla]

It might be oil on the MAF causing the CEL. I've heard about that problem with K&N on other vehicles too. But the ECU and O2 sensor only compensate for the additional airflow at part-throttle. At WOT the ECU runs open-loop and uses table-data (ignoring O2 sensor values). Leaning the mixture is how the aftermarket intakes make more power (aside from a little cold air on some vehicles, though most, like our 4Runners, get cold air from the wheel well anyway so they are already 'cold air intakes'). It's not actually 'extra airflow' but more air running past the MAF sensor than it thinks due to the larger diameter of the tube at that point. The intakes don't add extra airflow; they might allow for more airflow if the engine needs it, but ours won't without some more mods, like cams, ported heads, or an S/C.

Aftermarket intakes are about the biggest rip-off in the auto industry. They don't increase airflow (unless the engine needs it due to other mods). The question is NOT how much air does the filter flow? The question is how much air does my engine need? If my engine only needs 250 CFM to make full power putting a 1000 CFM filter on it won't increase power at all. In fact it might decrease it at some points in the RPM curve. The real gain in the aftermarket intakes comes from leaning the mixture by fooling the MAF/ECU. But they do increase noise and more noise = more power, right?

Not trying to be a jerk but why spend all that money on something that won't really make much of a difference? (I've been driving longer than most of you guys have been alive and have wasted lots of money on things that don't work, but we were sure they did!) Put the $200 into some sliders or toward a bumper or winch. You might actually get some benefit from them some day, and won't have to worry about destroying your engine because it let a bunch of dust into it when you were off-roading. We drive slugs. Learn to live with it.

Ahh you are right. That is true at WOT the o2 wont affect the tune. But the added airflow wont change the AFR that much at all which I have tested on my wbo2.

 

[Ruiner]

Ahh you are right. That is true at WOT the o2 wont affect the tune. But the added airflow wont change the AFR that much at all which I have tested on my wbo2.

ive seen some intakes reduce HP because they end up sucking in hot air from the engine bay, rather than cooler air that's usually routed into the stock airbox.

 

[Ocman]

You can get these kits on Ebay for like 55bucks. Otto r. It is loud under full throttle though.

 

[KHoffRunner]

You can get these kits on Ebay for like 55bucks. Otto r. It is loud under full throttle though.

Did you notice any performance gained?

 

[BrianSD_42]

Not trying to be a jerk but why spend all that money on something that won't really make much of a difference? (I've been driving longer than most of you guys have been alive and have wasted lots of money on things that don't work, but we were sure they did!)

You really don't know what you are talking about. What difference does it make on the method which the HP is achieved, whether it is tricking the ECU or not? Either way you get 6 real HP at the wheels. I don't believe you are right about the ECU though.

I have had a k&N Cold air intake for about 7 years now and owned my 97 4Runner for 10. I can assure you that there is a difference in HP at the wheels when combined with a high flow cat-back exhaust. I have never experienced a CEL due to over oiling. It is simple: if the oil is beading up in excess then you used too much. Take a cloth and soak up any excess oil beads before installing.


Why should I believe you over the dyno charts which show a solid 6+ HP increase @ the wheels?

Really, what can you say that could disprove the dyno charts, do you think they are fake?

.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

I knew we hadn't seen one of these threads in a while! yay for another intake thread!

I would not recommend getting the aluminum tubing since aluminum is a heat magnet. it's just gonna warm up all that "so called" cool air your sucking up. My buddy has the Ingen cold air intake on his WRX (it is also aluminum) He had to cover it in heat tape to see any significant gains in HP. He actually had it professionally tuned before and after the tape too

I too am biased on the whole CAI and not totally convinced the K&N is effective as the Deckplate or another closed box intake such as Volant or Airaide. In my opinion that heat shield on K&N's and the ebay ones do nothing but block it from water and mud but then again i'm probably wrong. I dont know... when you want to protect something from the elements ya gotta cover it up, right?

I may be completely off with my opinion but I do have an intake temp gauge in my truck and i'm running the Volant intake. It stays within 10 degrees of the the outside temp all the time

 

[JayRolla]

ive seen some intakes reduce HP because they end up sucking in hot air from the engine bay, rather than cooler air that's usually routed into the stock airbox.

Have you? Have you dyno tested this? On what type of car? Did you test stock box, cut box, cold air intake and short ram intake?

 

[Ruiner]

Have you? Have you dyno tested this? On what type of car? Did you test stock box, cut box, cold air intake and short ram intake?

GTO, yup dyno tested. Went back to the stock box with a drop in filter and the power was back. Granted the power diff wasnt much but it was there.

 

[Ruiner]

I knew we hadn't seen one of these threads in a while! yay for another intake thread!

I would not recommend getting the aluminum tubing since aluminum is a heat magnet. it's just gonna warm up all that "so called" cool air your sucking up. My buddy has the Ingen cold air intake on his WRX (it is also aluminum) He had to cover it in heat tape to see any significant gains in HP. He actually had it professionally tuned before and after the tape too

I too am biased on the whole CAI and not totally convinced the K&N is effective as the Deckplate or another closed box intake such as Volant or Airaide. In my opinion that heat shield on K&N's and the ebay ones do nothing but block it from water and mud but then again i'm probably wrong. I dont know... when you want to protect something from the elements ya gotta cover it up, right?

I may be completely off with my opinion but I do have an intake temp gauge in my truck and i'm running the Volant intake. It stays within 10 degrees of the the outside temp all the time

the air velocity should be enough to overcome the heat transfer through the aluminum tube, the manifold is connected to the engine which is much hotter than the intake tube but you never hear people *****ing about that.