K&N Cold air intake now available

[SunPilot]

They market it as a metal air intake system. They do not mention cold. I think we get in a habit of saying it while technically speaking it is not. It does continue to draw from the fender, but also from the engine compartment. This one has a heat shielded cover whereas the one I had on my 4th Gen V8 did not. I can tell a difference in power. Cruise control doesn't try as hard now, and I can feel the extra torque when I accelerate. My gas mileage has also increased where I'm getting over 20-21 on the highway doing 80 whereas before I was around 18-19. I think it's continuing to improve as my ECU is learning with the increased air since I had to disconnect the negative battery cable.

I'm a little skeptical of the mileage increase. I know the manufacturers always include mileage gains as a selling point, but do they really increase 10%? That's a stretch with just the addition of an air filter. Maybe you can give us a better update after you check the mileage over an extended period. Driving habits and location have a lot to do with your results.

I am interested in what you report back. I am thinking about making my own intake that does draw from the front grille area.

 

[captainnemojr]

I will tell you from past experience with one for my 4th Gen V8, my gas mileage increased by about 10%. I was getting 18 on the hwy and then got 20. This was noticed on every trip from Fort Worth, TX to Lubbock, TX and back for school which is over 300 miles and almost 3,000 ft of elevation change over the trip. With the intake I could finally make it on one tank of gas and come into town with about 20 miles left on my range meter. That was over the life of when I had the intake in the car which was a couple of years before I sold it. It's more than just a filter, it is a larger round filter and a smooth pipe, so it is pulling in a lot more air. Whether hot or cold, it's still more air.

When I saw the increase for this car, I was not surprised. I have never gotten the 22 mpg it says my car can do because I drive a little faster than what is tested. Also, I do not pay attention to my city mileage because some days I get stuck at red lights and school zones and others not. I bought this intake for long road trips because an extra 40-50 miles on my range makes a difference to me. I will report back after my road trip this weekend.

On another note, I know that no one knows me personally, but know this, I do not work for K&N, and I'm not going to BS anyone with what I have perceived. I have noticed gains in power with this. I only said I notice it at full throttle. I don't notice it with gradual acceleration. I had the drop-in filter before buying this intake and did not notice anything with the drop-in filter. I know the power is there because the car does not try as hard at cruise control whereas before a little hill would make the car floor it to speed up, then top the hill way over where I had set the cruise control.

Just like when BFLAN rigged his own, he said he noticed the car didn't have to try as hard, and I agree. I too take claims with a grain of salt, but I bought this intake because of past good experience with another one. So for those of you who want to come in and automatically doubt everything I say, then this is obviously an open forum to do that. But I am not BSing with what I have perceived and decided to share.

Remember, I could have chosen to not reply to this thread or post pictures to try and give my opinion or help someone out. I'm sure others would do the same if people just came in doubting what they said. I'm not directing anything here to any particular person. I'm trying to be civil and respectful by just saying while some people post BS here, I am not one of those people. I only post on topics relevant to me or what I have experienced or know. I'm no expert, but I am honest.

 

[4ShoreRunner]

That looks pretty nice, I appreciate you posting pics!

I think I might hold out for the AFE:

Its still fully enclosed with the heat shield but additionally it pulls directly from the fender and looks like also from the front.

To me, it looks like the perfect combination of factory and straight intake pipe with no resonator

 

[captainnemojr]

That looks pretty nice, I appreciate you posting pics!

I think I might hold out for the AFE:

Its still fully enclosed with the heat shield but additionally it pulls directly from the fender and looks like also from the front.

To me, it looks like the perfect combination of factory and straight intake pipe with no resonator

I thought about waiting for that or the TRD (doesn't AFE make the TRD one anyway?) before pulling the trigger on this one because I liked that it was fully enclosed. I also like the dry filter option, although I've never had any problems with mass air sensors going out. The pipe is also insulated on the AFE. The K&N's tube is aluminum which will act as a big heat sink. I wonder if the shiny paint is for looks or maybe to try and reflect some heat.

In my old Lexus IS 350, I put a K&N drop-in filter in and then bought just the intake pipe from Joe-Z which allowed me to keep the stock airbox but then smooth out the pipe. The pipe was $100 and $45 for the filter.

But since I had good luck before, I decided to go for this one. I am glad the K&N at least has the cover on it now. I have heard I guess from reading on these forums that TRD may be making a supercharger? If so, that would be my next upgrade if I can save up some money.

 

[SeattleMike]

On another note, I know that no one knows me personally, but know this, I do not work for K&N, and I'm not going to BS anyone with what I have perceived. I have noticed gains in power with this. I only said I notice it at full throttle. I don't notice it with gradual acceleration. I had the drop-in filter before buying this intake and did not notice anything with the drop-in filter. I know the power is there because the car does not try as hard at cruise control whereas before a little hill would make the car floor it to speed up, then top the hill way over where I had set the cruise control.

Just like when BFLAN rigged his own, he said he noticed the car didn't have to try as hard, and I agree. I too take claims with a grain of salt, but I bought this intake because of past good experience with another one. So for those of you who want to come in and automatically doubt everything I say, then this is obviously an open forum to do that. But I am not BSing with what I have perceived and decided to share.

Remember, I could have chosen to not reply to this thread or post pictures to try and give my opinion or help someone out. I'm sure others would do the same if people just came in doubting what they said. I'm not directing anything here to any particular person. I'm trying to be civil and respectful by just saying while some people post BS here, I am not one of those people. I only post on topics relevant to me or what I have experienced or know. I'm no expert, but I am honest.

I don't think anyone is calling you a liar. I think he doubts your perception. I don't doubt it, because I've spent a few years driving/riding vehicles that have just been fitted with aftermarket improvements and your perception jives with what you should expect with a freeflowing intake; more "go" at WOT. There is a reason that people spend a week at Indy tweaking their cars before race day and small changes are perceptible to some people. For example, I can tell when a filter is dirty by the throttle response while my wife, driving the same car on the same day, perceives no problem and can't tell the difference after swapping them out in front of her. some people need a Dyno to see 2-3 HP gains, some people notice it on the on-ramp.

 

[BFLAN]

How is this a Cold Air Intake? I'm not trying to be snarky, I am seriously asking as it appears to be drawing in air from the engine compartment.

I will grant that they have smoothed and polished the intake between the filter and the manifold, but that just makes/allows more flow. They sacrificed the true cold air that was previously coming from the fender well. Are K&N really marketing this as a CAI?

Agree, but the chrome tube is nice!

This is one reason I just modified my stock box. When I took it all apart and looked at it I saw no reason to get rid of stock box since its puling cold air in directly from outside the engine bay!

 

[BFLAN]

The biggest thing you notice with any of these mods...ie, intake, exhaust, is throttle response. Yeah you get more horsepower and tourque but you notice the throttle response!!!! You step on it and it uses that horsepower and torque more efficiently. At least that is what I think. If some people dont believe it works, than dont buy one.

Tell you one thing though, a couple mods of 10 horsepower quickly add up!!!! All of sudden you have 30-40 more than stock and that is something that anyone can feel in there butt!!

 

[simonj]

Its a shame they used a chrome/aluminum tube. The thing looks like it belongs in a honda civic. They should have used the black tubing that I've seen used on their FIPK kits.

I don't dispute the dyno results - there are gains. HOWEVER, I will put money on K&N having that truck sitting on a dyno, with the hood wide open, with huge industrial fans blowing over the exposed engine bay. Clearly this does not simulate real world driving conditions - especially city driving.

Warmer intake temperatures resulting in the ECU pulling timing is far worse than the stock, more restrictive intake system. At least the stock one pulls cold air from outside the engine bay and doesn't have a heat sink as an intake tube.

I've owned a Prelude, S2000, WRX STi - I know all about the placebo of slapping on bolt-on parts. The real world gains of this intake is probably akin to the difference between accelerating into a headwind vs a tailwind. If you can feel that difference, you have a darn sensitive butt-dyno.

 

[1traildriver]

I still haven't seen anyone mention tuning yet. I am a novice at vehicle mods but when I put an intake and exhaust on my specB, I also had to get a tuner or risk damage to the engine. This was based on advice from pros and guys who were much more experienced than I. So, since you are changing the flow of air, does anyone know if the ECU should be tuned/maped for this type of a mod?
Also, has anyone explored the warranty issue with this type of a mod? My dealership service manager is a kind of a ****, so I can see him telling me that I have voided the warranty for anything motor related.

Just some other food for thought...
:flamethrwoer2: