Why your "cold air intake" is mostly a waste of money

KidVermicious

KidVermicious

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Air Filter Comparison Study - GM Truck Central

The high points:

My conclusion with regards to airflow is that choosing a filter type or style for ‘more flow’ for either performance, or fuel mileage, is useless. The benefits of simply changing from a dirty filter, to a clean one, will give more benefit, than just changing from one filter style to another.
Click to expand...

You can see a huge variance between the filtration ability of the filters with the Amsoil doing exceptionally well, as well as the Napa, Wix, and others doing very well also, you’ll also see some doing poorly like the K&N, and Trueflow foam filter.
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This supports a number of other studies that I have seen saying that the K&N filters are pretty terrible in any form or fashion. I have OEM Toyota filters in all my rigs. I know it was a GM test, but I kind of wish they would have tested an OEM filter for comparison, of course I think one of those manufacturers is their OEM.
 
:amen: On most modern engines nowadays, nothing beats a fresh OEM air filter to keep the engine operating at peak efficiency.
 
It's hard to beat the stock engineering. And the deafening noise I get from my K&N when I punch it is reason enough to not get it, though it is fun on occasion when everyone looks around and sees the little 4Runner barely accelerating at 20mph.

The ONLY reason I got an aftermarket intake is the OEM seal wasn't working anymore, and since I live on a dirt road you could easily see all the dirt in the intake past the filter. With the K&N I have a good seal now and no issues (besides the ear drum earthquake).
 
We did tests years ago on supposed CAI's. I guess people assume that throttle bodies and pre-programmed fuel/air parameters don't exist and magic will happen when installing aftermarket. Back in the day on carburetored engines a CAI WOULD work - but flipping your air filter cover over did too. Anyway thanks for posting a link but it will probably work just as well as an aftermarket CAI, meaning it won't make any difference lol.
 
Hmmm...I've seen this same study on another site before...perhaps a Amsoil sponsored site...wonder who did the study and the final outcome/conclusions.

There was an 'oil' study done as well that had Amsoil come out on top with Mobil 1 doing no better than midpack...hmmm
 
jwyshrek said:
Hmmm...I've seen this same study on another site before...perhaps a Amsoil sponsored site...wonder who did the study and the final outcome/conclusions.

There was an 'oil' study done as well that had Amsoil come out on top with Mobil 1 doing no better than midpack...hmmm
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Our tests were done in-house and not sponsored by anyone. We were testing for most efficient air intake to provide power. Stop and think for a minute: If these aftermarket devices did provide any increase in performance and efficiency don't you think the OEM's would use them instead of spending $Billions on tweaking a few percent out of the engine?
 
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1engineer said:
We did tests years ago on supposed CAI's. I guess people assume that throttle bodies and pre-programmed fuel/air parameters don't exist and magic will happen when installing aftermarket. Back in the day on carburetored engines a CAI WOULD work - but flipping your air filter cover over did too. Anyway thanks for posting a link but it will probably work just as well as an aftermarket CAI, meaning it won't make any difference lol.
Click to expand...

I remember flipping the air filter lid on my '69 Camaro SS350. It actually worked! I didn't think anybody remembered that old-school trick. Thanks for bringing back some fond memories. As for my Toyota, it already has CAI from the factory. It draws air from outside the engine compartment at the high pressure area behind the headlight. Aftermarket CAIs do not.
 
1engineer said:
Our tests were done in-house and not sponsored by anyone. We were testing for most efficient air intake to provide power. Stop and think for a minute: If these aftermarket devices did provide any increase in performance and efficiency don't you think the OEM's would use them instead of spending $Billions on tweaking a few percent out of the engine?
Click to expand...

agreed...but I find anything suspicious when 'Amsoil' is involved...

Also, it seems to me the study (OP) was about air filters, not CAI vs. stock...like this one here where Amsoil doesn't come out on top...

http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/kn-vs-oem-filter.html
 
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So, I'm running an Injen intake with the new dry Amsoil filter and a Borla XR-1 muffler. I got back the gas mileage I lost when I went from 265 tires to 285/75/16. I have a 20 mile drive to work in mixed city and higway and I average 21-22 MPG. And I don't drive slow - typically 5-10 mph over the speed limit.


So, why am I doing better with the Injen than the Stock AirBox and the ISR mod. I'm also getting better mileage with E weight 285s than the Stock Air Box and 265 tires.


Also, amoung the scaguageII owners there is not much difference between CAIs and the stock airbox..
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/108171-scangauge-ii-owners-intake-air-temps.html


:pop2:
 
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Dude... You guys mind keeping this on the DL until my AFE listed on the classifieds section gets sold?

Sheesh man. You're hurtin my business.
 
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