Aftermarket air intake kits

[JohnMickish]

Kicking the idea around of replacing the air intake system with one of the kits out there. Has anyone installed one and what did you get out of it? MPG, power, noise or just a lighter wallet??

For what it's worth, it will go on a Ford F150 5.4L.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I lighter wallet and less MPG because nobody ever cleans the filters!

[JohnMickish]

Kind of what I was thinking. I saw on the K&N HSOforum that my truck would gain between 11 and 15 HP (depending on which kit) at 4000+ RPM. Since the vast majority of my driving is between 1800 and 2200 RPM I didn't figure it would do much for me.

Thought I would ask, maybe somebody has purchased one.

[Back2Dakota]

I just bought a new to me truck with 13000 miles on it and it came with an AirRaid ai on it and that was my first purchase-the recharge kit. I dont know the benifits of it but I had an F-150 and know the regular filters are not cheap. I doubt it added HP but going from a '99 f-150 5.4 with almost 200,000 miles this new truck seems like a race car!!

[Musky_Madness]

I have a MAC Air Intake on my 97 F150 4.6L. I gained a little power but like you mentioned...how often do you drive at 4000+RPMs? I clean mine regularly and noticed a little bump in MPG. It looks cool under the hood and makes a unique sucking/hissing sound in there. I did notice my exhaust sounds better with it. Has a little more of a roar in it. I don't have any fancy exhaust system either. Just a chrome tip.

[MNice]

Question, if an intake kit takes in more air, does it still filter the air as well as the factory elements?

[Musky_Madness]

I think that's up for debate. The kit has a filter with wider openings but has a sticky cotton filter compared to a standard filter that is paper. I think the idea is the sticky will catch the dirt and debris. When I wash mine out, you can tell it gets clean with all the dirt coming out. Is it as good as the factory? Probably not.

[Scott K]

They allow more air because they filter less. I can tell you if you are getting bad gas mileage, and lacks power and you have a after market filter, I will guarantee there is a ton of dirt on the mass air flow sensor, and intake snorkel.

[Musky_Madness]

Yeah I clean my quite a bit just to be safe

[deadeye]

Just like anything else you got to keep up with it to see the benefits from it. If it gets dirty (it will get dirty quicker than a regular filter) and you keep it clean your mint. If you don't clean it you will suffer. I think the 20min cleaning a filter is cake myself but sometimes it doesn't pan out if you aren't one to keep up on stuff.

There really is no debating the dyno results from them. Granted, whether or not your but dyno will feel it or not is debatable, actual numbers from a dynomometer are not a lie.

As far as the efficiency difference goes, it depends on how you drive. If you like hearing the extra growl from under the Hood when you can it, your likely not to see a thing cause your on the gas. If your nice and drive the same you should see a bit of a bump in economy.

The oem's make stuff to be cheap, quiet, easy to produce and install. Most aftermarket performance stuff is none of that. That is why most of the stuff is available, there is some improvement to had. Even if you ran a standard air filter with a improved intake you will see results simply because the intake wasnt made to be quiet.

[jeffreyd]

i have the drop in air raid filter, oem air box and take it out every other month and rinse then run it on short wash in the dishwasher with no soap. i do notice a difference when i clean it in both take off and mpg. i run a 2004 dodge 3/4 4x4 with the hemi.