K@N Air intake system?

[buddha]

Has anyone made an upgrade to something like this? I have a 2010 GMC, 5.3 and am curious if this would make a diff in towing or general driving. I've been reading up on the claim and I do have one friend who has a big Ford and he swears by the K@N intake. Any advice or comments are appreciated.

[Macgyver55]

My only advice/opinion would be to save your money.

You will rarely if ever see a payback.

[MNice]

I think it lets more dirt/dust in.

[1968]

I think it lets more dirt/dust in.

Bingo!

They are good for MAF sensor contamination with a small mental horsepower gain.

[Mike_Top]

Cooler air and less restrictive airflow = more oxygen to the cylinders, and thus more power. So yeah, it will make a slight difference in acceleration. It would be even more effective if paired up with a high-performance exhaust, but its gonna cost $300 for the air intake and $500 for the exhaust. I don't think the slight improvement in fuel economy is enough to justify it and the GM 5.3's are plenty powerful from the factory, but your truck sure would look and sound cool!

[TravP]

No difference. They just sound cool.

[tcwin]

I installed a K & N Filter on my 01 Suburban and noticed an increase in MPG. Don't ask for specifics because it was 10 years ago and I don't remember exact numbers. The part I really like is saving in replacement costs. I installed this with 20,000 or so miles and am now over 165,000. I clean the filter and re-oil every year or so depending on how dirty it is. Recharge kits will do multiple applications. Saves me lots of money on filters. I run them in the Volvo and Goldwing as well.

[Macgyver55]

Doesnt make sense to me when you you run the numbers though. Even if you replaced the filter every 20,000 (which is more frequently the maintainance schedule requires) or once a year as you do, there would have been 7 filters so far. At 22.00 per filter x 7 it would be 154 dollars. The cold air intake kit is approximately 375 from what I remember.

Seems like another 10 years to just break even on the filter cost, and K&N states "we do not go so far as to make a general claim that our air filters and intake systems will provide an increase in mileage."

Or, am I overlooking something?

[buddha]

Mmm....I'm starting to see a slight pattern! This is the good or bad input that makes this site a great resource. Any other opinions are welcome. Thanks all.

[HansB]

If it were good for your engine, the manufacturer would have installed one like it. Gums up your MAF, and does a poor job of removing dust.

[Grum]

I think that the filters are worth the money (I have been using them in my bikes for years) but I can't see that the whole intake would be worth it unless your building something for the track with all the other Hi-Pro bells and whistles.

[BriGuy88]

My guess is tcwin was talking about the filter only and not the complete intake kit. If you look at it that way with the K&N filter costing around $45 then it is cost effective over the lifetime of a vehicle. I like the filters and will continue to use them but wouldn't ever spend the money again on a complete intake system since the only real difference I noticed was additional intake noise under acceleration. No real difference in perceived power or mpg by going from just the K&N filter to the intake system. So, thumbs up on the filters but save your money on the intake.

[Ryan_V]

I have an intake system coupled with a large exhaust on my diesel and it helped the milage slightly, not sure about power, I dont work it that hard yet! That was the way the truck was set up when I bought it, not sure if I'd spend the money, but i'm glad its there!

[1968]

Factor in MAF replacement too. They are never cheap. They can be cleaned, but that isn't a permanent solution. They can degrade enough without setting the check engine light, but will affect fuel mixtures. Oiled filters are no good for MAF's and the stock filters actually have to get really bad to affect performance on modern engines.

Now that you have all this "extra" air going in your engine the soon to be contaminated sensor can't fully measure. This causes a lean condition that will take away mileage and performance. Extra dirt will also speed up engine wear. I don't see any sound economics in the washables.

Furthermore, how many people actually take the time to service them as needed? I've seen them nearly sucked thru the filter box(MAF looked like a little caterpiller). If you do use them, to make it easier you need two filters so you have a spare while you clean and air(not compressed) dry the other one.

Bottom line for me- unless you are really in to performance and mod the engine from air cleaner to tailpipe, don't do it. A stock engine gets more than enough air already.

[jeffreyd]

why not just put an air raid cold air filter in, no oil, did help with mpg and hp on my hemi. take it out throw in dishwasher and wash it out. not sure of cost as mine was given to me but if nothing else i am being somewhat of an environmentalist as i am not throwing a filter in the landfill every other pm.