K&N High Flow Intake Kit

[bgreen82]

Hey guys, recently bought a new 2013 Tundra. Have never been a truck guy and am not overly handy, but needless to say I'm now hooked on upgrading my baby. Just installed my tonneau cover, and will eventually be getting spray in liner and nerf bars. Also have read great reviews about k&n's 63 series intake kit. I only got the 4.6l v8, so any chance to get a little more hp and a ballsier sound is intriguing to me, especially if there's a chance to slightly increase mpg. Anyone have any thoughts either way on k&n? Looking at HSOforum listing around $250. Sorry to ramble.

Thanks

[rundrave]

Save your $ it will just get dirty and you have to oil them and maintain them and it's a pita.

You should have just got the 5.7 I love mine love how it sounds even stock.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Agreed, save your money.

[Ryan_V]

it's a Ford/Chevy argument. for each person that loves them, another says they are junk. I have one on my diesel, was installed on it when I got it. from what I've read, yes they do improve airflow, but also don't filter very well. as far as maintaining the filter, don't let that scare you, it's not that big of a deal, and your only do it once a year or so. do some research before you pull the trigger

[Scott K]

K&N filters and mass airflow sensors don't get along. The only time I would recommend an after market performance intake is when the rest of the engine has been modified, with larger exhaust , and an aftermarket performance program in it. Then the truck requires more air in to run better, by just adding a k& n filter kit , all you are doing is throwing dirty air at the maf, and at a different rate that the original program is used to, therefore it can set lean codes, and get less mpg, and lack power.

[delcecchi]

I always figured if there was some inexpensive trick that would provide more power and better fuel efficiency while still meeting emissions limits and not compromising reliability and life of the motor, the factory would be all over it.

[Bryce]

My last company truck had the package Scott K suggests. About $1500 I was told. Wow did that truck go.

[Trout26]

I just put a 63 series on my dodge ram. Runs good with it I get better response now. I cant say I get better mpg but its about the same. and yes its louder when you step on it. Next thing im going to do I dual exhaust got to get the air out quicker now.

[1968]

Racing or swamping the truck? If not, save your money.

Lots of good info here- Air filter test data

[Ryan_V]

my '08 cummins has 4.10 gears, aftermarket intake and aftermarket exhaust. straight highway, from my place by hutch, too my fish house on Mille lacs a month ago, I did about 20 mpg. that's about 62 mph on the hwy and a tad over 70 on the 4 lane. like I said, I bought the truck this way, so don't know what it got stock, but pretty sure it wouldn't be quite that high. Just my 2¢..... I would stay stock unless for some reason you " need" what you might get with the filter, but then I'd also do the exhaust. but if you really " need" it, I'm guessing you wouldhave gotten the 5.7! good luck

[Scott K]

Ryan, I believe you also have a chip in that right? That would be where you are getting better mpg from. They can make a huge differce on diesels.

[Ryan_V]

Ryan, I believe you also have a chip in that right? That would be where you are getting better mpg from. They can make a huge differce on diesels.

nope, no chip, everything else is stock, maybe if I add a chip I'll get 30 :-)

[PurpleFloyd]

I have the Mini Max Tuner in my 08 Cummins and when I put that on the mileage went from basically 20 to 23-24 MPG.

[Ryan_V]

how much is a tuner like that?

[Macgyver55]

I have the Mini Max Tuner in my 08 Cummins and when I put that on the mileage went from basically 20 to 23-24 MPG.

Why do you suppose the manufacturers dont just tune them that way from the factory if its that simple?

[PurpleFloyd]

I have the Mini Max Tuner in my 08 Cummins and when I put that on the mileage went from basically 20 to 23-24 MPG.

[Macgyver55]

Don't kid yourself, if the manufacturers could boost their numbers that significantly with computer chip programming (that essentially costs them little if anything at build time) they would be all over it in a heartbeat to one up the competition.

[PurpleFloyd]

So are you saying they are dumb, that there is a conspiracy or that I am lying? Every time I hand calculate the mileage when not pulling the trailer it is always 23 or better. The overheads are generally optimistic in their calculations so going by them leads to overestimated claims so I generally take it down a few when looking at that number. For instance, on a 75 mile round trip on a 2 lane 55 road a few months back this is what the overhead was showing this:

I would say that is higher than what the truck was getting and before that the best it would read on that type of trip was 22-23 or so, but in any case whether you do it by hand or watch the monitor the results are certainly an increase in MPG.

[Scott K]

On diesels, a power chip can greatly increase power, some setting as much as 150hp, just by a different program in the computer. Most of these power chips also come with a economy mode, that will still add about 40-50hp, but will increase you mpg some times as much as 10 mpg, depending on how you drive.

Alot of people buy the programmer initially for economy, then say they want to try out the extra power mode, then like it too much, and leave it on the high horse power mode. Thus, getting less mpg, and tearing up their trucks, because their foot cant control itself.

I use to sell programmers and I worked at a dealer at the same time. I got to see trucks with the programmers in them, come back for warranty work on trannies, blown out head gaskets, broken drive shafts, axles, busted pistons, etc.. after a little while, I stopped selling them for the fear of losing my job, since they do void warranty. Even thought the programmer company will tell you it doesnt.

If you want one, they do increase your mpg, if that is what you are looking for, just dont fall into the trap of, I just want to see how much more power it has with it set in the max power setting. Most people never switch back, then they get less mpg, and break stuff.

You can buy a cheaper programmer for about $250, or one with gauges, for a little under $1000.

[Macgyver55]

Quote:

So are you saying they are dumb, that there is a conspiracy or that I am lying?

Not at all...it seems more likely that you are you saying they are dumb, or that there is a conspiracy.

I'm not even disputing your numbers, simply suggesting that if it were in the best interest of the vehicle and the general public (emission wise)they would do it without hesitation to to try to grab market share.

[PurpleFloyd]

Quote:

So are you saying they are dumb, that there is a conspiracy or that I am lying?

Not at all...it seems more likely that you are you saying they are dumb, or that there is a conspiracy.

I'm not even disputing your numbers, simply suggesting that if it were in the best interest of the vehicle and the general public (emission wise)they would do it without hesitation to to try to grab market share.

My guess is there are more factors involved and as stated above some of it might come down to emissions,reliability or other reasons but people have been modding cars for better mileage, power, looks etc for as long as there have been cars.

[PurpleFloyd]

On diesels, a power chip can greatly increase power, some setting as much as 150hp, just by a different program in the computer. Most of these power chips also come with a economy mode, that will still add about 40-50hp, but will increase you mpg some times as much as 10 mpg, depending on how you drive.

Alot of people buy the programmer initially for economy, then say they want to try out the extra power mode, then like it too much, and leave it on the high horse power mode. Thus, getting less mpg, and tearing up their trucks, because their foot cant control itself.

I use to sell programmers and I worked at a dealer at the same time. I got to see trucks with the programmers in them, come back for warranty work on trannies, blown out head gaskets, broken drive shafts, axles, busted pistons, etc.. after a little while, I stopped selling them for the fear of losing my job, since they do void warranty. Even thought the programmer company will tell you it doesnt.

If you want one, they do increase your mpg, if that is what you are looking for, just dont fall into the trap of, I just want to see how much more power it has with it set in the max power setting. Most people never switch back, then they get less mpg, and break stuff.

You can buy a cheaper programmer for about $250, or one with gauges, for a little under $1000.

Agreed. Mine lets you tune on the fly for towing, street or performance and you certainly get a big bump in power in the performance mode But I bought it to save money and fuel and don't want to offset that savings by breaking things so it stays in tow mode except for a few times that I wanted to test the difference. In the end it has so much power the way it is I really don't know why I would been more but the bump in MPG is nice.

[Macgyver55]

My guess is there are more factors involved and as stated above some of it might come down to emissions,reliability or other reasons but people have been modding cars for better mileage, power, looks etc for as long as there have been cars.

As have I...even have my name on some going down the 1/4 mile at a pretty rapid pace with motors I have built and/or tuned.

[delcecchi]

Since using different software code costs the manufacturer nothing, I wonder about those tuner things. Aren't they basically just different software for the engine controls?

So, what is the reason preventing the manufacturer from integrating say this "tow" setting into the stock setup? I am curious about this. Emissions? Reliability?

[Scott K]

Yes, emissions, and reliability.