57-9039 K&N PERFORMANCE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM

Its useless. I never had issues either and the last thread I posted in on this topic I even put up a dyno from my s2000 showing a decent mid range power gain. People still claimed it made no power.

Edit, here, s2000 dyno with K&N FIPK, which is an intake that doesnt run to the fender and is in the engine bay with no lid. Mid range gain of ~8 hp, but some gain from 4300-7500, no loss of power.

 

Nice!

I definetily felt more power in my ranger. I didnt have to downshift on the same hills, thats how i knew it wasnt my butt dyno. The sound was amazing too.

I guess it works on some vehicles, and others not so much. The taco airbox is designed pretty well so at most it improves the throttle response and adds noise. Which is exactly what i wanted from my ghetto setup haha.

 

I had the exact same FIPK, it replaced the OEM airbox completely, and also had a larger intake tube for better flow to the intake. Because of the heat problems with the K&N open air box, I insulated it and build up the box to help to draw more fresh air in from the from of the front. The S2000 motor was an entirely different beast than the taco, with a redline at 8900, it screamed, and when the VTec kicked in it was like having a turbo. One of the funnest cars to drive I ever owned, and I wish I still had it today. Even though the K&N sounded terrific, I did not see any discernible difference in power, or with my track times autocrossing. I did like the wail though!

 

True, I never noticed heat soak with the S, or just about any other vehicle I put it on, until I did one on the Tacoma. It still felt a bit freer in the upper power band but in the summer I did notice a laggy feel when in traffic. It was rare though, but I did notice it. I eventually put the stock box back in and did feel like I regretted doing so, but never put out the cash again to re buy it.

 

I wish I knew about this before I bought my TRD intake . Normally I'm not a fan of K&N style intakes that draw air in from the hot engine bay, but I like that this one retains the factory air box to draw air exclusively from the fender while also deleting the factory resonator box on the intake tube.

 

They are basically the same, except for the small resonator box on the TRD. You wish you got the K&N because its cheaper?

 

Yeah, the TRD intake costs a pretty penny for what you're getting. Sure does look good under the hood though

 

I was a K&N nut swinger until I saw this comparison/test video. It was the best right up till the end where it mattered most, actually filtering shit trying to go into your engine. I'll never throw another K&N on a daily driven vehicle again. Would use it on a garage queen or track vehicle though lol

https://youtu.be/sJ3L-E-ufYo

 

Really depends on where you live and what you drive through. I've probably logged over 80k miles with K&Ns and the intake tube and throttle valves never got any dirt build up. I would annually clean the filter element and it was always packed with shit. In fact, the only vehicle that I've owned that ever had an issue and required me to pull the throttle valve to clean it was on a Chevy with the stock intake system.

 

On my way in from out of town to work this morning there is a bottle neck portion of the highway that requires shifting down to second going about maybe 15 or so and you have to give it some gas because you do not have much time to get up to speed in oncoming traffic and switch lanes to get back in town on the correct on ramp.....there was definitely better throttle response and some mid to high rpm gain. Sounded good above 3500 rpm also. Gas Mileage wise I need to give more time to see if I notice an increase or not.

 

They filter better when they’re dirty actually! Obviously flow is somewhat reduced but they’re better with some dirt in the element.
I’ve used K&N’s for 20 years and never had an issue. I’ve seen people kill mass air flow sensors by over oiling the filters though. On a properly designed air box there’s rarely power gain in new vehicles..

 

I have used K&N air filters for many years, on both dirt bikes, cars, and trucks. This video gives me pause, while there may be some cost savings over the life of the vehicle with the K&N, I wonder about engine damage. The last vehicle I used a K&N air filter on was a 2015 Canyon, started having increased oil consumption after about the 85K mark, I wonder if the K&N had anything to do with it?

 

Without a doubt

I've owned 3 Chevy Cavalier and 2 Cobalts. One of them had a K&N intake and you know what was different as they got over 100k? Nothing, they all leaked oil and burnt it by the time they all hit 80k-ish miles. I guess you could blame the issue on K&N, at least, on the one Cavalier. GM uses crappy gaskets.

 

OP, how has the intake tube treated you.
Personally i think the only major sort of restriction on these 3gts is the filter and intake tube. I think the whole replacement intakes are what are a huge waste of money. Ive only ever looked at replacing the tubes and no matter how i look at its still about the same coin. Roughly 200CAD for a tube replacement either this, HPS or a DIY tube. I like this idea but if they just sold the tube itself id be very happy. I dont want the oiled filter, i think if they just sold their tube like HPS does it would be worth the price. I also wanna get this strictly for comparison purposes seeing as I have dyno'ed my truck a few times and would love to put these to the test!

 

Since install I have had zero issues. My gas mileage has improved to my surprise and there was a noticeable difference albeit slight in mid range power. I have the factory exhaust but changed the muffler to a Vibrant straight through design which I have posts on here about as well. I got the muffler and intake for sound and since they were presents for bdays it didn't cost me anything but a few bucks out of pocket. I drive alot of highway and I did notice some an improvement in mpg around 65-75. Now going 80 or more not as much being lifted with bigger tires.

 

Appreciate the feedback. I wanted to check after all this time because I saw 1 video of the tube breaking on the k&n. Glad to hear. I'm simply doing it for experimental reasons. I've got a local dyno. I wanna see if just an intake tube alone will change anything at all. I just hate the oiled filter part haha. I probably will just sell that and replace my 4 year old afe dry filter with another !

 

I just bought the same one from Amazon. I get it in and its missing the coupler for mounting it to the throttle body. Send it back for a replacement and the 2nd one the same thing. It only had 1 coupler for the air box to the tube. was missing the TB coupler as well. Both were sealed KN boxes.
I have it on now with a purchased coupler and it does sound better.

 

Has anyone compared it to the usual KN intake sound?

I tested that one and it sounded great at low rpms but if you floored it, it was way too loud and drony.

It's actually on sale on Amazon for like $125 so gonna give this one a try

 

off topic,, has anybody deleted the second filter inside the top lid of the stock intake box.. i was thinking of removing it to see if it improve the performance but afraid it might effect the maf senor!! any feed back before i attempt it...

 

If you’re talking about the thin, charcoal emissions filter on the lid of the air box, I removed mine and it made no difference in power, fuel mileage or sound.

BTW- I was all set to buy an ‘HPS silicone intake hose’ for about $160 but then I found the ‘Spectre air filter with aluminum intake’ for $190 and went that route instead. It’s branded as “Spectre” but the box says it’s made by ‘K&N’ and although I didn’t notice any performance of fuel mileage gains, it seems to be well made and sounds great.