With all the discussion regarding the pros and cons of intake systems I was wondering what the Forum's views were on an aftermarket filter ie. K&N with an Airaid Intake Tube. It would clean-up the look and should offer some improvement in flow. There might be some noticeable sound difference due to the absence of the chambers in the OEM design. Your thoughts?

 

Since you have an '04 you should have it custom tuned if you are even considering an intake. A very large % of the 04's ran lean straight from the factory and by opening up the air intake system you are injesting even more air without adding fuel which can do major internal damage to your engine.. Sorry but thats just the way it is with the 04's. Some here have added an intake without tuning and claim they have no issues with the A/F's as they are not getting a CEL. BUT, the real truth is that not all lean conditions will trip the check engine light and you can be running very lean, and most probably are and do not know, or will not believe it is possible...

 

How in the world can an aftermarket air intake make your engine ingest more air?! (edit: I mean at part throttle) You have a throttle body that controls it. If you disconnect the battery for a while (while installing the air intake) and let the computer forget who it is, it shouldn't go lean at all. It will build the new maps based on the new info.

That is unless the new intake screws up MAF readings. In which case everything I said about custom tuning is moot, and intake manufacturers ought to do better.

Ya'll are getting WAY too caught up in the "restricted air flow" discussion. These engines are Gasoline, not diesel. You got to understand how a gasoline engine works. They are restricted by design. Performance intakes, filters, even superchargers and turbochargers provide NO benefit until you reach the point where the engine is getting all the air it can with what you have. And that only happens with a gasoline engine at WOT, cause at any other point, the throttle body is choking your engine.

Remember, Our engines are not designed to run with variable a/f ratios. (I know there's exceptions, but you get my point)

 

Thanks for the responces. For clairity I have a 2004, new body style F 150 5.4, 3 valve. Marc, is your opinion of a lean condition related to my vehicle? I know there is several opinions on intake options however my opinion is; the use of the OEM style or aftermarket filter, i.e. K&N along with an Airaid Intake Tube would not affect the performance at all. It would only change the underhood appearance of the intake plumbing and may change the noise radiated from the intake opening. Anyone agree?

 

You better go do some homework if you really believe what you just stated..

 

Hey marc, that's chester just ignore him or so I was told a while back

 

he's turning 20 in 2 months- guess he knows more than us old guys

 

Please enlighten us Mr. Carpenter.

 

This is a really mature statement. Sometimes I think that I'm the only person over 14 years old here. But since you seem to know it all, YOU explain HOW it will make your engine run lean. And don't say it gets more air without explaining how it gets it, cause at part throttle driving, it doesn't. Hence the statement "part throttle".

 

This is almost as funny as the Rosie and Trump arguement

Hey NHRA Fan, I agree with you about the appearance change it would do and from what I have heard in the past, is that people who have them recomend them, I plan on getting one just to get rid of the ugly OEM tube.
later man!!

 

You don't have to call me Mr.. Marc is just fine.
I see absolutely no reason to explain anything to you as it is very apparent that you already know everything there is to know about the internal combustion engine and its workings. And probably everything else in this world.
Have a nice day

 

I am very open to discussion, Marc, and I have been proven wrong in the past. I merely approach the discussion from a physics point of view, NOT from the view of marketing or popularity. I knew it would stir up some people, by explaining how (using physics and fluid dynamics) changes in the intake tract affect fuel mileage. Now if you wish to participate in the discussion, I would love it because you seem well versed in automotive knowledge. As much as I would love to hear Mike Troyer's explanation of how these engines work, and the benefits of an aftermarket intake. I'll bet you my bottom dollar that Mike Troyer has NEVER said anything about an intake giving you better fuel mileage. Because I've spoken to him, and he knows TONS about how engines (especially gas burners) work.

Marc, a few people have come to this thread and tried to change my mind, but they didn't "explain" what they were trying to say. They gave a general statement like " It gets air easier, so it has better efficiency". Well that is not an explanation, nor is it accurate in the least. Not from a gasoline engine point of view anyway. And I proved it with some physics, and a couple paragraphs. So please, join in the discussion, for my sake. Don't just turn me away because I am younger than you.

You have a nice day too!

-Chris

 

With the increased airflow, the engine receives greater amounts of oxygen into the combustion allowing your car to run better. Most stock intakes consist of several twists and turns and chambers to muffle sound, which restricts the air, flow. Think of a small coffee stir stick and try sucking air through it. By doing this, the lack of oxygen would cause you to pass out. Now imagine breathing through a big Slurpy straw - much easier. Your engine reacts the same way. So the objective of an intake system is to create the least restrictive path of air into the engine. all in all getting a faster air charge with a cooliing effect on the MAF letting the engine digest more air,add more fuel and timing giving you more power.

 

My response to your statement has nothing to do with age.
You are very correct in your assessment of Mikes knowledge with gasoline, and diesel (by the way) internal combustion engines.
Are you aware of my affiliation with Mike??? Do you really think that an old man like myself would come here and make statements that would jeopardize his or my entegrity? Maybe thats why they call me Dad.....
Come on up to the next dyno day and I will spend all the time you want explaining it to you...maybe we will even have an opportunity to show you the results on the dyno....

 

Yes, more power.. But not better fuel mileage, cause you NEGATE all the benefits of the increased airflow at part throttle. Cause at part throttle, you stop up the intake to keep the engine at a low power level. You PURPOSELY restrict the intake.
I was not aware that you were affiliated with Mike Troyer until today when I started looking in the chips forum. I just cited him as a reputable and knowledgable source that could possibly comment on our discussion.
I have NO doubt that the dyno would yeild the results of the horsepower gain from an intake. But dynos are not concerned with part throttle fuel economy. So the dyno would prove nothing, as far as that is concerned. And THAT is what I'm arguing.

Maybe you weren't here when we discussed this earlier in this thread.. https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=264830
This is where it all got started....

BTW, Thanks for the invite. I wish I had enough money to buy everything in Mr. Troyer's inventory. If I did, I would!