i searched but no luck......is an enclosed cai better than an open one. like a s&b to a k&n. now it wouldnt be a factor, but come hunting season i will be driving alot of dirt roads and was wondering about the dust. would it clog up the open housing faster than the enclosed one? any opinions? thanks

 

I ordered a S&B strictly for that fact. I am thinking that sucking air in from under the hood isn't all that cold. I am sure the intake tube and sealed box from a S&B CAI can warm up pretty well itself.

I just like the idea IMO of a sealed box sucking from above the fender or at least from behind the headlight.

But who knows what would be best for CAI with engine heat vs the debris, dust and dirt of an open system. This could be a Chubby vs Ford type-camp debate itself.

 

anybody else????

 

i like enclosed because i can still go offroad and not have to worry about mud and water getting into my paper filter

 

Yes, enclosed vs exposed does make a difference.

Click the thumb pics in this link, you can see that dust and mud splashing would have began to clog an exposed filter system. Enclosures protect the filter from dust, mud and heat.:
http://www.outlawpower.com/productdetail.php?sc=1486

Outlaw Power and Banks Power, I believe, are the only aftermarket companies dedicated to making intakes with enclosures. (i.e. all other aftermarket companies also sell exposed filter intakes.)

 

the s&b would be considered an enclosed one right?
http://www.sbfilters.com/enlargephoto.php?id=2899

 

Other than the fact that you seem concerned about water and mud from 4 wheeling, I say no, there is not that much difference. In all the testing I have witnessed, the intake air temperatures were within 5-7 degrees between the closed and open systems. However, once the vehicle gets moving the difference between the two is noneffecting. Then the open element actually runs cooler... Stand by because the disbelievers will attack this statement...

 

i just see that the most recommended intake is the air force 1, but like said, i will be worried come hunting season about all the dust and dirt from the dirt roads.........i am leaning more to the new style s&b as of now....

 

If you want the best performance from your truck then the AF1 is the way to go. I've had mine for a little more than 1k miles now, driven through torrential downpours, and twice a month 3 miles down a dirt / caliche road, no dirt inside the intake tube at all.
I guess if you're blasting at WOT through mud to get to your deer stand then by all means get another box with holes in it to replace your stock box.
The AF1 I bought from Troyer comes with a "heat-shield" that encloses the filter on 3 sides, 4 if you consider how closely the top mates to the underside of the hood.

Of course just the thought of this thing makes some folks nervous :

 

labman1014,
Here is a pic of the Outlaw Power intake after some rain and going through some puddles. All Outlaw Power intakes are enclosed. Some S&B intakes are enclosed.

 

Volant makes a nice looking cai for the 04-07 and it's enclosed. I've been considering it for myself but don't like the idea of a filter that relys on oil to trap dirt. (the reason I don't like K&N.

 

Actually the K&N and S&B filters offer better filtration than any paper filter.

 

I had the same concerns as you and ordered the S&B also. I too hunt in the fall and when I'm setting up goose decoys in corn fields after a good frost or rain, believe me things get muddy fast and everywhere. Stick with the enclosed system and if at some point you don't like it fabricate some mounts and you have yourself an open air intake. For me I will stick with the enclosure, it just makes more sense.

LegIron

 

Actually, that is the subject of much debate. I've seen conflicting testamonies on the subject. But if I assume your statement is true, I would bet that as soon as you forget to oil it once you lose that "better filtration"

 

Absolutely correct! They do require oil for a reason.