I have an AFE CAI Stage 2 with the PRO DRY and love it, will spin the tires at a stop light (not for long but it will) Not much noise like with the regular oiled filter. I started with an oiled filter and had to clean my MAF all the time to keep the performance high. I bought a Pro dry filter to replace the original one that came with the Stage 2 and it has been way better!!!! My truck runs hard and idles so quiet that it is hard to tell its running. LOVE the AFE so much better with The pro dry!

 

Is it all a matter of preference or is one really better than the other? Seems like S&B, K&N, AFE, etc...all get the same ratings, but in the end just come down to personal preference...is this true or is their any data to support one being better than the other?

Would year of truck matter? I have a 2006 F-150 5.4V...would one be better than the next and would it REALLY make a difference in the performance? I have been going back and forth on buying one and just when I've convinced myself to get one, I talk to someone and they say it's BS that it will not actually improve HP and gas mileage and that I'm just wasting my money...then I read on the forum how everyone loves them...I guess the question is do you like the looks and sound of them or do they really improve the performance of your truck?

 

Yes, there are some differences. Troyer did some testing a couple of years ago and found the AF1 to deliver the most performance, but now, they are going out of business. You may still be able to find one. The K&N seems to have more complaints of drone. Some have an enclosed filter, some open.

Bill at PHP found on the dyno that just removing the snorkle on the stock intake gave almost as much HP gain as an aftermarket CAI. I plan on making the mod to the stock intake myself. That is, if I can locate the black ABS pipe.

 

Our trucks come from the factory with a CAI. Do the DWV mod, buy an aftermarket filter and call it good. The money you save can be tossed towards a tuner.