Went out to the desert this weekend and was amazed at how well my SCREW offroads. I have driven my older f-150 and my parents bronco offroad and this was 10 times better than those.

So for those of you who have not taken your SCREW offroad, you really need to. It's a lot of fun.

Also I will mention that I had my A/C on the entire time while in 4WD and while going through soft sand. I have the (shouldn't be but...) standard 1.42" radiator in my truck with the towing package (additional oil cooler etc.) and the temp needle din't even move!

Pissed a few other people off out there that were in the Jeeps and Chevey's by passing them (really fast and leaving them in a cloud of dust). That 5.4 can really move this beast even in the sand.

One note, my engine died right in the middle of my adventure (oh crap!!! I said) I imediatly got out, poped open the hood and found that my K&N FIPK had fallen off where the orange rubber connector attaches to the tube right after the MAF. Turns out ALL the screws for the screw clamps were loose!!! So I poped out my swiss army knife and reattached that and went on. Back at camp another person in our group has a full socket set so I tightened down all the other screw on the FIPK. So just a warning, something you may want to check out after a lot of vibration...

 

dcovell, the 1.42" rad is not the standard, it's the 1.02", I'm wondering if you actually got a truck with right radiator installed from factory. The temp neddle will not move after normal temp unless it overheats so it does no show temp variations. I'm glad you are having fun. You are right about that fun, the time when I enjoy my truck the most is when I'm off road or at least on a dirt road and mine is not even a 4X4.

 

Whats a K&N FIPK ?

 

http://www.truckperformance.com/disp...2514-1_500.jpg

 

Mosa,

Thanks!! Does it increase performance?

 

Sorry I was thinking of something else, it is not the correct radiator. It is the standard 1.02" one, or whatever.

The K&N FIPK is in my opinion, the best, best value, and overall the first thing you or anyone should do to there truck or car. I even rate it above the Super Chip because it does not require the higher octane (more expensive over time).

You can get the filter replacement only and save some money and still get a decent perfomance increase. But you should spend the ~$200 to get the FIPK for Fuel Injection Performance Kit.

 

I read somewhere, I think it might have been here that the K&N provides an increase in airflow but does not trap dirt and dust all that well (compared to other aftermarket kits). Wherever I read it, there was a link to a website with a comparison report...

 

When I took my filter off to brush the dirt off of it, I did notice a VERY fine layer of dust inside the FIPK pipe. I took a rag and wiped it out. Basically all weekend I was in the desert behind someone else who was kicking up dust so my entire truck was powder coated.

I don't know if this dust was built up over time or just from this weekend???

It dosen't concern me that much as it was very fine and I change my oil on a regular bases anyways, as it is the job of the oil to catch and remove cantiminates.

Of course you can argue that there should be perfectly clean air coming in. But the filter is allowing air to flow in more easily so there apparently is a bit of a trade off. I would like to see a report of this being a problem, as in actually hurting the engine. I don't offroad that often so again it dosen't concern me that much.

 

If dust/dirt didn't harm the engine, there would be no air filter .
I surmise from that, that if there are filters that do filter the fine stuff, there must be a reason..... no?

Wonder, if that much got past the filter and stuck to the tube... how many times that went right on through?

 

Maybe something to write K&N about?

 

I wish I could remember where I saw it.... I was seriously considering getting a K&N until I read the review, since then, I have been reluctant. Your experience off-roading somewhat confirms what the review said.... Maybe checking with a hardcore offroading board on what they use for air filters would be of use.....

 

dcovell,

Here is a review, they took the time to even measure particle size.....

http://www.land-rover.team.net/piper...24/001393.html

Another

http://www.seansa4page.com/resource/airfilter.html

 

Well I look at it this way, there are close to millions of K&Ns out there and I have not heard from anyone about there being a problem. That dosen't mean that they don't let a little bit of dust though. But thats what the oil is for, catching any contaminates such as dust, (god forbid water) etc.

My dad has been selling motor oil to garages, stores, and mechanics for over 12 years now and everyone in my family has a K&N air filter on our veichles. I know may, many, many mechanics that use them as well. So just a few articals against it will not change my mind about using the K&Ns or about purchasing them or recomending them in the future.

My 3 cents (inflation, gota go up sometime)

 

I read similar reports over and over over the years, but I've yet to any evidence regarding damage to the engine...anyone seen any reports to this effect in the 'real' world? I can tell with the K&N and Flowmaster exhaust, the engine 'feels' to labor less and my mileage has gone up 1 mpg (after the muffler install, mind you . But I like the combo...

 

I think I'll stick to an "old" f150 or better yet some old beater to go offroad. I didn't pay 31K to beat the snot out of a real nice new truck!