I talked to a friend who works at a dealership, and I was talking to him about getting the new 77 series K&N Performace filter. But after talking to him, he has left a bad impression.

He told me that increasing an engines horsepower or torque rating, even though its only 14 extra horsepower with the 77 series, can be harmful to my truck. The truck was programed to comply with whatever the stock horsepower rating was, and by adding more, I'm messing some things up.

If I jam more cold air into my engine, then the fuel/air mixture might get messed up, which could cause problems after time, and damage something.

I hope your understanding at what I'm trying to get at. He told me some more stuff in that general area, but I can't remember. I also don't have the money to upgrade with a new chip to solve the fuel/air mixing problem ect...

 

14 horsepower is reaching with an air filter and most cold air intake setups. Either won't do any harm though.

 

Indeed, it will do no harm whatsoever.

Modern engines will compensate for the extra bit of airflow very easily. That's what all the sensors are for: To compensate for changing conditions.

-Joe

 

It's a normally asprirated engine. It sucks in what it wants..Your just making it easier to get the air in there. Be careful, though when reading those horsepower and torque "Claims". Request a comparative dyno curve from the manufacturer. I bet what you will see is that the horsepower and torque gains claimed by the manufacturer are at around 5000 RPM. When was the last time you revved your engine to that speed for any sustainable time? Look at the curve in the 2-3000 range (where these truck make their power). The gain is probably more like 1-2 horsepower (if that).

Just my $.02,

Sidewinder

 

Indeed..... the gains of an intake (and often an exhaust for that matter) occure where the OEM pieces become a significant restriction in the system. At part throttle, odds are it's not going to make much of a difference.

Now, combine an intake, exhaust, chip, and electric fans, and you're talking some noticable legitimate (not necessarily comprehensive) gains.

-Joe

 

The question is, what are you going to use the truck for? If it's a daily driver and you don't haul anything, why do anything?

 

It is a daily driver, and I sometime haul things around (snowmobiles, ATVs, and we got a trailer) but on rare occasions since we do have a cabin in the U.P.

But the only modification I want is a K&N 77 series, nothing major.

 

Not to be rude but what does your friend do at the dealership? Wash cars? As the others mentionned don't expect a lot from the K&N. You won't even feel it in your truck. On the other hand the power train is capable of holding a considerable amount of extra power. Well above the amount you are claiming. Now on the other hand if you start adding more mods, it is an incurable desease, you will eventually reach a point that parts will start to break.

JMC

 

I modified my truck with Headers, custom K+N, big exhaust and a superchip. The net result is that the truck is not faster by feel. I use a G-Tech and can get repeatable results. My 0-60, 1/4 mile and trap speeds improved by a tiny fraction of a second. Yes there was an measurable increase in performance, but side by side with a stock truck shows no improvement.

I would say it was not worth the $1000 bucks it cost me. Also, I am sure the OEM exhaust and manifolds would have lasted longer than the aftermarket ones, which are starting to fail.

One bright spot though, the Superchip allows a downshift to occur at speeds over 80, where the stock computer refused to downshift at all over 80. However, once again, I don't drive the truck that fast, so the added downshift capability really does not help me out.

Chris

 

JMC is right. These trucks can handle plenty. I would guess that Ford would rather we didn't modify owr truck because they've tested them and found a point where they consider it "reliable".

I started with a chip when I found this board. I've come a long way since. I've bolted on a power adder that increases the engines output considerably (compaired to a chip, intake and exhaust) and my truck has been reliable for the 30k since I did it.

Your friend at the dealership may be right in that Ford would rather you didn't mess with their engineering. All you have to do is look around these boards to see that these trucks can handle just about anything you throw at it. Just do your research to make sure your installing a reliable aftermarket part and you'll be A OK.

 

Don't tell the guys in the supercharger forum. Some have well over 150,000 reliable, supercharged miles on their trucks...