Since there is SOOO much debate on the OEM vs. aftermarket intake subject I decided to do a little experimenting on my '05 5.4L.
After installing a replacement K&N filter in the stock air box I removed the intake tube that run from the front of the air box to the D/S fend well. After giving the truck time to adjust, the first thing I noticed was a significant change in the throttle response. I will be tracking the gas mileage over the next 5 to 10 tanks to see if there is any noticeable change (+ or -). I realize that I am now pulling air from the engine compartment and the air temp will have an impact as well. Does anyone see any serious issues with my little test (please be constructive)? I’ll post results as I get them.

PapaC

 

This subject is beat to death on this board.
Use that little search bar at the top and see all the discussion for you answers.
You are leaning out your engine by doing what youve done and upsetting an engineered design.
I'm sure your not going to see it that way but you do what you want.
See my post on the thread called DWV for why. Also there is agreement from another well known source in the chips section for why it should not be done. .

 

I 100% agree with Bluegrass. I have a few posts on the DWV intake thread as well. I brought some issues up and things got a little hot.....I didn't mean for that to happen...I was just trying to help people.

There is a lot to read about the DWV intake mod but it's well worth the time. After reading the 20 or 30 some odd pages on the subject you can make an educated guess as to what you personally would like to do.

I chose to return my intake back to stock and wait for the arrival of an aftermarket system. Some other people chose otherwise.

It's you truck and your cash if something were to go wrong. Just read everything you can so that you know what the potential for damage or gain can be.

Good luck.

OH, did you truck light up the Check Engine Light?

 

It looks like the main DWV thread got removed from this site.
I don't know why that would be.

PapsC,
Read this thread instead.
https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...&highlight=DWV

 

Bluegrass & Hurricanesc thnx for the feedback.

H, no I have not had an issue with the "check eng" light yet. I have done as you suggested and looked for the DWV thread but it seems to have been deleted (or am I just doing the search wrong)? If you have a link pls post.

Thanks again, PapaC

 

Great thread and info. I am going back to stock.

 

Save your $$ for now, especially since your still under warranty. Many dealers will flag your vehicle for having the aftermarket intakes. There has been several people that have done these and they have thrown codes (some still do). I did the DWV homemade intake which just increases the diameter to 3" on just the 7" from the inner fender to the stock tube. Not a problem at all. About the same fuel mileage but a wee bit peppier. I had the K&N drop in and my dealer said to take it out as they are seeing many problems with dirty MAF's and throttle bodies affecting the sensors.
In my opinion the CAI are mainly for show and easier access to the engine. Many complaints are heard about the noise they make and performance improvement is minimal. Just look on here to see how many are being sold!

 

I can't believe this is still being debated. How can anyone with an aftermarket intake say that any of these minor mods will cause the engine to lean out and cause a problem. Any of the aftermarket intakes will flow more air to the engine than any variation of the DWV mods. If the engine will adjust the fuel mixture with an aftermarket intake, it will do it on this simple mod. This is not rocket science. If you have installed an AF1 intake, what is the difference in air flow from the DWV mod? I would say alot. PapaC, I have considered the same experiment on my truck, but wanted to wait for cooler air. Just to hot in Arizona to try that. During the summer I often saw a 40 to 50 degree difference in the air intake temp vs the outside air. Especially in stop and go traffic. And considering that on the 05's the filter is right next to the engine and not out on the end as in 97-04, the removal of the tube will make very little difference except in air temp into the engine. The air still has to go through the filter which is the slowing point in the intake anyway. There are hundreds of people on this site that have modified the intake to some degree and had no problem. I did it to my 97 F150, my 00 Expy, 03 Expy, and my 05 Screw. It has not caused a problem with any of those vehicles. I can understand techs being against the mod as I am sure they have seen some pretty bad setups. Including the aftermarket intakes that supposedly have been tested but still throw codes. Along with programers that cause problems as well. This little mod is not that big of a deal. If your not sure, ask the tech at the dealer. If the dealership says not, then you may choose not to modify. But I am betting that very few will make an issue about it especially the K&N air filter, or any mod in front of the filter.

 

Seems to me that any mod made that changes airflow before the MAF will get sensed and should not mess up the A/F ratio or cause a CEL. When you put in a new air filter (or clean your K&N) the mixture doesn't get leaner, and it doesn't get richer as it gets dirty.

Since the original thread that explains the DWV is gone, could someone tell me exactly what it is and what DWV stands for?

Thanks . . .

 

i dont understand all this either. my question is , if the air filter is dirty and your airflow is less than a new air filter does the maf sensor adjust the mixture to compensate for the dirty filter and less air flow?
if so why does putting a after market filter kit on make a diff. shouldnt the maf sensor make up for the higher air flow?

 

Be careful jcc, you are making alot of sense there. You are absolutely right. Same thing in altitude changes. My truck runs real good at 4200 feet. (That's the highest it's been.) Also at sea level.

 

this whole thing gives me a F@*@*g headache

 

automakers cant void a warranty for using a after market air filter if they do they have to supply you with the airfilters they require for free

 

jcc - I think the key word was aftermarket "intake" verses filter....

 

For those of you that can't understand and think things are always so simple.
The Mass Air meter samples flow thru about 5% of the total area within the bore of the tube it's mounted it.
The factory design is worked out so the air meter flows a representive sample of total air flow within the the system. This is called the tranfer function to the PCM.
Any alteration of this relationship changes the tranfer function and the PCM translates to the different airflow curve.
The air meter is never put close to the throttle body due to uneven air flow vs throttle plate opening angle so is put at dstance to get accurate representation by physical design of the intake system. This is very much more critical on the 04 and later trucks.
You change the physical relationships, you change the signal the PCM gets.
This is where the lean or rich miscalculation occurrs in airflow.
You can change and mod all you want and never know if it has changed the relationship just by how it feels in the panties.
Simple isn't it? Just rip and tear things until you feel good about it.
You don't want to hear this then you have your heads in the sand.