F150, 2002, 4.6L V8, 4x2, 81k

The part of my stock air intake that goes into the side of the car is somewhat loose, and the whole air intake tube is consequently about 2-4 inches under where it would've been if rigidly held in place. There is a .5-1 inch gap where the air filter housing meets the plastic grommet/holder/cup-looking tube that goes into the side of the car... It isn't tight. If I hold it by hand, and hold in it, in looks tight and kinda hanging by itself.. This way, it's more laying on top of the fan and looks a bit more limp.

Should I tighten it? Is this (hot air from engine) why I may be getting 12mpg?

 

I'm sorry, but I don't have a clue what you're talking about. Will you please take a picture of it? If something is loose, then by all means, tighten it.

 

top of the fan???? are you talking about the piece that goes into the inner fender??

 

Okay, the stock air intake goes from the inner fender, to the plastic cone box with the air filter, to the other plastic piece with the MAF sensor, to the ribbed part that curves, to the center of the engine under the plastic 4.6L TRITON cover....

Where the air filter cone enters the inner fender part... that connection is loose...

and as a result:

the ribbed, curved part that goes into '4.6L TRITON' area is laying on the top of the fan box instead of the whole thing being stiff...

I wonder if the loose connection gets hot air into the intake and causes a bad mileage.

 

you want all those connections tight. is there a part missing somewhere?? the m.a.f and the i.a.t. senser need the correct readings.

 

And that is normal mileage!