I recently was given a demonstration in a parts store of how the K&N Intake Kits were superior in air intake over the stock intake systems. The demo had a ping pong ball unmoving with the stock filter, but when the K&N filter was inserted the ping pong ball rose to the top of a close fitting tube. I immediately recalled that this was an old sales trick by vacumn cleaner salesmen who sucked one-pound metal ***** up the tube of a vacumn cleaner. This trick is a lab trick done as science will cause the ball to be sucked up a close fitting tube. Here is a link to the Intake Kit is write about:

http://www.stylintrucks.com/parts.as...17:35:04-47046

I have not purchased the K&N Intake Kit but I have an excellent set of K&N installation instructions with 41 photographs and detailed instructions. However, I am unable to identify what is installed to make the K&N Intake Kit more superior over a stock intake setup.

Can someone tell me what is in the K&N Intake Kit that makes it more superior over the stock intake kit?

I read the previous thread about K&N filters, however, that thread appeared to address only the flat replaceable filter vice the overall K&N Intake Kit.

Comments, please.

 

Well, in my model, I replaced the flat one with a conical one, which to me means I'm able to transfer air in a lot faster than stock, more surface area to filter and at a higher volume of air at that. If you think about it this way too, the after market ones filter where the air is taken in, not mid-way or at the intake, so it may help out at that point as well. It can also be in the dimensions of the intake tube. It's probably a bunch of small things that make an improvement... then again, I didn't try sucking golfballs through my intake to see if it works.

 

Not just K&N but all aftermarket air intake kits are suppose to be engineered to be superior over the stock intake. Otherwise they would have a hard time selling them. Size and shape of filter, inner diameter of the tube itself as well as its interior surface area. If air can get from the filter to the throttle valve quicker and in larger volume over stock then the aftermarket kit is truly superior. It all adds up to having the engine work less to pull its own air in thru piston action on normally aspirated engines. However, even for forced induction engine setups, a larger less restrictive air intake is a key to better performance.

I remember those salesman pitches. One came to my house when I was a kid and sold my parents an Electrolux vacuum that sucked several of those heavy ball bearings up at once and held them up.

 

From my understanding would be the the K&N filter flows more air per square inch vs. paper because the way they are made. Paper filters have small paper partcles (tiny threads) criss-crossing and going every witch way at the "almost-microscopic" level. The K&N uses a different material and is put together in a uniformed way ( tiny threads all going same direction) so it allows more air to pass. Also, the kit somes with the cold air "tube" that supposedly been smoothed out so there is minimal air restriction.

 

You say it like Electrolux is bad! My family has had the same vacuum since 1986 and the thing still SUCKS! (Thats a compliment for a vacuum.)

 

Ford has been building trucks for a long time. You have to understand the premise of the intake that they designed. First off, it had to meet weight, price, and size requirements. Second it had to be durable and relatively mantinence free. Last, it has to meet sound and performance requirements. So, it's like cutting the muffler off your truck. Yeah, more performance, superior engineering, stupid Ford, but now it wakes the neighbors.

Performance... Will it give you more horsepower? Maybe. Probably. If it flows more air quicker, then it stands to reason that the truck will be able to make more horsepower. But there's a tradeoff! It doesn't filter the air as well as a motorcraft air filter. There's also the filter-charger kit you have to buy, and you have to maintain the filter. Also, the intakes make a lot more noise than the stock intake. So is it better? If you're racing, it is.

Fuel mileage.... Will it increase fuel mileage? NO!!!!!!!!! Because it comes BEFORE the throttle body. So what if it passes more air?! Your throttle body is limiting the ammount of air at part throttle anyway!

So is it right for you? Maybe. You decide. Do you need extra horsepower at wide open throttle only? If so, then you might want to go buy one. Do you operate in dusty conditions or ride down dirt roads? If so, then you probably don't want one. Do you like a quiet motor? If so, then you might want to listen to somebody that already has one, and decide if you can stand the extra noise.

 

A little off topic but would one of those pre-filter socks work good in dusty/dirt road driving environments?

 

^I agree. Chester's right, there is a very minimal gain in horsepower, and it is only at WOT. I installed one a '99 Ranger, and the only reason is is that it had the 4 banger in it. It made a lot of noise and it only helped at WOT, which was okay since the throttle was at WOT most of the time.

 

Thanks all for your replies. I was not trying to trick anyone nor start a debate. From all the replies in this thread I have been advised what a K&N Kit should do. No where did I read what it really does, like induce more air into the intake system like a mini super charger because there is a widget and thingy in the K&N kit that forces more air.

I currently own both the stock and K&N flat filter. By holding each to my mouth and blowing I find no difference. So I thought I would step up to the K&N Kit if I could find out what it does to increase horsepower/gas mileage. However, it appears the K&N Kit is only an eye wash piece like a chrome oil cap or dip stick; it shows owner pride but has no functional effect.

Please comment where I may be missing something.

Again, thanks.

 

I guess you can just check out the dyno tests that they send with the instructions, I can't offer you more proof than that since I don't have the ability to measure my airflow to tell you if it does have an affect or not. This really doesn't just apply to the K&N kit either.

 

I put the K&N cold air kit on my 2000 f150. However, I did not notice an increase in gas mileage until I added the Flowmaster exhaust. From there half picked up about. 5 miles per gallon. It feels like the low end performance has increasd also.

 

This is not entirely true. The K&N reduces the amount of restriction in the intake track at all flow levels, not just WOT. It is most noticeable at WOT obviously, but does still impact part throttle. Putting less restriction on the intake reduces pumping loss of the motor at any rpm or throttle position. Is simply replacing a filter going to make a noticeable difference......probabaly not, but every little bit helps

 

hmsa42
This would put be back to asking the vacumn cleaner salesman how great his product was. Thus, out comes the large steel *****. Asking a salesman how good his product is is like wrapping the noose around your neck.

I was not really looking for a test panel set of numbers to light my way. Something simple like "I gained 4 miles per gallon", or "I can go a steady 65 mph when my tac reads 300 rpms less than before.

Thanks gang for your help. I think I'll stick with the stock filter.

 

Oh No!!!! Here we go again!

Ok. This is incorrect....
It does NOT help anything at part throttle. Think about it... If you maintain a steady ammount of throttle on an open road at 55mph, and you somehow pull the airfilter out, what will happen? The intake will have less restriction and the truck will speed up, right? And you'll have to let off the gas a little to maintain 55mph, right? What happens when you let off the gas? -- You close the throttle body, thus increasing intake restriction. So, did you gain anything by reducing restriction on the intake? NO!!!!!

Now, will this help your wide open throttle performance? Maybe. But will it help part throttle performance? NO!!!!!! If you want to reduce intake restriction, "and help the engine breathe better", just stomp the gas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :santa:

 

Answer me this question....

You have a stock intake with a filter in it and you put it to EXACTLY half throttle and you accelerate for say a 1/4 mile. You then remove the filter and accerate at EXACTLY half throttle again for the same 1/4 mile distance which will get you there faster, with or without the filter?