WARNING for all FIPK owners
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Joined: May 2001
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From: san diego, ca
WARNING for all FIPK owners
Hey all- just a quick note concerning K+N brand FIPK's. If you've got one, check it as soon as possible for deformed plastic around the front and back of the main black tube, which can let in after-MAF air (bad idle, and enough will set a code).
Mine is 6 months old, and during a routine throttle body cleaning I discovered the once round ends were bent in, about a 1" V shape, big enough to put your pinkie in! It looked melted, and may have resulted from over-tightening the clamps. K+N is great, and offered to ship out a new one immediately, to which I accepted, but I was able to use a lighter to semi-melt the plastic back into form, and then siliconed the rubber connectors in place, and tightened a minimum.
I've been very happy with the performance gain (I've dynoed before and after with the FIPK and 3" cat-back, and showed a good 22 horsepower and 20 LB-FT over my stock run).
But folks, if you didn't install it yourself, check 'em! Some of these 4X4 shops mechanics use good 'ol "GOOT-EN-TIGHT" torque!
Noel
Mine is 6 months old, and during a routine throttle body cleaning I discovered the once round ends were bent in, about a 1" V shape, big enough to put your pinkie in! It looked melted, and may have resulted from over-tightening the clamps. K+N is great, and offered to ship out a new one immediately, to which I accepted, but I was able to use a lighter to semi-melt the plastic back into form, and then siliconed the rubber connectors in place, and tightened a minimum.
I've been very happy with the performance gain (I've dynoed before and after with the FIPK and 3" cat-back, and showed a good 22 horsepower and 20 LB-FT over my stock run).
But folks, if you didn't install it yourself, check 'em! Some of these 4X4 shops mechanics use good 'ol "GOOT-EN-TIGHT" torque!
Noel
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From: CONNECTICRAP where the hell is the snow?:-(
K&N FIPK fun facts
The kit for the 5.4 V8 in my 2001 F250 was $327.83. Funny thing is, the guy at Autozone screwed up and charged me for a '99 f250 model which cost $40 less than what he was supposed to charge me.:D Lucky break
As far as the warranty goes, it depends on who you bring it into and what you're bringing it in for. When I brought my last truck, '95 F150 4x4 with the straight 6, for some warranty work, I had the FIPK on it. The mechanic looked at and said if there was ever a discrepency as to wether or not future work would be considered warranty, the service dept. could bring down one of the "big wigs" and deny the warranty work just because of the one modification. Maybe he was telling the truth, maybe he was just getting his kicks. Either way, I never had trouble getting warranty work done on my truck with the ESP all through the 5 1/2 yrs of owning it. And believe me, it was in there alot!:mad:
Now for the results. With my straight 6, I felt a huge difference right away. The kit was installed at @20000mi and it improved power and torque all through out the powerband. Didn't help gas mileage a whole lot, but just enough. Now on my SD, I was expecting even better results. So I installed it at @9000mi. Not impressed. On cold days, I can feel the difference. I know it's always working, I know it's made an improvement. But for the money, I was expecting more.:( Can't see a difference at the pump either. What I am thinking, though, is that if I install a more free-flowing exhaust, that should help the engine breathe better from head to tail. Then the K&N should be more effective. I'm also assuming that the reason why I felt such a difference with the straight 6 is beacause of the higher mileage(more dirt on the factory filter) and because the engine didn't need a more free-flowing exhaust to breathe any better.
And lastly, getting the Superchip tomorrow:) . These 3 mods are the most common and I'm hoping they work great together.
Well I think that should cover it. I just can't seem to get away from making long posts. But atleast it's thorough:rolleyes:
Good luck
As far as the warranty goes, it depends on who you bring it into and what you're bringing it in for. When I brought my last truck, '95 F150 4x4 with the straight 6, for some warranty work, I had the FIPK on it. The mechanic looked at and said if there was ever a discrepency as to wether or not future work would be considered warranty, the service dept. could bring down one of the "big wigs" and deny the warranty work just because of the one modification. Maybe he was telling the truth, maybe he was just getting his kicks. Either way, I never had trouble getting warranty work done on my truck with the ESP all through the 5 1/2 yrs of owning it. And believe me, it was in there alot!:mad:
Now for the results. With my straight 6, I felt a huge difference right away. The kit was installed at @20000mi and it improved power and torque all through out the powerband. Didn't help gas mileage a whole lot, but just enough. Now on my SD, I was expecting even better results. So I installed it at @9000mi. Not impressed. On cold days, I can feel the difference. I know it's always working, I know it's made an improvement. But for the money, I was expecting more.:( Can't see a difference at the pump either. What I am thinking, though, is that if I install a more free-flowing exhaust, that should help the engine breathe better from head to tail. Then the K&N should be more effective. I'm also assuming that the reason why I felt such a difference with the straight 6 is beacause of the higher mileage(more dirt on the factory filter) and because the engine didn't need a more free-flowing exhaust to breathe any better.
And lastly, getting the Superchip tomorrow:) . These 3 mods are the most common and I'm hoping they work great together.
Well I think that should cover it. I just can't seem to get away from making long posts. But atleast it's thorough:rolleyes:
Good luck
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Spicewood
An honest man, The Fipk will give you problems in a hot climate, you will actually lose power due to the induction of super heated air..although this condition is good for fuel mileage...$300+ sounds expensive for an induction package..A modified one is a lot less...Not together with opening the back end and maybe a chip you have to open the front as well to get maximum performance....
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From: Tulsa, Oklahoma
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From: Canterbury , ct
Another thing to look for is the filter itself. Mine actually splt where it attaches to the tube. The filter is suspended with no support. i super glued the rubber and made a bracket to support the end of the filter. So far so good.
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Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Bethalto, Illinois
I had a K&N FIPK on a 99 F150....nothing but troubles...
Poor and cheap method of installation brackets....filter wore a hole in electrical wiring and chorted out the anit-lock brake system
When I emailed them, they said I was a dummy and did not install the FIPK corrrectly......
I also asked them about no increase in MPG, and they said they don't advertise increased mileage.....
I have had 2 AIRAID systems since, and what a difference....I would not put an K&N system on my truck for free!!!! Airaid and AF-1 are great systems............
Poor and cheap method of installation brackets....filter wore a hole in electrical wiring and chorted out the anit-lock brake system
When I emailed them, they said I was a dummy and did not install the FIPK corrrectly......
I also asked them about no increase in MPG, and they said they don't advertise increased mileage.....
I have had 2 AIRAID systems since, and what a difference....I would not put an K&N system on my truck for free!!!! Airaid and AF-1 are great systems............
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From: S. Paul, Minnesota