Aftermarket air filters on modern engines?

[Dirtman]

*insane nonsense rant warning*

Ok I'm fully against "cold air intakes" but I have been a fan of using k&n filters (direct replacements, not cone filters or nonsense). I am well aware that if you don't know how to oil them properly they can mess up your maf sensor. But I don't drive in dusty conditions so I like being able to take it out and clean it whenever and throw it back in.

Been using K&N filters in everything for 20 years. Recently I'm fighting with my truck over fuel trims being high. I said lemme try something and stuck a motorcraft paper filter in it. (It's had a K&N since 2009). Fuel trims came down and evened out across the throttle range.

So... here's my thought here. Given positive fuel trims, the k&n filter obviously flowed more air than the ford filter. BUT do those numbers equate to a power increase or just reduced fuel consumption when dealing with a modern sophisticated efi system?

 

[Curious Hound]

Yup.

 

[Dirtman]

Yup.

 

[Snoranger]

42

 

[Grumpaw]

The pistons in the engine go up and down, up and down, up and down, while the crank in the engine go round and round, round and round, round and round, while the filter sucks in air, sucks in air, sucks in air, making gas in tank go down and down, down and down, down and down....

 

[Dirtman]

You people are worthless...

 

[Grumpaw]

Your assumptions on consumption only take effect based on the correlation of the simple facts presented by your attempts to associate gas consumption with the forward movement of said vehicle.
Taking everything into account, if you do not travel in a forward motion, saving gas will be a given.
Additionally, using the same data, by traveling backward, ie. reverse, not only will you save gas, but you will actually gain additional fuel.
Thus, as long as you go backwards, it really doesn't matter what kind of filter you use.

 

[Dirtman]

And this is why I never post anything but "my butt itches"!

 

[Grumpaw]

"Butt Itch" is a direct correlation with the amount of excess poopie left on said butt.
If you had wiped butt after pooping in furnace, there would be no "poopie residue" to become "crusty"
That will usually eliminate "butt itch"
This does not take into account any "little critters" that may have transferred from said furnace to your butt.
Call Orkin !!!

 

[Dirtman]

 

[Ranger850]

*insane nonsense rant warning*

Ok I'm fully against "cold air intakes" but I have been a fan of using k&n filters (direct replacements, not cone filters or nonsense). I am well aware that if you don't know how to oil them properly they can mess up your maf sensor. But I don't drive in dusty conditions so I like being able to take it out and clean it whenever and throw it back in.

Been using K&N filters in everything for 20 years. Recently I'm fighting with my truck over fuel trims being high. I said lemme try something and stuck a motorcraft paper filter in it. (It's had a K&N since 2009). Fuel trims came down and evened out across the throttle range.

So... here's my thought here. Given positive fuel trims, the k&n filter obviously flowed more air than the ford filter. BUT do those numbers equate to a power increase or just reduced fuel consumption when dealing with a modern sophisticated efi system?

From MY understanding, they can improve MPG OR HP, but not both... The truck was made to have a certain filter with a certain air flow. You changed that with the K&N filter, thus changing HP and/or MPG. The truck is supposed to pull a certain amount of air with a certain filter, then you change the filter to let more air in, and now your truck is sucking too much air.

 

[Grumpaw]

But, we all love you.

 

[Dirtman]

DO MODIFICATIONS THAT INCREASE AIR FLOW TO AN EFI ENGINE HELP OR HURT MPG AND OR HP WITHOUT THE COMPUTER BEING TUNED TO COMPENSATE? my fuel trims went from +17 to +10 changing from K&N back to ford. (Its still high but ignore that just look at the drop). I notice no power difference whatsoever. So what was that K&N filter doing? Helping or hurting?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If it has worked since the truck was new it should work after you have the engine all apart.

IMO check for leaks.

 

[sheep herder]

Engine no go vroom?