Will a cold air intake box improve the performance of an after market high flow intake filter?

[Lefty]

I'm still learning the ways of my Ranger. I noticed a few YouTube posts about boxing in the aftermarket hi flow filter in order to increase performance. Will this work on a Ranger? Have any of you tried it? Or is the filter located close enough to the original cold air intake vent?

 

[sgtsandman]

And begins yet another spirited debate.

The original intake was a cold are intake since it draws in air from outside the engine bay. Properly setup, an aftermarket intake can be a cold air intake as well. Just installing an in take may provide some performance improvement but unless the rest of the system from the intake to the exhaust tip is also upgraded, the difference is not normally noticeable without hooking the truck up to a dynometer to measure the difference before the upgrade and after.

Let the days of argument commence.

 

[Lefty]

Yes, I suppose you are right. There will be a great diversity of opinions on this subject.

BTW I've countered that hi flo intake with a dual exhaust. I have already seen a nice mileage boost, getting somewhere between 22 and 24 MPG here in the city on the 3.0. I just chipped the computer too.

Still, I am most certainly game for added performance or economy...if there is at all some to be had.

And thanks! If I don't hear differently, I'm taking your advice.

 

[RonD]

Get a Vacuum gauge and run a vacuum hose into the cab so you can see the gauge when driving.......at high speed

Find a straight "police free" road where you can get to WOT and top speed
At top speed and wide open throttle, you should see under 2" of vacuum in the intake, but above 1", this would mean good air flow IN and good exhaust flow OUT

Higher that 2" could mean restricted IN or OUT
When it gets under 1" there's not enough new air/fuel being sucked in so some power loss would be felt
It will go to 0" when valves float(max RPM), but you will notice that power drop instantly, lol, redline

Basically you are seeing if the 3 liter engine can pull in and push out 3 liters of air every 2 RPM
Or 4 liters or 5 liters, the engine's rated displacement

 

[Lefty]

Anyone actually try this?

 

[Curious Hound]

Anyone actually try this?

Most of us have cold air intakes. Boxing it in and ensuring that it draws air from OUTSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT makes it a cold air intake and is a great idea. Colder air is more dense. ie; more air molecules per cubic measure. Therefore, to keep the air to fuel ratio right, the engine will use slightly more fuel. More fuel and air per combustion cycle means more power. It isn't a lot. But it improves the efficiency of the engine slightly.

The shape of the filter doesn't really mean much. It can be a cone, rectangle, old style cylinder or whatever you like. As long as there is sufficient surface area to allow the engine to draw air through it without any restriction.

I have redesigned my intake system using a Ford air filter box that uses a cone filter. That is attached to my snorkel. So it is drawing in cold air from outside the engine compartment. However. My original intake box with the rectangular filter was also a cold air intake, right from Ford. It drew in air from outside via a hole right behind the passenger side headlight.

 

[Lefty]

Very good. Perhaps if there is enough interest in this, I should "bite the bullet, build one, record MPG before and after and report back.

 

[Lefty]

Most of us have cold air intakes. Boxing it in and ensuring that it draws air from OUTSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT makes it a cold air intake and is a great idea. Colder air is more dense. ie; more air molecules per cubic measure. Therefore, to keep the air to fuel ratio right, the engine will use slightly more fuel. More fuel and air per combustion cycle means more power. It isn't a lot. But it improves the efficiency of the engine slightly.

The shape of the filter doesn't really mean much. It can be a cone, rectangle, old style cylinder or whatever you like. As long as there is sufficient surface area to allow the engine to draw air through it without any restriction.

I have redesigned my intake system using a Ford air filter box that uses a cone filter. That is attached to my snorkel. So it is drawing in cold air from outside the engine compartment. However. My original intake box with the rectangular filter was also a cold air intake, right from Ford. It drew in air from outside via a hole right behind the passenger side headlight.

That's one sweet looking ride you got, buddy!

 

[Curious Hound]

That's one sweet looking ride you got, buddy!

Thank you. These are awesome little trucks. Have fun with yours.

 

[sgtsandman]

Yes, I suppose you are right. There will be a great diversity of opinions on this subject.

BTW I've countered that hi flo intake with a dual exhaust. I have already seen a nice mileage boost, getting somewhere between 22 and 24 MPG here in the city on the 3.0. I just chipped the computer too.

Still, I am most certainly game for added performance or economy...if there is at all some to be had.

And thanks! If I don't hear differently, I'm taking your advice.

The exhaust certainly will help. If you got the exhaust right (I'm no expert and know enough to get me in trouble), it will compliment the intake once it's setup as a cold air intake. A chip can help or it can hurt. I've read people that had good results and those who hated the results. I hope it works out.

Anything beyond that will require engine work and money.

 

[bobbywalter]

I usually just pull from the cowl or a snorkel.

 

[bobbywalter]

 

[Lefty]

Amazing.

 

[cbxer55]

Always a debate on this subject. I put a MAC cold air intake on mine way back in 2002. With two plastic ducts mounted in the grill feeding cold air to the area where the filter resides. I also now have two small hood scoops on top of where the filter resides .So it is in fact a cold air intake. Years ago, I removed it and put the stock intake back on. My first thought after doing so, "Where's the beef?" I couldn't stand it and returned the MAC onto the truck the next day. Threw the entire stock intake in the round-open-top file so I wouldn't be tempted to waste the time again.

Yes, I have a dual exhaust, swapped in 4.10 gears, and a JET chip on the computer as well. And a larger BBK throttle body.

I ain't sayin no mo!

 

[bobbywalter]

A brand new supercharged king of the hill mustang uses the exact same filter the humvee engine swapped into my ranger uses.


That's hysterical.