Are K&N intakes really worth the $$$
 

I'm starting to do a few small mods to my truck and im looking at getting a new intake setup. On my old truck i did have a K&N intake setup that workd great, but it put me back nearly $300 when i got it.

Now for my new truck im finding all kinds of intakes for $30 and up such as THIS one and THIS one

What the big difference? if i can save $200+ by going with this off brand stuff do you think it would be worth it?

Probably should be OK. I'd throw their supplied cone filters in the trash, though and put on a K&N cone.

in most vehicles that I have worked with I have found that buying a cheap bolt on cone style k&n and sticking on the end of the maf works about as well as any fancy cai system you can buy. Unless you are getting a true cold air system where it routes the piping so that the filter goes into the front bumper or wheel well, you are still most likely getting the majority of your air from within the engine bay, meaning you are getting hot air. most cai you can buy from places like ebay or random websites would be better describes as a short ram intake. In other words you are doing the same thing as just bolting it to the end of your maf. the only advantage you gain from a true short ram would be that you are using mandrel bent pipe to replace all the stock pipe which should flow better in theory, but realistically makes maybe 1/2 hp difference.

So to make my rambling shorter and easier to understand, dont buy anything that you cant see and actual dyno graph for. make sure the dyno is done with nothing changed but the intake (most of them like to show one with a stock vehicle and the other with intake, exhaust and a good tune) a 2 horspower gain can be much more than it sounds like if it smooths out the dyno curves all the way across the rpm range.

Wow, nice answer, the K&N has a dyno that shows like 7 hp max with like a 2 hp average across all RPM ranges. The other ones say a 7-14hp increase but no dyno for proof...

I have nothing against the expensive k&n jobs, I just think they are little pricey for what they are, but no more so and buying one from any other company that makes a quality cai system. A buddy of mine put one on is evo, an the gain on it was noticable. I am a big believer in their filters in general because they last forever as long as you clean them on a regular basis and re-oil them.

I have a K&N but when I got it in 01 or 02 it was the only intake available for my truck. You are paying some for the name. There are cheaper name brand alternatives such as MAC and Amsoil.

If you're planning on keeping the vehicle for awhile and if you are in a dusty area, K&Ns are great. But don't expect too much of a gain in stuff like fuel economy, muffler replacements do more for that aspect.

Basically, think about how much replacement stock filters are and how many you could buy with the K&N's $300. (Do I regret my $250 K&N CAI, no, but got a smaller performance gain than I had expected).

Well what i may do is just buy one of these cheap systems for now and if i get the money for a K&N then ill get it, mainly because i had a K&N on my old truck and i did notice a difference in throttle response and my 1/8th mile times at my local strip, it took maybe .3 off my ET overall i think

i think all stock i was averaging 10.8-10.9 then after the intake i was down around 10.5, then after a full exhaust system (true dual and hollowed cats) i ALMOST hit the 9's, i remember getting a time slip with a ET of 10.07 but never could quite get there[thumbdown]

then i totaled my old truckhttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/sad1.gif

deleted for stupid question
sorry for asking that question, should have clicked on the links you posted

[rofl] now im curious what you asked

Not likely to add much HP but it will allow the engine to rev a little quicker if your intake system is restrictive.

Just K&N filters isn't enough to be worth it,
but is it just the filters ?

I mean no adds to the inject ?

WTF.....
[rofl]

to the O/P you can get special black tape that you wrap round the exhaust branches to reduce engine radiated heat also with these K&N types if its an Oiled filter It can cause havoc with your Hot film Mass Air Flow Sensor

intake systems are just gimmicks at the end of the day.. 1 or 2 hp if that at the most just makes your engine sound throatier whilst the filter lets in more crap than the OEM filter and box and scratches all your bores with grit and dust.

WTF what http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/blink1.gif
seriously STOP being such a prick all the time [rolleyes]

a gimmick http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo.../confused1.gif
i guess you use K&N filters all day ?

crap that's a first...........

They look better, and thats about it.

With no other mods they are pretty pointless, just keep the stock filters changed regularly.

hey... don't be like that I think ur allreet just laughing at what you wrote,I couldn't make head nor tails of it that's all

and I'm pretty sure I'm like that at times ,where as you have an excuse.

and no I don't !!
my car is too valuable to go putting poo like that in the engine bay http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/smile1.gif

Exactly http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/smile1.gif

yeah or if he wants a K&N filter he might as well get the type that directly replaces the original filter in the air box

problem is as with all aftermarket filters they were designed for maximum airflow with minimum protection and not maximum filtration with equal airflow like OEM ones.

oiled filters are terrible

WTF [rofl]