K & N: Is the promise real? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bluec10 · 05-31-2012, 03:59 PM

Want more power for my 05 Sierra. Everyone goes with a K&N filter or intake system, but I'm still skeptical about them, especially due to the fact that I'd be paying hundreds for a piece of plastic.

Does anyone have documented evidence (gas mileage/power data) that actually shows an improvement when using a high-flow filter like K&N? Is it worth the money? Given the price of the cleaning kits and the filters themselves I don't really see any cost savings over budget filters that just cost a few bucks.

Sceptically Yours,

bluec10

biggsteve97 · 06-01-2012, 02:44 PM

On the older non LS stuff they do have a decent improvement but on the newer vehicles with the LS engines you get pretty much the same improvement out of keeping the stock box and tube and using a K&N filter plus its quieter than if you get the cold air kit. Also you dont clean the K&N filters except when they are extremely dirty and I mean extremely dirty which is roughly every 50,000 miles or so. One cleaning kit should do at the very least 2-3 cleanings if you follow the directions exactly.

clinebarger · 06-01-2012, 07:49 PM

The BEST bang for the buck is custom PCM tuning. With a good tune....power & MPG goes up.

**leddzepp** · 06-01-2012, 09:18 PM

I run K and N filters on all of my vehicles. I do not care about mileage improvement, and doubt it is improved with them...but they work a lot better than a dry paper air filter, which is why I use them.

**truckdude239** · 06-02-2012, 08:12 AM

Mileage will not increase on an obd2 vehicle the computer adjust for the increase in air flow

John Topper · 06-21-2012, 01:19 PM

David Vizard documented the improvement of using K&N air filters in his book How to build Max Performance Small Block Chevy's on pg. 110. I'm not sure if being LS or SBC would make that much of a difference because you still need to filter the air regardless of the type of motor. OBDII and I will compensate for the increased air through the K&N by increasing fuel to make sure the motor does not lean out too much and they will both adjust spark accordingly. That is why a K&N filter works to improve performance. The cold air kit reduces the air charge temperature which allows the motor to use more fuel without detonating or knocking so the timing does not need to back off. The cold air kit can also provide a bigger or better path for the air to enter your plenum. If you're just worried about the noise, well that's something you have to live with. If you're worried about heat, you could just wrap your current intake box and track with a heat reflective material. D.E.I engineering made a cool tape for that application. Theoretically taping tin foil with the shiny side towards the engine to reflect the heat would do the same thing. Just not sure if you would want to glue it onto your stock intake, but I guess that's what you would be doing with a reflective tape anyway.
Posted via Mobile Device

05-31-2012, 03:59 PM	#1
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	K & N: Is the promise real? Want more power for my 05 Sierra. Everyone goes with a K&N filter or intake system, but I'm still skeptical about them, especially due to the fact that I'd be paying hundreds for a piece of plastic. Does anyone have documented evidence (gas mileage/power data) that actually shows an improvement when using a high-flow filter like K&N? Is it worth the money? Given the price of the cleaning kits and the filters themselves I don't really see any cost savings over budget filters that just cost a few bucks. Sceptically Yours, bluec10 __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

06-01-2012, 02:44 PM	#2
biggsteve97 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kansas City, Mo Posts: 284	Re: K & N: Is the promise real? On the older non LS stuff they do have a decent improvement but on the newer vehicles with the LS engines you get pretty much the same improvement out of keeping the stock box and tube and using a K&N filter plus its quieter than if you get the cold air kit. Also you dont clean the K&N filters except when they are extremely dirty and I mean extremely dirty which is roughly every 50,000 miles or so. One cleaning kit should do at the very least 2-3 cleanings if you follow the directions exactly.

06-01-2012, 07:49 PM	#3
clinebarger Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 6,370	Re: K & N: Is the promise real? The BEST bang for the buck is custom PCM tuning. With a good tune....power & MPG goes up.

06-01-2012, 09:18 PM	#4
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 19,984	Re: K & N: Is the promise real? I run K and N filters on all of my vehicles. I do not care about mileage improvement, and doubt it is improved with them...but they work a lot better than a dry paper air filter, which is why I use them. __________________ 1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man

06-02-2012, 08:12 AM	#5
truckdude239 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lewisville, Nc Posts: 10,217	Re: K & N: Is the promise real? Mileage will not increase on an obd2 vehicle the computer adjust for the increase in air flow __________________ David fuller Ase Certified Mechanic Click here to help support our board!! 1971 Chevy c-10 under going a 4.8l LSx swap Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421305 2007 Honda Accord my daily 145kmiles 2002 Honda Accord 4 door With 330k(sisters car) 2005 toyota Avalon 228k( brothers car) 2002 Sububran 5.3 245k 2000 Tahoe 5.3l 378 General manager for Marco's Carwash & lube

06-21-2012, 01:19 PM	#6
John Topper Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 2	Re: K & N: Is the promise real? David Vizard documented the improvement of using K&N air filters in his book How to build Max Performance Small Block Chevy's on pg. 110. I'm not sure if being LS or SBC would make that much of a difference because you still need to filter the air regardless of the type of motor. OBDII and I will compensate for the increased air through the K&N by increasing fuel to make sure the motor does not lean out too much and they will both adjust spark accordingly. That is why a K&N filter works to improve performance. The cold air kit reduces the air charge temperature which allows the motor to use more fuel without detonating or knocking so the timing does not need to back off. The cold air kit can also provide a bigger or better path for the air to enter your plenum. If you're just worried about the noise, well that's something you have to live with. If you're worried about heat, you could just wrap your current intake box and track with a heat reflective material. D.E.I engineering made a cool tape for that application. Theoretically taping tin foil with the shiny side towards the engine to reflect the heat would do the same thing. Just not sure if you would want to glue it onto your stock intake, but I guess that's what you would be doing with a reflective tape anyway. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ www.pickuptoppers.net Last edited by John Topper; 06-21-2012 at 01:24 PM. Reason: Add temperature after air charge



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