Tow Vehicles: K&N Intakes

[gran398]

http://www.knfilters.com/air_intake.aspx

[seabob4]

Scotty, might want to consider this one...http://store.mvpautoparts.com/volant-15 ... k-suv.html

K&N kinda started the deal, but there are others out there that have worked on making the concept better.  Look around, my friend, and join one of the Tahoe forums!!  

[icemanbryan]

Not sure of the tow vehicle you are speaking of.
If it is a diesel, and turbo on top of that, you need to be very carful of the intake system.
The reusable K&N is a very bad choice,
as are others in that format.
The air intake on a turbo diesel  has a very strong draw.
This will actually suck holes into the air filter.
After that it is straight dirt into the turbo blades, not a good thing.

[flounderpounder225]

I have run the k&n in my 2002 gmc 2500 with the 6.0 gas burner almost since I bought the truck used about 6 years ago.  Recently I had to have the knock sensors replaced which on the LS1 engine there are 2 and they are in the valley and the intake plenum has to be removed to replace them.  Anyway, the point is, when everything was apart, the mechanic (a good friend of mine) did a cleaning of everything and found my TPS and IAC were both gummed up with oil residue from the k&n.  He said GM put out a TSB about this, and advised against the use of k&n oiled filters.  I went back with a standard paper fram filter.  BTW, if anyone wants the K&n you can have it for the cost of shipping, I have the whole filter charge kit with it, probably around $70 worth of stuff if you went to autozone or similar.

[gran398]

Interesting guys.

Put a K&N element on the Tahoe a few years back, definitely noticed a difference in pickup and gas mileage. But if it contributes to mechanical failure, its coming off.

Will search for that service bulletin

[seabob4]

Marc, Scotty has a Tahoe with the 5.3 I believe.  There are some engines that simply don't benefit from a cold air intake, my Maxima is one of them.  I'e done the research, the HP gains are minimal and occur at such high revs that I would never see them.  Interesting that the oil from the filter guimmed up your IAC and TPS.  For those that may not know, that's Idle Air Control valve and Throttle Position Sensor...both residing in the throttle body.

I did some quick research on the use of the K&N on Scotty's Tahoe, their site stated an 11 HP gain at something like 5300 RPM...somehow I don't think Scotty's going to be seeing those kind of revs anytime soon!

[gran398]

We double-posted SB, sorry 'bout that.

This is interesting. Valentines is over, so will have plenty of time to research this at work today.

[seabob4]

Scotty, didn't realize you already had one.  Just for your info (something to chew over), the Jeep guys pretty much find them useless, whether it's the 4.0, 4.7, or 5.2.  Unless you can "box" the filter such that it really sees "cold" air, no gains are to be had from installing one...

[gran398]

Gotcha, thanks

Have the drop-in filter like Marc had, not the intake snorkel shown in the link.

But they're all oiled, so guess the principle is the same.

Did however have an increase in gas mileage right at 1 mpg.

But if that could lead to a hefty repair bill....not cool

[seabob4]

Gotcha Bud.  IAC and TPS service/cleaning is actually pretty easy (I bet the mechanics charge a pretty penny!).  I was having some cold idle issues (motor was hunting, more or less) on the 5.2L in the Jeep.  2 screws to remove the IAC, unplug 1 connector, and had it in my hands.  Cleaned the carbon buildup off the plunger, all was good.  The TPS is basically the same...

[wingtime]

I have an Airaid intake on my F-250 7.3 diesel.  I also made some minor mods to my intake box to allow more airflow.  The Ford factory air filter is WAY to small for the 7.3.  But you don't have enough room under the hood for the 5 gallon bucket sized filter that International uses on the 7.4 (T444E).  The Airaid replaces the top of the filter box with a set of steel walls that raises the box sides up to the bottom of the hood.  It has a large cone shaped K&N filter that connects to a tube going to the turbo.  The mods dramatically decreased my turbo lag.  As Ice said the amount of suction and air being sucked thru the filter into the turbo is impressive.  In fact when I'm pulling a load say up a steep hill you can hear the air rushing in... It makes a loud hissing wooshing sound that is hard to describe other than it sounds wicked cool!

[gman 82 aquasport]

Scott, my Tahoe is a little older than yours and I have a 5.7 Vortec, been running a K$N filter for 6 years, no noticable increase in mileage(mine's lifted 3 inches and larger than stock Nitto's on it), but no other issues also...paid for itself a long time ago..just be carefull how mush oil you spray on the filter...Cold air system only truely beneficial if you can seal it up to against underhood temps.

97 Tahoe 302k miles on it, new reman engine and trans(4le60 built for towing) both redone at 291K..

[gran398]

Thanks guys!

Gary, that's the idea. The truck isn't worth much, and to replace it....you're looking big bucks. So keeping it and doing some upgrades.

Found a guy who bought a 2012 Z-71 for his kid......but the kid had to have 22 inch rims to keep up with his high school buddies. So the guy sold me four new Z-71 aluminum rims (18's) and the factory Bridgestone Duelers for....a hundred bucks each!  

Made the headlight upgrade you guys recommended, big difference. Replaced the rear coils with heavy duty...now the ars end is jacked up a little 'till you hook up the boat....it sagged before. And put on a Magnaflow muffler. It's pretty quiet till you bang it down a bit....scratches the redneck itch

[seabob4]

Scotty, have you considering chipping the motor?  A lot of people think chips are just for power, but they can really help the fuel economy as well...

[gran398]

Yep, asked a mechanic about it yesterday. He said the effective ones were 4 to 500 dollars, and in his opinion you could get similar results running 93 octane.

See they're out there at all different prices....any of you guys run them?