Afe Intake Installed...results Inside

Gripenfelter · November 19, 2007

What a PITA to install. I installed a K&N intake on my brother-in-law's truck and it took me 15-20 mins.

This one took me well over an hour and I had to trim down the radiator fan shroud to get it to fit.

Even after that the piping did not fit. They wouldn't reach each other and I had to unbolt the filter box shield and push it two inches closer to the throttlebody to get the pipes close enough to clamp them together.

After I finally got it installed I noticed a bit more power in the midrange and after 2000 miles of driving on the highways my mileage went from an average of 16.8 to 18.9 mostly at 65-75 mph. Very nice.

My best was 21 mpg at 45 mph.

Next mod...headers then a PCMforLess tune.

Midwestcruiser · November 19, 2007

Hey Grip, before I traded in the Tahoe, I removed my K&N and re-installed the factory air box. I lucked out in that, the K&N fits my new to me 05 Silverado. I have already noticed a couple of mpg gains since I installed it. I'm thinking, though, I want to swap out the K&N filter element for a "no oil" type...less hassle. How are the AFE elements? Other recommendations?

jaslo · November 19, 2007

I can say both of you are lucky to get that much of a mpg increase. I have put a k&n fipk on my 01 and haven't noticed much of anything.

Gripenfelter · November 20, 2007

Hey Grip, before I traded in the Tahoe, I removed my K&N and re-installed the factory air box. I lucked out in that, the K&N fits my new to me 05 Silverado. I have already noticed a couple of mpg gains since I installed it. I'm thinking, though, I want to swap out the K&N filter element for a "no oil" type...less hassle. How are the AFE elements? Other recommendations?

So far the AFE looks and performs fairly decently. The K&N oiled filter always left oil on my MAF when I re-oiled it.

wlvrn1215 · November 20, 2007

check out true flow

EXSlider400 · November 20, 2007

Went with AEM Brute Force Dry-Flow and like it alot. Don't have to worry about oil screwing up sensors.

Midwestcruiser · November 21, 2007

My K&N came from my Tahoe I traded in to get this truck. The last time I cleaned and oiled it was back in the Summer...it's not dirty now. I did notice a bit of oil on the Tahoe's MAF sensor, which I cleaned prior to re-installing the OEM airbox, tube and filter.

Since reading a lot of posts here on oiled filters, I'm definitely going to switch over to an oil-less filter, though I've had no ill effects from the oiled filter. I like the looks of the tube and cone shape of the CAI's so my biggest problem will be deciding to stay with this type of arrangement or re-installing the OEM box with an oil-less filter.

cmoore74 · November 22, 2007

My K&N came from my Tahoe I traded in to get this truck. The last time I cleaned and oiled it was back in the Summer...it's not dirty now. I did notice a bit of oil on the Tahoe's MAF sensor, which I cleaned prior to re-installing the OEM airbox, tube and filter.

Since reading a lot of posts here on oiled filters, I'm definitely going to switch over to an oil-less filter, though I've had no ill effects from the oiled filter. I like the looks of the tube and cone shape of the CAI's so my biggest problem will be deciding to stay with this type of arrangement or re-installing the OEM box with an oil-less filter.

You might find an no-oil filter that fits up to the K&N tube. Check out AEM.

AllBlkdOut07 · November 22, 2007

How about some pics??

Heysdad · November 22, 2007

I know everyone has their own opinion about things and that large companies use propaganda, but here are a few clips from K&N about MAFS contamination. Very informative.

I guess use your own judgment on this one....

http://www.knfilters.com/MAF/3MAFSensorVideo.htm

http://www.knfilters.com/MAF/4MAFSensorVideo.htm

Midwestcruiser · November 23, 2007

You might find an no-oil filter that fits up to the K&N tube. Check out AEM.

Yep, my K&N's opening is 6". All I have to do it find one with that size...shouldn't be too hard.

Schmids5.3l · November 23, 2007

Yeah that 2nd link's PCV argument is full of B.S. No PCV system feeds back into the air intake, especially anywhere near the MAF...they feed into the intake manifold. How those contaminants go from the intake manifold to the MAF amazes me. While the engine is running the whole intake system is a giant vacuum, nothing is going to float from the intake manifold back to the MAF or air cleaner. Then he brings the point of it's easier for that to happen when the vehicle is shut down (makes more sense). I guess the minimal amounts of contaminants after shut down is supposed to float past the closed throttle body blade and onto the MAF sensor (Yes the same MAF sensor in link #1 that is SO hard to make fail). I've seen motors with nasty throttle bodies and intake manifolds, completely coated with carbon/s**t, probably from the PCV, but never have I seen this carbon in front of the throttle body blade, its always on the back side of the throttle body - the side on the intake manifold.

The first link is complete garbage, I don't know who would believe that. Disconnect your air filter, take a spray bottle of K&N filter oil, and while your motor is running spray your MAF with the filter oil. When all that crap gets sucked in I garountee your MAF will fail. Your MAF will not get and accurate reading. He does mention that after a "few cycles" the oil goes away or something. Sure. I guess according to link 2 all maf sensors fail because silicone drips onto the maf wires, and PCV blow by finds it's way onto the maf.

Test 1. What are they dipping into that cup of oil??? Thats not a MAF sensor. It's not circular, and doesn't have wires going from top to bottom to measure air flow. In the real world stuff is going to go past your filter and contaminate your MAF sensor wires.

Test 2. What is spraying oil onto a maf going to do to a maf sitting around hooked up to a computer? I know it will screw that MAF.

Test 3. If MAF sensors are so durable and hard to make fail why do they fail on new trucks with oiled filters in real world environments? Here in link 1 the guy says they cant even MAKE a MAF sensor FAIL, yet in link 2 this guy expects materials from an engine that has been turned off to float past the closed TB blade and contaminate this sensor which is impossible to make fail under ""Extreme MAF sensor testing"" in link 1. These arguments completely go against one another. I award no points to their argument. If any of that B.S. was believable I'd like to see someone do as I said earlier - take out your air filter, start your motor and spray filter oil all over your MAF wires. Apparently it's completely safe!!!

I'm just thinking this oil you spray on your filter is supposed to trap/contain dirt and crap and STICK onto the air filter...what would keep it from sticking onto MAF wires??? It's sticking onto the air filter and dirt sticks onto the oil...

I'm just thinking out loud!!! I don't intend to offend anyone with this post, just thinking out loud)