I do all my own maintenance, like a lot of people here. I put in 12.5 quarts in when I change my oil. It is usually about 1/2 way b/w the min and max on the dipstick. It has had the spit/sputter problem for a long time, I need to take it in to be looked at. I just noticed a drop in MPG too, but it may be the winter mix diesel. I went from about 17.5-18 down to 14-15. That STINKS esp. since diesel is $2/gal. I have 23K miles on my truck right now. 2004/2004 truck, bought in Feb 2004, wasn't at the dealer for a week when I bought it.

 

Has anyone experienced filter damage or evidence of water infiltration from the Zoodad mod? Probably with the turbo the zoodad mod creating any risk will outweigh the minimal reward. I'd rather decrease heat through EGR elimination....

 

One concern about after market intakes is the heat. With the stock air intake you have the forced air coming in through the ram. But if you remove this you will just have your air filter sitting in there with all that engine heat heating your filter and bringing in hot air. Basically you would just be recycling the hot air that is under the hood. Banks is working on a whole intake system which will utilize a coil or something to cool the air before it is used. I am not sure where they are at on this or exactly how it is going to work but this is what they told me.

 

I am now running a K&N intake for about a week. A couple of reasons why... stock air filter replacement costs, ease of cleaning, more air in of course, no snow blocking the intake while driving in these blizzards around here, etc.
The stock one is in the K&N box in my garage. Guess if I was to become unsatisfied with the aftermarket intake, I could put the stock one back. But why? It works great.

 

My '04 draws from an enclosed space and would only be "ram air" or "forced induction if you did the Zoodad or similar modification. It currently draws from a fairly enlosed space behind the drivers side grill that doesn't appear to force any air in at speed. Banks already has an aftermarket intercooler

http://www.bankspower.com/System.cfm...08&sysid=SF36#

which supposedly allows less pressure loss and increased cooling rate.

THe biggest complaint I've heard about aftermarket filters is that the decrease in filtration capability by aftermarket filters is not justified because of the minimal performance enhancement.

 

Not in three years of use on two different vehicles....

 

What is this Zoodad mod? I have tried doing a search and just came back to different forums talking about it. Is it worth doing? If so where can I get one?

 

The Zoodad mod ='s hole saw cutting a bigger vent to the air box on the driver side radiator support area.
The part you cut is fiberglass and in the upper corner of the grill area.
Go look at your truck around the airbox and look how Ford has blockage to the front of the box.
Some say the blockage keeps out big stuff and others say to open it up for more flow.
No one agrees on this issue entirely but now you know.

 

currently using the k&n co;d air kit.seems to work well. can hear a little more intake noise than with the stock unit. the filter is isolated from the engine compartment to eliminate most of the engine heat.(allegedly).i feel the more cool air, the more power. plus the cost of the stock unit is staggering

 

what exactly is the zoodad mod??

 

Scroll up in this forum and take a look at the chart from K&N's site. You aren't getting much for your money until you hit over 2500 rpm and little at that point. All the advantage is at 3500rpm and I don't know about you, but my engine rarely spends any time at that rpm. You can't beat the stock Donaldson filter for filtration either.

The zoodad mod is where you cut a hole in the radiator support on the driver side in front of the stock filter inlet.

 

the mech at my local ford dealer said you don't want to cut the fiberglass out ,it will let rain in driving down the road , has anyone had this problem?

 

I'm sure the stock filter is great....if the price is any indication. That's one reason I went to the K&N. I can clean it and put it back in....no fuss.

 

I think I paid $54 for a filter. Change it every 30K to 60K. You paid at least $300 for your K&N. I am still more cost effective with better filtration. But, if it makes you feel better you have more horsepower at 3500 rpm.

 

I don't care about the horsepower really...it's not that big a deal. You are right..I paid a bundle for the K&N. The dealer near me actually said to me, "wait till you see how much the air filter costs!"...when I asked about the various services at certain mileages one day in the service bay. I asked how much they were and it was over $100 bucks. Not sure what it costs at some of these cheaper internet suppliers...but let's say for example sakes....it costs $54 ...That's what...figure 5 replacements. In the case of it being more like $100 dollars which is what the dealer told me it was...actually more than that...you figure it's 3 replacement stock filters.
I just pre-paid the 1 1/2 to 3 years instead of having to drive the 2 hour round trip to Ford (closest one) to buy an over priced air filter or pay shipping and put more stuff on my credit card if I was to shop online for it. AND we make frequent trips to the Playa in the blackrock desert riding motorcycles where the fine silt dust covers everything when you get there. This means more filters to replace than say...someone who lives in suburbia and never sees any real dirt in their trucks. Plus I will be towing a 12,000lb 5th wheel off road in that dust. I believe you that the filter is good...100% but I have good reasons for the aftermarket choice. )