Well, I'm no expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last week. I only drive my pickup about 40,000 miles a year. I have 32,000 miles on my first Ford AIS element and have never tripped the filter minder with a 70 horse chip in very dusty conditions, AND have never had to dink around cleaning one of those K&N reusable filter.

I dont think anyone is trying to sell anything in this thread. Excuse me for saying so, but stating that the replacement systems are useless except for extreme performance applications is a display of ignorance about air intakes and the reason many of us choose to run replacement systems. If you research the subject of air intakes on this site, I know you will find a vast majority consensus among the users here that the stock airboxes on these pickups are are a known problem, attested to by numerous threads about dusted engines caused by stock airbox failures. That is not to say that one cannot run the stock system for a million miles without a problem. But by staying with the stock box, you are increasing the probability of a problem over some of the other intakes.

I also think you will find that the majority of posters will tell you that whichever system they have on their pickup is the best (human nature I suppose). I think that the Tymar, AFE, and Ford Severe Duty systems are superior to the stock systems on a number of facets. I have found data that convinces me that they all offer less resistance to air flow and filter better than the stock system. I am also convinced that you are not going to find a significant performance gain with any of the replacement systems, and that is not the primary reason for replacing the stock system in my opinion.

If the money is not an issue, any one of these systems is a good choice if you want to increase the longevity of your engine. I personally think that the cold air systems are superior to the open element systems (just my opinion, you don't have to believe me).

 

Just put the Tyamr on mine today. Unbelievable!!!!! I used to have stock box w/ K&N filter in it. When I took it out, it was nasty!!!!! Only had it in for about 8,000 miles. That was a WASTE of money there! So I say go w/ Tymar you'll like it! Just my opinion.

 

Yes, after seeing two factory air filter go dirty in 1000 miles, I needed a better solution. I have had the NAPA 6637 filter in there for 5000 miles and it's just now barely starting to turn grey.

 

I'm not trying to sell anyone anything. I don't care if everyone in the world but me runs a solid stock truck. That's your business not mine. Now for the other part, when someone asks a question, I do my best to give them a well informed answer if I know what I'm talking about. If I don't, I keep my trap shut and my opinions to myself. In my personal experience through many years of tweeking and tuning performance and mostly STOCK engines, I can tell you that intake and exhaust upgrades are very beneficial. That is taken from actual dyno testing, fuel logs, and maintenance records. I'm not going to get into a peeing contest with anyone, but I don't think that some have all the facts necessary to give an unbiased, educated response. There is no ill will on my part and I am certainly not trying to bash anyone. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and that's mine.

Max

 

OK this may add fuel to an already hot fire but here we go. Is there any downside from using an aftermarket system in respect to pulling warm or hot intake air from under the hood instead of cooler air that may come in from the grill on the stock airbox???

 

The cooler the air the better. The stock airbox does a good job of pulling in cool air, but is very inefficent. A lot of the aftermarket kits pull in more warm air than stock, but you can get the cold air intakes if your willing to spend the money. You can also go with the Tymar or Kwik setup and build your own cold air setup. I bought a FIPK which already had the complete deal, but it was a bit pricy. Hope it helps.

Max

 

I still use my air intake through the grille,just modified the back part of box to use the NAPA filter.

 

the cooler the air, the denser the air. More air to burn the fuel. Which is supposed to help with power and fuel economy.

 

Here is my take on the hot vs. cold air idea. I'm to guess the temperature of the ambient air under the hood might be slightly warmer than the stock intake air. But then we bring the intercooler, and what it's purpose is, into the picture, and I feel that the difference pre-intercooler now means nothing. Also on my '03, removing the stock intake has left a hole roughly the size and shape of a dollar bill, to the left of the drivers side battery, and that air blows right on, you guessed it, the new intake filter. Just my $.02. Really good question though, IABill! Great stuff!

 

Try this thread out!!

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=311373

 

In theory this is true. But the main point of the cool air intake is lower egt's. And while the open elements are not cold air , your proably only talking 30-50 deg in egt's.

And please lets not go back and rehash that thread above. To each his own and let is stand at that. Its just a matter of prefrence and in my opinion, the conditions we all operate our trucks in.

 

Yeah, I remember that thread, but I don't see what your point is. No poster, here or there, is claiming you will get big horsepower gains from changing intakes. There is no performance gain from adding a $300 set of gauges either, but there aren't many intelligent posters who would try to advance the theory that they are a waste of money on a modified (or stock) pickup....
There are reasons (besides performance) for modifying these pickups.

 

If the are no performance gains that really means there are no gains at all so why waist the money for no gain!! They are a waist of your money and could (In his case a loss) be a loss of preformance!! Also from what I have seen in the photos posted with Aftermarket systems they look like they will (if you drive like I do) give you more problems tham they would solve!!

They are still a waist of money!!

 

It is pretty well established that the AIS, tymar, and many other system have a higher filtering efficiency with less restriction than the stock system, even though you get no horsepower gain. Filtering efficiency is pretty important, at least to some of us.

All air filters result in a performance loss. So following your train of logic all the way to the to the scene of the train wreck, you should just take the filter out completely (maybe use some screen to keep the big chunks out) and let her rip.

Seems like a great way for you to save money to me.

 

It's established by those that have them. It's Human nature to say I have the best!! The stock filter and Box works fine!!

psdjeff: Spend your money if you wish!!