Hi everyone. I have a 2003 F-150 with a 5.4L engine. I heard one of the cheapest/best aftermarket parts you could add that would increase gas mileage(most people report 1mpg better) and increase power would be an aftermarket cold air intake. Of course i don't want any thing that makes me run a higher octane gas.

Here is the unit im looking at:
http://www.amazon.com/K-57-2541-Inje.../dp/B000CO81KA

What do you guys think of this k&n cold air intake?

I have some general questions:
1) I have never done any major vehicle work. Only thing ive really done is simple things like change spark plugs and change oil. Are these things pretty easy to install or would your recommend going somewhere to have it put in.

2) I heard you could actually hurt your engine putting on of these things in. I guess they can cause a lot of moisture to collect in the engine when its really damp/rainy outside. Is this something i really need to worry about?

3) I know you get a little more noise when you install one of these. Do you think this is something i would have to worry about when i go to sell the truck? I mean would someone think its an air leak or something (since i have no idea what it sounds like).

Is there anything else i need to be aware of before i buy one of these?

thanks,
ncage

 

I have a cai on my 2004 f150 with the 4.2L v6. It has been on my truck for about 28,000 miles now.
1) These are very easy to install. It took me maybe a half hour to install. If you can change plugs you can do this, the install is very straightforward. I would definitely recommend you do it yourself.

2) I am not sure about the moisture collection. I have never had any problems with mine. I live in SW Ohio so it sees a lot of moisture and I have had no problems with it.

3) The noise on mine is noticeable on the outside..I can only hear it inside the cab with the radio off and I really have to be listening for it. On mine it produces a sucking sound. I personally like the sound, but I don't think it is anything to worry about on resale. Also you would be there to explain what the sound is if the buyer had any qualms about it.

Overall I am happy with mine and I like the way it looks under the hood. I also went to a cat back dual exhaust when I installed my cai.

 

i've got the same intake for my 99 4.6, but mine has a metal heat shield and said it has like 10.6 hp gains?? its irrelevant though, its nothing really to brag about. anywho, i installed it myself a couple weeks ago and, if all the nuts and bolts wouldve been included (bought it off ebay, guy forgot a couple), i woula been finished in ten minutes. instructions are really simple and explain everything. the noise it makes isnt that loud (i also have dual pipes and one of the least restrictive mufflers, so i duno what that tells you). all i hear is when initially accelerating is a little whistle, which sounds pretty cool, i think, definitley doesnt sound like a leak. i live in new orleans, and theres always moisture here, and so far, even though its only been a few weeks, i havent noticed any moisture and whatnot. the k&n filterchargers are very thick and durable, i seriously doubt you'll ever have to worry about moisture buildup as long as u clean it when instructed. i've noticed slight mpg gains, but i live in a stop-and-go city, and recently i've been in a rush to everywhere i go, so it's probably a lot better on the highway or when you're driving more conservatively. anywho thats all i got, hope this helps!

 

I couldn't see which intake it is because that site is blocked at work....but i have the K&N Series 77...love it.
1) this is easier than installing plugs
2) i haven't heard anything about the moisture...but on this site, and others, there are A LOT of anti-K&N people....
3) you get more noise at wide open, but it's not a bad thing....it's not like a whistle or vacuum leak, it's just...well, a rush!

 

Your being over optimistic about air intake changes.
There is no fuel mileage gains, no power gains of any consequence.
Two reasons;
For fuel mileage, the throttle opening controls the air into the engine not the air filter or any of it's plumbing but they do look nice to some people.
Second, you can't feel power gains much less than 10 hp 99.9% of the time and then only at peak rpm HP where you don't run the engine at. 99.9% of the time.
In know many of you don't agree but have you ever thought of it in terms of science instead of what others and mfgers say just to get you to spend your money.
"Mine made a difference" WHAT DIFFERENCE? Should I belive it? No! Sorry.
Put one on and come back and tell us how it works and if you feel you got a good return for the investment.

 

there you go again being negative. a lot of readers swear they get better mileage, I know I do... and have on every vehicle I put a K&N on from a 1800VTX Honda motorcycle to a '03 V-6 Malibu to a '88 Ford Taurus and now to my '99 4.6 F150. my biggest MPG gain was on the Chevy - but I get 1.5 to 2 MPG gain with the F150.

 

if you want a different intake, but it for the looks, not for performance. the performance really is not there, but if you want looks and that would make you happy, then do it. if it happens to get better milage that would be a plus. i know avator is a strong believer in these things, but i tend to agree with bluegrass that it is more hype than performance. i wouldlike to see the milage numbers befor and after. i get 18 MPG with the stock setup on a 5.4 in the summer on the highway. i also get 15 in the winter with winter gas blend. thats a 3 MPG difference. you got to compare apples with apples.

 

Avator, you call it what you want. Your the one making all these companies rich.
Sorry you don't like another solid point of view.
Prove me wrong on the points I made.

 

well, all i have to say is, with my Series 77, Power Programmer and cat back dual exhaust, I DO know there is a difference.

 

Answer the points I made please. These are what you are in disagreement with.
I can't place any credibilty on what you are saying about what you do.
Again, how are 'you' getting more air by a throttle plate small opening by improving an intake ducting and filter? It dosent make a difference if you even take the filter out altogather, you can't get more air in under those conditions.
How does this improve fuel mileage?
The air meter will still sense more air in any event and react with more fuel as it is supposed to do. No mileage gain from that.
Second point is well known that you can'r feel less than 10 hp difference in the seat of the pants dyno.
I think you and I have gone at this before and you didn't provide any answers yet.
Think water is wet or dry?
All these changes you done to your cars on the above basis can't be taken with much crediability by just telling anyone how good they work when you don't really know.
Hell, is can squeeze over 19 mpg out of my Screw without any changes what so ever by using a peticular driving style on a consistant basis and favorable conditions.

 

If you take the filter off and open the throttle wide open while putting your hand over the pipe the engine WILL shut off, not rev higher. Throttle position doesn't entirely define the volume of incoming air.
The velocity of air coming through the throttle will increase with a less restrictive filter, meaning more air in the same amount of time(of depressed throttle). This means that less throttle input is required for the same response.
A less restrictive filter allows the engine to "suck" easier, freeing up HP (although negligible)
The main purpose of a CAI though is to transfer cooler air to the engine. Cooler air is more dense which makes it more efficient. This also means that the ECM will inject more fuel at WOT than it normally would. You will get more power from a properly functioning CAI because, if you want, it will intake more cool air and thus burn more fuel also. If you drive it hard, you probably will not notice any improvement in mileage, but drive it easy and it will pick up a few ponies.

Edit: My Accord picked up 1.5mpg on the highway when I added a CAI. The throttle response also increased drastically. I think what people usually claim as a noticed HP increase is a decrease in throttle response. It makes the car a little faster because the needed air can be acquired quicker. The colder air probably made it pick up 2-3 HP but that definitely isn't noticeable.

 

Would you care to join the real world?
The suction provided by the motor (after the throttle body) determines the airflow along with the throttle body's small opening and to some small extent the IAC opening. Has nothing to do with the airfilter or intake tract the way you discribe and changing the filter doesnot change air veocity that is dependent on the motor's pull.
Put it another way, if the engine, under light, load draws 50 cfm of air as commanded by the driver to keep the weight of the truck rolling; and the stock filter flows 600 cfm, tell me where the gain is by changing anything?
There is a big difference between 50 and 600 cfm. The filter or intake tract would have to be plugged to make a big difference.
The OEM filter is seized large enough to be able to retain enough dirt until a change is done in a reasonable time frame.
Why would you think some other filter would be differnt at the same job?
Next, the air intake stock is already cool air intake. Where is the gain from replacing this with another of the same?
And you see some fools with open elements inside the engine bay yet! What did they gain?

 

I would go with something like the Outlaw Power CAI. It is a true cold air intake that seals to the fender. I can't give any MPG reading until summer. Winter driving is too irratic with alot more idling. It sounds great and there seems to be a little more power along with a bit better throttle response.

 

who are you addressing? there is a "quote" button to make life easy.

 

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in response that is....and I'M SURE a dyno would tell me i gained some torque and HP....not saying gobs of it like a diesel but some....

how can you even say it wouldn't?