2.9L & 3.0L V6 Tech General discussion of 2.9L and 3.0L V6 Ford Ranger engines.

k and n filters and intakes- are they worth the money?

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  #1  
Old 03-26-2005
james13f's Avatar
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From: charlotte, nc
k and n filters and intakes- are they worth the money?

the drop-in air filter seems to be, i mean for 3-5x (depending on where and what filter you get) the price of a disposable, you get a filter for the life of your vehicle. i know you have to keep it oiled, but i wouldn't think that could cost as much as $5-15 every 15k miles for a new one.

but what about intakes? do they do that much? i have a borla exhaust system on now, and plan to get a chip from Doug at some point. But that's it besides for maybe headers (a true maybe). i mean for the $200 an intake costs, do you really notice any difference?

the exhaust was worth the money, big difference in sound, and smoothness of acceleration (and ok difference in power). i just don't know if it is worth it to buy an intake or not....

and is it much more than PVC pipe and a 3.5in cone filter? i just don't understand the expense...
 
  #2  
Old 03-26-2005
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From: Poteau, Oklahoma
A guy on GE posted a dyno result of cat back exhaust and just a drop in filter and gained something like 2 rwhp. But when he got the programmer he gained 10rwhp maybe a little more. For the price just go with the bamachip for now...
 
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Old 03-26-2005
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From: nova
The filters really dont help much untill you get a cat-back
 
  #4  
Old 03-26-2005
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From: dfw
sure it's worth it. you never have to buy another filter again. clean it and oil it every 20k miles or so (whatever it recommends for the type of driving you do). it flows better than paper filters so the engine runs better.
 
  #5  
Old 03-26-2005
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From: Smackdownville Tx
Originally Posted by gbgary
sure it's worth it. you never have to buy another filter again. clean it and oil it every 20k miles or so (whatever it recommends for the type of driving you do). it flows better than paper filters so the engine runs better.

Gary speaks the truth...

Reason i got it. Then went with a completely aftermarket system.
 
  #6  
Old 03-26-2005
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From: dfw
oh, and one more thing, the engine sounds great too if you get an fipk. even with just a drop-in and an open air box it sounds better.
 
  #7  
Old 03-26-2005
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Yeah, it's worth it. You can leave it un-attended for a longer amount of time than a paper filter. The cleaning kits are only $10 and they last for a long time.
 
  #8  
Old 03-27-2005
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From: Chino, CA
K&N designed the 3.0l intake on my truck when it was completely stock and the dyno results for the intake on a 3.0l show an 8.5hp jump!!! i have also seen another dyno sheet taken an hour after the sheet that i have that shows an increase of just over 9hp if i remember right
 
  #9  
Old 03-27-2005
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From: Poteau, Oklahoma
Wow, thats impressive. I would love to see those dyno sheets some time.
 
  #10  
Old 03-27-2005
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From: Chino, CA
The following dyno sheet is not of my truck but of another one of the guys that was used to design the kit

 
  #11  
Old 03-27-2005
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Does anybody know what the grain in hp on a 4.0

Bcause I just put my in...

Oh btw I got this in the box...



Is this true for my truck...
 

Last edited by Bigwill41; 03-27-2005 at 09:16 PM.
  #12  
Old 04-13-2005
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went to the K&N site...don't have an FIPK for the 04 yet...would the model for the 03 fit? i dont think there were any changes between the 03 and 04....
 
  #13  
Old 04-13-2005
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the cleaner kits last FOREVER... im still useing the one from my broncoII which i got rid of in 1999
 
  #14  
Old 04-13-2005
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I think they had a test '04 submitted to them earlier in the year for R&D. Not sure of their turnaround, but it should be here hopefully by summer!

Oh and *****, the pic didn't work...
 
  #15  
Old 04-15-2005
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From: East Helena, Montana
Originally Posted by james13f
i just don't know if it is worth it to buy an intake or not....

and is it much more than PVC pipe and a 3.5in cone filter? i just don't understand the expense...
No, it isn't much more than a piece of pipe and a cone filter. And the pipe they charge you an arm and a leg for merely replaces the pipe that's already on the engine. You can get the same result by putting a drop-in K&N air filter in your airbox and then cutting out the bottom 2-3 in. of the front panel of the airbox and taking out the horn-shaped device that sticks out of the front of the airbox. The engine can use just so much air and after that it can't use any more, no matter how much air you make available to it. The airbox mod makes as much air available as the engine can use, and then some. That and the fact that on the 3.0 Ranger you get only a hp or two out of an air intake kit means that they are not worth it and are just another rip off. And you can't trust what any intake manufacturer says about hp increase. What do you think they're going to say, that there product will increase the hp in a 3.0 Ranger by 1-2 hp? All manufacturer claims about their products are suspect.
 
  #16  
Old 04-15-2005
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From: Exit 105 New Jersey
well good or bad I ordered one today for LIL BLUE
as far as I know they just came out this week
got it from StylnConcepts because they have free shipping this weekend
I gave them the part numbers off the K&N site and they called to make sure it could ship
they matched the price I heard Summit was charging over on GE - $296 delivered
2003 and older K&N FIPK will not fit a 2004 and newer Ranger - the air box and intake are different
I plan to make an extension and run it back towards the cowl as a snorkle, or use the sock when off road in dry dusty conditions (like Centralia)


it's blue just like LIL BLUE

 
  #17  
Old 04-15-2005
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From: ***
I heard if you "overclean" the filter the MAF can become pretty dirty.....I've just stuck to paper filters cuz that's what we've always been using and haven't given trouble yet. If I ever went to K & N I'd just get the drop in filter...
 
  #18  
Old 04-15-2005
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From: Shelbyville, Kentucky
well to put in my 2 cents, i have a fram air hog and the difference in all around performance is amazing...it may only equate to a couple of horses, if that, nonetheless, the truck drives so much better now. quicker acceleration, smoother, economy is no better, but never will be with a high flow filter though...
 
  #19  
Old 04-15-2005
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From: Delaware
hey neil thats pretty cool... where is the maf on that thing
 
  #20  
Old 04-16-2005
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From: Exit 105 New Jersey
it bolts in to back facing box in the middle of the tube Bill
the 2004/2005 MAF is made of metal and of a low profile design
 
  #21  
Old 04-17-2005
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From: Cleveland, Ohio
Damn you all...my FIPK on my '03 doesn't have that nice extension piece that bolts into the factory airbox holes like Neils does...DAMNET.

Anyway mine has that whole metal piece EXCEPT the bottom 3 inches or so with the 90 degree bend and bolt holes. I definitely need to get a dust cover cuz its really gross after Centralia...I'm cleaning it this week when I change my oil too...(usually a good idea to change oil after offroading a lot, from what I've heard) Anyway tho Neil I'll take the price difference on my '03 and earlier I paid $197 plus $15 shipping last year...so newer always comes with the price premium...

Maybe if I call K&N they'll sell me just that metal bracket so I can bolt my kit down. Next time we get together we can compare the differences...according to that picture of yours they are VERY different for only 1 year difference.
 
  #22  
Old 04-17-2005
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OOOO I had to post once more just to get to 100 posts...weeeeeeeeeeeee :)
 
  #23  
Old 04-17-2005
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i just did the cone air filter with a cheap auto zone adapter and i noticed a little difference. i am going to go with the one on www. macperformance.com i just like it because its pretty!!( and its about $50 less than the fipk)
 
  #24  
Old 04-17-2005
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From: georgia
the hp gains the intake deigners show off are flywheel numbers. not true at-the-tire hp numbers. and if you go offroading alot and through water, would it be wise to have an 'open' fileter like that? id feel a lil uncomforatable about the enhanced chance of becoming waterlogged.
 
  #25  
Old 04-18-2005
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From: Altamonte Springs FL
I have read on several places that K&N's allow too much dirt and crud into the engine. One guy took a piece of I think it was filter paper and put it behind the filter. He tested a drop in paper and a drop in K&N and the dirt on the K&N (not the oil, it was dirt) test was FAR more than the paper.
I've seen way too many people say that for me to trust that on my truck. The temptation is there but I really want to keep my engine clean. If anyone has any valid evidence against that claim I'd really like to see it. Aside from "I've used it for 8 million years and never had a problem".
 


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