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K&N filter

Discussion in 'Performance and Tuning' started by Brandenmontoya10, Feb 1, 2017.

  1. Feb 1, 2017 at 3:37 PM
    #1
    Brandenmontoya10

    Brandenmontoya10 [OP] HE > I

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    What's up fellers. I drive a 2011 Tundra, lifted, on 33's. I drive about 50-100 miles a day on a lot of highway/paved road in SoCal and never off-road. Do you think a K&N filter would be beneficial for me? I have heard two things. 1. It will help gas milage and power or 2. It will let too much dirt through the filter, causing long term problems. What do you guys think?
     
  2. Feb 1, 2017 at 4:15 PM
    #2
    040Tundra

    040Tundra Teddy 2013-2019

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    A little of this and a little of that.
    You'll hear both sides of the story here. Some say don't do it, you won't see any improvement on MPG or power and then there are a few who say it does help.

    I've had a K&N CAI for about 3 months now and I get about 12.8 average (highway/street). I really don't think it helps much if at all. Just sounds cool in my opinion when I step on the gas :burnrubber:.
     
  3. Feb 1, 2017 at 4:18 PM
    #3
    lightningtundra

    lightningtundra New Member

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    Only advantage I have seen is that you don't have to keep buying replacement filters. It might make about 1/2 a mile per gallon difference in reality.
     
    040Tundra likes this.
  4. Feb 1, 2017 at 4:24 PM
    #4
    bobeast

    bobeast really old member

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    - Bull Bar - LED Bunny Burners - AMP retractable running boards - Headlight leveling retrofit - P3 Brake Controller - 60% rear seat delete - relocation of Sub to rear wall - Bilstein 5100 x4, top setting with 2 shims per side - Coach builder +2 rear shackles w/carrier bearing drop - Firestone Air bags - on-board compressor with auto-leveling - Dual Undercover Swing Boxes. - P285/65/R20 (34.6") BFG TA KO2's - TRD Front skid plate - Pop & Lock Tailgate lock - Remote Tailgate mod - LED Headlights - Nav Bypass - iPhone integration - Serius/XM retrofit - 25% front tint - Bizon electric tonneau cover - Power folding tow mirror upgrade - 2010+ leveling Headlight mod - Auto-fold mirror mod. - one-touch lane changer mod - Flash to open garage opener mod - Rigid H/L fog light upgrade - Pushbutton / Remote start mod.
    The only way a CAI or even just a replacement filter can improve MPG and/or power, is if the factory system is the bottleneck to begin with. This does not appear to be the case with our Tundras, so I doubt you'd see any measurable improvement. I don't care for the oiled filters myself because its a pain in the arse to clean and re-oil them. Much easier to trot on down to Pep Boys and pick up a replacement.
     
  5. Feb 1, 2017 at 5:14 PM
    #5
    Basskrazee

    Basskrazee Pop

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    I have an AFE and the only thing that it did was change the way the engine sounds. Waste of money in my opionion.
     
  6. Feb 2, 2017 at 3:09 AM
    #6
    Tundraplatinum

    Tundraplatinum New Member

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    Think about this.. vehicle manufacturer's spend millions of dollars trying to get every little bit of gas mileage they can with the most horsepower possible. So if it were as simple as an air filter don't you think they would have k&n style filter from factory?
     
  7. Feb 2, 2017 at 4:32 AM
    #7
    SOB

    SOB Big Member

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    This is enough reason in my mind. I had a K&N in my Tacoma - hated cleaning it and it left oil residue due to how easy it is to over oil. I have my eye on a AFE for the Tundra. They cost the same as about 2-3 replacement air filters so they should at least pay for themselves over a few years depending on how you drive.

    As for performance - speaking from my Tacoma experience - little to no MPG improvements but it did sound better.
     
  8. Feb 2, 2017 at 5:50 AM
    #8
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    If that were true then there would be no performance aftermarket business in this country. No need for SEMA. No filters, exhausts, tuners, .....throttle body spacers :rofl: ...(Oh wait), "because the OEM 's" already spent millions perfecting everything. I bought my drop in K&N to mainly save a few clams over the long run not for HP/mpg. I've never over oiled a K&N. Been using them since early 70s. It's not exactly rocket science. Takes about 10 minutes to clean and re-oil every 50K or so depending on driving conditions. If you drive in very dusty conditions a lot, you will be replacing OEM filters a lot. That said... OEM filters work just fine for most folks.
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2017
  9. Feb 2, 2017 at 3:05 PM
    #9
    Tundraplatinum

    Tundraplatinum New Member

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    Little excessive but funny. K&n always claimed more horses and better fuel economy. That's where I was going. Of course changing actual parts will have benefits, just not from a air filter.
     
    Black Wolf[QUOTED] likes this.
  10. Feb 2, 2017 at 3:21 PM
    #10
    Tracker

    Tracker New Member

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    Some will tell you they lost mpg others say they gained and others say there's no change. The only true way is to check you tube or something for proven Dino results. I think if you mod your exhaust you will get proven mpg results as long as you aren't always on the gas listening to it
     
    Tundraplatinum likes this.
  11. Feb 2, 2017 at 3:25 PM
    #11
    040Tundra

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    A little of this and a little of that.
    That's probably why I don't see an increase in MPG, I'm always listening to the exhaust, lol :burnrubber:
     
  12. Feb 2, 2017 at 3:51 PM
    #12
    tomsinamerica

    tomsinamerica New Member

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    I'd disagree with this for the most part. Toyota's millions of dollars of investment in R&D in their models go into presumably vehicle longevity, reliability, build quality and now, with more critical focus on efficiency. There's a huge after market for performance enhancers, my camaro is littered with them, but i certainly don't expect to throw down 50,000 miles without some serious headaches because i've sacrificed the longevity & reliability for performance.

    CAIs are probably the weird one here... I'd argue that with Tundra being the thirstiest full size truck by a growing margin each model year, i'm sure it puts some people off buying a Tundra. If they could improve that, even in lab conditions to boost the EPA rating adn therefore sales, by slapping in a CAI or K&N, I'm pretty sure they would do. The fact they can't identify an improvement, even in lab conditions, suggests that the CAI or K&N don't offer any improvement. That's only applicable to a Tundra though, the stock system is relatively well designed... the same may not be true for a different car with crappy restrictively routed intake... (3rd gen 4R)

    just my 2c.
     
    hickmc, Lilly and Tundraplatinum like this.
  13. Feb 2, 2017 at 3:57 PM
    #13
    Tracker

    Tracker New Member

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    To add on Toyota doesn't want to add more maintenence required parts either, it would be a turn off to majority of buyers who are not performance enhancing people. Adding a CAI is for us kind of people which is a much smaller percentage
     
  14. Feb 3, 2017 at 6:25 AM
    #14
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    They all claim more horses, fuel economy, etc. Of course OEM's spend a fortune on R&D, etc.. but it would be naive to think cost savings don't come into play. Toyota has had some recent issues that cost them a fortune in fines and sales. That said.. Using a drop in K&N and following simple maintenance instructions will not sacrifice the longevity & reliability of my Tundra. I do a full check under the hood once a week. I've done this on all my vehicles over the years. I've never bought into most advertised performance claims. Not into junk science. I've never had any reliability issues using dropin K&N's over 45+years of using them. I've had great experience using them. After all this thread is about the K&N filter. Oiled filters have proven themselves over the years. Otherwise they wouldn't still be making and using them in all kinds of situations. FYI...S&B can and did prove greater efficiency in filtering in their lab over the competitions dry air filters. Meets military specs and used by the military. Few do. This has been covered already here previously on this forum. My 2 cents
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2017
    Inquiringone likes this.
  15. Mar 6, 2017 at 1:31 PM
    #15
    scturndra

    scturndra New Member

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    I am looking into the AFE 55-12551 or the AEM 22-680C. It is a straight aluminum pipe that replaces the plastic ribbed hose connecting the air box to the throttle body. The only difference I see other then the letters is the AFE comes with a throttle body spacer. (not sure how I feel about a throttle body spacer) Now do I believe changing out the hose will give me a 18 hp gain.. No I don't... Do I believe it will get me a 4-6 hp gain yes I do, which is not much, compared to the 305 Hp of my 4.6L I just think it will help the air flow smoother to the motor, which will help it work less and it looks better then the plastic stock hose.

    What do you all think?
     
  16. Nov 30, 2018 at 9:02 AM
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    SgtSausage1978

    SgtSausage1978 New Member

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