Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Good Article in Diesel Power Mag on Air Intake on a Dodge

[DixonL]

Just got the October issue of diesel power and they did a real nice article on air intake systems for dodge diesels. They ran 6 different air intakes and the stock one on the dyno to see if there was any performance difference. The intake systems were Airaid, K&N, Volant, AFE, True Flow, S & B, and the stock Mopar filter.



And the results... ... they performed the same when it came to horsepower and torque!!!



At least this should tell us the airflow at the stock performance is not a limiting factor. They do think at the higher performance... these intakes should provide more performance once fuel is added. They also note that the air restrictions could be occuring at the intake manifold.



Now... . what I wonder is how are these companies that sell these filters making these horsepower claims..... they must not be on a stock truck... . accourding to this study. Kind of deceiving is it??



Thad (Ohio)

 

[NoSeeUm]

Yeah, in essence the intake does not increase Hp, it just allows for more of it.



You will only add Hp from an intake if you have upped the engine performance level. Then the stock system falls short, because it begins to choke off air that the engine is trying to pull. The Hp gained statements are really false. It is just Hp captured that was lost, considering if there was no intake filter at all.



Jim

 

[JLabossiere]

I read that article also and it didn't tell me much either, other they had a lot of time on their hands and no research skills. They use a stock truck that is limited in how much air it can consume, so it doesn't matter wether it the stock filter or after market.



What I would of like to have seen is:

1. How much can this filters actually flow under hard use.

2. Which filter works the best at filtering out the dirt.

3. Which is the most user friendly and easiest to clean.



Otherwards which filter would be the best buy for the dollar I sweated for. But then they have to look at that all of these filters they tested. The filter companys pay for advertising space in their magazine and they don't want to rock the boat.

So which is the best? Currently I am using a air raid cone filter and it seems to filter the dirt quite well. The tube is clean when I service the truck were as the stock filter never sealed properly and I always found a coating of dust inside the tube. But as for the amount of air it intake's, it seems to lack in that department, the intake indicator is always pulled down at least third to half way and that is with normal. . (ish) driving.

So has anyone actually have used a number of these filters to give a honest answer on which gave them the warm fuzzy feeling?

This was a little long winded but that magazine article irked me. Lot's of nothing written.

 

[Boondocker]

Hopefully, we all know that colder air is denser air and denser air contains more oxygen, thus improving combustion. Diesels suck air based on demand - more fuel requires more oxygen. All the potential in the world doesn't mean squat if you don't use it.



I'm at about 350HP and had been running a BHAF (not tested by DP) for a couple of years. Last May, at the TDR May Madness, I had a long conversation with a guy who makes a nice cold air kit for 3rd gens. He did some real-world research, not just CFM metering, but driving up a long grade with tempurature probes using a variety of kits.



What I learned from his research is that just about every filter kit, including stock, flows plenty, up to around 400HP. So for most of us, the difference comes down to EGT. Cooler intake leads to cooler exhaust. When your EGT gets too hot, you have to back off, i. e. use less horsepower. The stock box was the coolest (except for his, of course - 3rd gen only). Note, the Scotty II (for 2nd gen) was not tested, but I wouldn't use one anyway.



The moral of this story is, I put my stock box and filter back in. I didn't do testing, so I can't claim that it runs cooler than a BHAF, but common sense dictates that stock is cooler because an open element draws hot air from under the hood and a stock box draws air from the fender well, closer to outside. What I did do was tow my trailer for 3500 miles in August. I brought the BHAF just in case, but with a new stock filter, I never pulled down the filter minder even under full load conditions. Note that when I first switched back to the stock box, I had a dirty, stock filter and could pull down the filter minder. The benefits - it was a little quieter in the cab. Those were some long days driving with wife and child - the benefit of a couple less decibles hour after hour far outways the most outrageous HP claims of any air box maker. Turbo whine is cool, for like a minute.



Take it for what it's worth.



Neil

How much power you can make is for competition. How much power you can use is for towing.



P. S. And then there's the Fram Boost TV commercial that is airing alot lately with a bunch of suckers making engine noises. Hello - I'm sure the Fram Boost exposes more engine noise, does it make real power - yea right. But hey, if you can lift your hood, you can probably install one yourself.

 

[SMacLeod]

Just got the October issue of diesel power and they did a real nice article on air intake systems for dodge diesels. They ran 6 different air intakes and the stock one on the dyno to see if there was any performance difference. The intake systems were Airaid, K&N, Volant, AFE, True Flow, S & B, and the stock Mopar filter.



And the results... ... they performed the same when it came to horsepower and torque!!!



At least this should tell us the airflow at the stock performance is not a limiting factor. They do think at the higher performance... these intakes should provide more performance once fuel is added. They also note that the air restrictions could be occuring at the intake manifold.



Now... . what I wonder is how are these companies that sell these filters making these horsepower claims..... they must not be on a stock truck... . accourding to this study. Kind of deceiving is it??



Thad (Ohio)

I read this also and agree about the claims.

 

[GOTSOOT]

Boondocker-if turbo whine is too loud--your are too old!!!

 

[Big A]

Boondocker,

Did you put the air horn between the fender and the stock filter box back in too? The reason I ask, is because I removed mine, because it seemed to be drawing my filter minder.

Big A

 

[Boondocker]

Boondocker,

Did you put the air horn between the fender and the stock filter box back in too? The reason I ask, is because I removed mine, because it seemed to be drawing my filter minder.

Big A

I did. It's big plastic collar about twice the diameter of the hose going to the turbo. I don't see how it could restrict unless it got turned sideways and blocked the opening.

Boondocker-if turbo whine is too loud--your are too old!!!

True. If you mean that I prefer conversation with my family, listening to music, and sounds of my engine and exhaust over high-pitched tones - I'm guilty. I guess there's just no accounting for taste

 

[Big A]

I did. It's big plastic collar about twice the diameter of the hose going to the turbo. I don't see how it could restrict unless it got turned sideways and blocked the opening.



True. If you mean that I prefer conversation with my family, listening to music, and sounds of my engine and exhaust over high-pitched tones - I'm guilty. I guess there's just no accounting for taste

No, thats not the piece I'm talking about. The piece I'm talking about is the small plastic oval shaped piece, that fits between the fender, and the airbox.

Big A