K&N FPIK Intake kit relocates Air Charge Sensor???

[R.Taylor]

Hello Everbody,
I noticed something really odd on my new (pre-owned) 2006 2500 CTD. The previous owner installed the K&N AirCharger Intake System P/N 63-1532. As I was looking at it the other day I noticed that the air charge / temp sensor was attached to the side of the metal filter box housing with it's own little mini K&N filter on it. It's not mounted on the intake tube in the air path but rather off to the side of the filter. I looked online and in the directions that is what K&N says to do. I have seen other intake kits like AFE and so on that have a mounting point for the sensor... . Placing it into the airflow. This makes no sense at all, Should not the sensor be in the incoming filtered air path so it can work correctly? What is K&N's reason for this? I've attached 2 pictures for reference. I just dont see how the sensor is supposed to get a correct reading being covered by a small oiled filter off to the side, I doubt much air circulates around there. I dont believe it can be getting a proper reading as it's installed now, With no air flowing over it is it sending a higher temp reading to the ECU? I think I am going to ace this POS K&N kit for something better..... Any ideas on a good intake and filter kit (not the home depot one!). How's AFE? Any input on a better intake or why perhaps K&N wants you to mount the sensor out of the air path would be great. Geez, I bet if it was a MAF sensor K&N would want you to bolt it to the top of the cab! Could this also be a factor why I only get 15. 9 MPG max on the freeway at 70 MPH (empty)?? The truck has a 4" Magnaflow turbo back system... No cat.


Cheers!

R. Taylor

 

[Dodge5256]

this is also the case with the air intake that i got from ats when i got my twin turbos. the only real difference is the sensor does not have a filter over it its just out in the open. i wounder if i should look into getting a filter to cover it? from what ats told me it does not matter if its mounted in the intake stream or near it as the sensor should get "close enough" readings. this is just what iv been told. it will be interesting to see what others think.

 

[R.Taylor]

this is also the case with the air intake that i got from ats when i got my twin turbos. the only real difference is the sensor does not have a filter over it its just out in the open. i wounder if i should look into getting a filter to cover it? from what ats told me it does not matter if its mounted in the intake stream or near it as the sensor should get "close enough" readings. this is just what iv been told. it will be interesting to see what others think.

I think it's BS, "Close enough" readings sounds odd when it's signal goes to the ECM... . Which in the end is controlling the whole nine yards. If it did not matter then Dodge would have mounted it under the hood somewhere rather than in the air stream... Or let alone not even put one on the vehicle. It's in that location for a reason. Plus I'd think it's calibrated to read correctly while being in the stream of air.

 

[Bekim]

The IAT measures air temprature and barometric pressure. It's a bit odd that it's mounted thiat way, but the readings will be the same.
Mike
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[Heavyweight]

If this was me,,, I would buy an AFE filter and junk the K&N...

 

[LRutigliano]

The real reason for the K&N being set up that way was to save tooling $$$ when they roto-molded or blow molded that intake duct. Adding the sensor boss and nut-serts adds tooling $$$.



Also, that duct may be used on other applications with a simple band saw line and the sensor boss would not be applicable to the many different offerings.



Personally, I would get rid of it as soon as I did my homework on deciding which air intake is best for me. Only you can decide.



Be careful when investigating as many vendors claim 99. 5% efficient and higher but they are testing with coarse dust and not fine dust which are much smaller particles.



For the cost and performance, the aFe Pro-guard 7 filter is hard to beat. They offer it in many different sizes from the stock air box to very large cone filters.



My only gripe with most of the aftermarket systems (tube, elbows, filter, steel shields) is they fit very poorly and can be a PITA to service compared to the stock airbox and the DPP cool hose.



Please reference Performance Systems Manufacturing, LLC for some good technical info on air intake systems for our trucks.



Good luck.

Louis

 

[Heavyweight]

Louis has great points... . I have the PSM and love it, recommend it and the cool hose!

 

[nickleinonen]

i ran my bhaf with the iat/baro sensor open and exposed for a good while, and now i have it in the piping. . no difference. i'd switch back to it being open but then i'd have a hole in my rubber elbow off the bhaf.

the iat temp reading being inside the pipe or right next to the pipe will be virtually identical. and the baro sensor will always read correctly, and not a slightly lower number caused by air filter restriction.

if that were mine, i'd leave it as is and maybe get a better filter element to replace the primary k&n and leave the little one on the baro/iat sensor. .

$0. 02cdn funds