2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission K&N FPIK system/mpg

[rteig]

I am thinking about purchasing a K&N FPIK intake for my 2000 CTD. Anybody have any info on what kind of mpg/performance increases a guy can expect? Thanks

 

[Renoram]

I have the K&N FPIK intake system. I have read many negative reports on the forum on this brand, especially about not filtering air as well as others. I just pulled off my tube yesterday & inspected my turbo blades & they were clean as a whistle. I have had the system installed for the last 3 years now. I can't really tell you accurately about a mpg increase based on my erratic driving schedule & habits, but I can tell you that there is a definite seat of the pants power increase. This one also whistles a lot when you go to this system (like the others). AFE seems like the preffered brand as I read on the forum but it's at least another $100 more as I've seen. If you plan to buy one, Summit Racing has good prices- I bought my 4" exhaust there too. Too expensive for me to spend another $450 & chuck my K & N. I'm happy with it.

 

[rteig]

Thanks for the info! I just bought a 4" exhaust off of eBay for $230, it bolted right up in about 20 minutes and the increase in turbo repsonse is immediatley noticeable. I am really trying to choose my upgrades based on a $ return through fuel savings. I figure if the exhaust yeilds a 1 mpg increase with current fuel costs it should pay for itself in 1200 miles... ... ... ... ... .

 

[2-ND TIME]

air filters

There is a good article on air filters at . ISO 5011 Duramax Air Filter Test Report. Haven't finished it yet myself. My self I have heard of several engines being dusted so Iam not a fan of it. Prejudism on my part.

 

[darkhorse]

K&N doesn't do as good a job filtering dust as say the Proguard 7 AFE but if you don't operate in dusty environments it works good enough. An even more economical solution is the BHAF.

 

[rteig]

Thanks for all of the info. I noticed that K&N also sells a pre-filter, would that solve the "dusting" issue? My driving is probably 75-85% highway. I had looked at the aFE and the BHAF, but was unsure, having had a stock replacement K&N on my 92 I thought that it filtered well enough I just wasn't getting enough air into the airbox and looking at the stock element on the 2000 it looks to me like there is even less surface area to draw air through... ... ... ...

 

[BigEasy]

I just put the BHAF on my 97 last week... I can't understand why anyone would pay the big $$$ for any of the other options. Mine was $32. 08 from NAPA, and it took me longer to get my tools out than it did to do the install...



just my 2 cents...

 

[DonS]

Thanks for the info! I just bought a 4" exhaust off of eBay for $230, it bolted right up in about 20 minutes and the increase in turbo repsonse is immediatley noticeable. I am really trying to choose my upgrades based on a $ return through fuel savings. I figure if the exhaust yeilds a 1 mpg increase with current fuel costs it should pay for itself in 1200 miles... ... ... ... ... .

What are you paying for fuel?!?!?!

-or-

What kind of mileage do you currently get?!?!?!?



Assuming $2. 75 per gallon, you'd have to go from 3. 32 MPG to 4. 32 MPG to save $230 in 1200 miles.

 

[HeavyHauler]

You're not going to see any significant fuel mileage gains from adding a high-flow air filter, especially on a stock engine. If fuel mileage is your main goal, get a set of Mach 1. 2 injectors and/or one of Marco's Smarty programmers. It's more money, but IMO you're just wasting time and money on an air intake bought specifically for mileage gains.



A high flow air filter isn't going to add HP on a stock engine either. You won't be able to feel any difference in seat-of-the-pants power.



BTW, the air filter for the FIPK flows 1,063 CFM. That does not say much for its filtering ability. I would stay away from a K&N filter on the diesels. They have their place in the racing world, but don't filter well enough for daily driving an engine that is built for longevity.

 

[DonS]

If fuel mileage is your main goal, get a set of Mach 1. 2 injectors and/or one of Marco's Smarty programmers.

Assuming $2. 75 per gallon, 18 MPG before, and 21 MPG after, you'd have to drive 29,736 miles to pay for a $649 Smarty (not including shipping).



And that's assuming you could keep your foot out of it

 

[HeavyHauler]

Ok, but at least it would eventually pay for itself. A fancy air intake is not going to do that.



Also, let's face it, no one buys performance add-ons expecting it to pay for itself. Your point is trivial. At least with the Smarty or injectors you would get a significant power gain plus some possible fuel mileage gains. In reality, an air intake is only necessary when your stock filter will not give you enough air for your amount of fueling. And that usually means you've added a lot of fuel and have already had to upgrade turbos.

 

[DonS]

Also, let's face it, no one buys performance add-ons expecting it to pay for itself. Your point is trivial.

But that was precisely my point! In general, we don't buy accessories (performance or otherwise) for fuel economy. We buy them for more torque/HP. Fuel economy gains, if any, are a "bonus" - but not a rationale for the mods (unless you have a gullible spouse controlling the purse strings).

At least with the Smarty or injectors you would get a significant power gain plus some possible fuel mileage gains.

With my Smarty, I get both (I should probably say "either"). We'll see what happens when the M4s are installed. I expect fuel economy will plummet, given the apparent discrepancy in the weights of my feet.



Of course, if I drove the truck aiming for fuel economy (Smarty #1, easy on the go pedal), I could probably pay for the two mods in a couple of years. But, as you and I have now both said, that's not the point.



My Smarty, M4s, MBC, and gauges cost me somewhere around $2000. I'll probably have to add another $800 or so for a clutch in the not-too-distant future. There's no rational way I could say I'm doing this for fuel economy - the chassis will likely rot away before I could realize such savings, if I even wanted to try.

 

[wcjp]

I ran a Scotty II on my 96'. Didn't make a difference for mileage. It did lower EGT's about 100deg.

 

[CAW440]

I have a K & N FIPK that I took off my 2001 ,if your interested make me an offer