SiXX
03-06-2008, 12:53 AM
Well guys, I installed the new K&N intake this past weekend (ordered from K&N direct... http://www.knfilters.com/search/product.aspx?Prod=69-8613TS). Install is pretty straightforward, but installing the support bracket was a PITA due to having to pretty much having to do it blind. :? Other than that, no real big deals. If you've installed intakes before, this one is pretty much the same. One poor thing is that the heat-shield really gets shoved up against the battery... so beware of that.
The one change I made is that I also ordered an AEM Dryflow filter (from ajusa.com) to replace the K&N one... I had one on my Mazda 3 and loved its filtering ability (and never having to clean gunk off my MAF). Plus the K&N filter doesn't have a velocity stack in it :question: while the AEM one does. For others who might be interested, order the standard 5" filter w/ a 3" inlet... it's a direct replacement.
Initial impression is positive. It's definitely LOUD... louder than intakes I've had in the past. It may have something to do with the fact that it's a short-ram -vs- full cold-air, however if you're wanting to maintain a quiet ride, this thing is not going to help. Power wise, I tested the car in the city, on the hwy, etc etc... great midrange pickup & a lot better WOT performance. Low end, probably little to no improvement. K&N claims a peak of 9.06hp increase (http://www.kandn.com/dynocharts/69-8613.pdf).
One more plus is hwy gas mileage... with cruise on, and on flat road, my trip computer now has me back up to around 30-32mpg on a fairly regular basis -vs- 27-29. The one side effect is that I like to stomp on it more now, lol... so that's probably offset. ;)
All in all, I love the intake. I live up in the Pacific Northwest where rain can be plentiful... so having a full cold-air just didn't appeal to me (have too many local friends have issues with theirs). This intake is a great compromise. For those who are interested, I also have a TRD exhaust with the "scuba" resonator/cat-converter replaced with a 15" glasspack.
The one change I made is that I also ordered an AEM Dryflow filter (from ajusa.com) to replace the K&N one... I had one on my Mazda 3 and loved its filtering ability (and never having to clean gunk off my MAF). Plus the K&N filter doesn't have a velocity stack in it :question: while the AEM one does. For others who might be interested, order the standard 5" filter w/ a 3" inlet... it's a direct replacement.
Initial impression is positive. It's definitely LOUD... louder than intakes I've had in the past. It may have something to do with the fact that it's a short-ram -vs- full cold-air, however if you're wanting to maintain a quiet ride, this thing is not going to help. Power wise, I tested the car in the city, on the hwy, etc etc... great midrange pickup & a lot better WOT performance. Low end, probably little to no improvement. K&N claims a peak of 9.06hp increase (http://www.kandn.com/dynocharts/69-8613.pdf).
One more plus is hwy gas mileage... with cruise on, and on flat road, my trip computer now has me back up to around 30-32mpg on a fairly regular basis -vs- 27-29. The one side effect is that I like to stomp on it more now, lol... so that's probably offset. ;)
All in all, I love the intake. I live up in the Pacific Northwest where rain can be plentiful... so having a full cold-air just didn't appeal to me (have too many local friends have issues with theirs). This intake is a great compromise. For those who are interested, I also have a TRD exhaust with the "scuba" resonator/cat-converter replaced with a 15" glasspack.