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Cheese
Dodge Dakota
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4/03/2008
16:13:46
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 Subject: New to Dodge Dakota: K&N intake question
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I just bought a 2002 SLT Quad Cab. I'm getting about 13 mpg with the 4.7 V8, 4 spd auto, 4WD. I'd sure like to see that mpg higher!
Does the K&N intake really improve mpg? I test drove a Dakota with one in it and it sure was loud (I didn't like the noise - it's a vehicle for family trips so noise is important). Are all K&N intakes so loud?
Thanks!
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Lee
Dodge Dakota
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4/03/2008
18:21:29
|  RE: New to Dodge Dakota: K&N intake question
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I'm not sold on K&N filters for performance. I know that they don't filter anywhere near as well as a paper element.
To qualify that statement, I am heavily into dune buggies, and K&N filters are the filters of choice. This is not because they are superior at filtering out particles, but because they don't clog easily. They don't clog easily because they let a lot of particles through! Even their own ad effectively says they need to use DIRT as a filtering medium (the dirtier they get, the better they filter)!
I always run an oiled foam UNI filter wrapped around the K&N filter, and change the foam filter daily. This works well for a VW engine in a buggy, but the rings still don't last as long as they would if I had a better air filter setup. I would never have just a K&N filter on an engine as expensive as the 4.7.
A buddy of mine tried the K&N on his Ram, but he didn't notice any power difference until he got the Borla cat-back exhaust and trans shift kit.
I personally think that 13 MPG is pretty good for a 4.7 in a 4WD Dak. I'm getting about that in my 2000 2WD Dak, although I can get up to 14.5 MPG if I keep my foot out of it. I just changed the spark plugs, so that might help too. If you don't know when yours were last changed, try doing that. They should be changed every 30,000 miles, and mine NEEDED IT! Running a different air filter should have no effect on mileage unless the current paper one is clogged to begin with. Modern computer controlled engines constantly adjust the mixture, so the more free-flowing air filter would most likely result in the PCM enriching the mixture to compensate.
Lee
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choochoo
Dodge Dakota
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4/03/2008
20:33:37
| RE: New to Dodge Dakota: K&N intake question
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If mine got 13, I would be very upset. I have the 4.7 auto in a 2004 QC 4x4 with a Leer cap.
Tires original P245/70R16 @ 38 psig
Replaced spark plugs with Champion coppers
Castrol GTX 5W30 in engine; semi-synth in diffs
K&N drop-in filter
Worst: 18 mpg hiway
Best: 23 mpg hiway
Best mileage at 70 mph
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RadioMan
Dodge Dakota
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4/04/2008
06:13:52
|  RE: New to Dodge Dakota: K&N intake question
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Cheese, I also have a 02, 4x4, auto and factory
tow package. I get 15 MPG combo city/highway.
No, I'm not happy about it at all. In fact, it's
been parked when gas reached 3 bux a gallon. I do
plan on selling it as soon as my 26' travel
trailor is sold. No sence keepen those toys when
you can aford to feed em.
I'd start out with a tune up first. Forget the
K&N filter element. I have one in the 02's
factory filter box and I have not seen any gain
in MPG at all.
The owners manual does say to replace the plugs
at 30k. Easy job and cheap.
Just my two cents worth.
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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4/04/2008
07:19:52
| RE: New to Dodge Dakota: K&N intake question
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It's significant that K&N does NOT claim increased gas mileage - because they can't prove it. I used a drop-in for 30K miles, and it gave zero increase in power and gas mileage. A CAI might give better power, but don't expect a gas mileage increase.
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