It's a toss up between the K&N or the Air-raid drop in filter.Unless there's better suggestions.

 

Why not stay stock? I've found that K&N does flow more...but more flow does have a downside...it lets in more particles also. IMO for the extra 1/2 hp you might gain from an aftermarket filter...i'd play it safe and go OEM.

 

X's 2

especially if you have a 4wd and you actually plan on using it off road. 1) dust and dirt clogs up the oiled filters even faster, and then starts to rob HP, and 2) they will in fact let more particles through if they flow more, if they're the same size and shape as the OEM

 

Go K&N.

 

Save your money and stay with stock. I've used K&N before and seen no improvement in milage or performance. It did let in more crap and gum up my throttle body sooner than a stock filter though. There was one in my 95 z28 when I bought it. Who ever had it before me over oiled it and it ruined the MAF sensor. A $350.00 part.

Most stock filters will flow more air than a stock engine can handle. Unless your engine is modified and the ECM retuned for more air flow, your not going to see any improvement in performance. Thats not opinion, thats fact.

A lot of guys on this and other sites will quote seat of the pants feel and dyno numbers, don't buy it. You can dyno the same truck on three different days on three different dyno's and get three different results. If there is any gain it's usualy very little and at wide open throttle. Again save your money.

 

Ford puts an unbelievable about of R&D into their engines. They need the engine to run at optimum performance so it will pass emissions with flying colors. So you can bet that they balance everything out just the way it needs to be, and they they'll give the engine all the air it needs to run properly. If it's too little air flow, the engine will run rich; too much air, and the engine will run lean, both of which cause a loss in HP and an increase in emissions.

I see no need to change the filtration system unless there's other, more significant mods to the engine itself, like higher profile cam shafts that allow more air delivery, or a supercharger that obviously sucks in more air.


but that's just my $0.02

 

Everybody makes a good statement I'm just going to save my $60, thanks for everybody's help.

 

want more power?



swap out the upper intake manifold and air intake tube. also couple pulleys and ecm retune.
and listen to her whine!!


Disclaimer: There is many other parts to change/install other then those listed to install a supercharger properly. Consult your installation manual.

 

I think engines are much better tuned from the factory than they used to be in the quest for low emissions and better fuel mileage. My 4.0L 1999 Ranger really came alive when I added an S&B conical air filter and I gained 1-1.5 mpg. On the other hand, my 2002 Subaru Outback and 2003 Tundra both lost low end power with a K&N drop-in. I would stick with stock.

 

I used to use aftermarket filters and exhaust. Like said before I think the new vehicles now are set up to perform about as good as possible. Unless it is for the sound it is not worth doing either anymore. IMO.