ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion - Cold Air Intake vs K&N High Flow Air Filter

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- LS - 3rd Gen (2001-2006) (https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-3rd-gen-2001-2006-158/)

- - Cold Air Intake vs K&N High Flow Air Filter (https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-3rd-gen-2001-2006/908620-cold-air-intake-vs-k-and-n-high-flow-air-filter.html)

Cold Air Intake vs K&N High Flow Air Filter

I really want to know if theirs a difference in HP Gain between a $150-$200 Injen CAI vs $45 K&N High Flow Filter
in HP Gain they both should be the same right?
So i just stopped by Oriley's and picked me up a K&N
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...c3f0bcc1c9.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...66ab8e7c58.jpg

I seriously doubt that any filter that will fit in the OEM airbox can actually deliver increased airflow without decreasing the filters ability to filter the air as well as the OEM.

The filter has a oiled coated layer on one side so that was to catch the dust and when you wash it you’re suppose to apply oil to that one side

The Injen CAI will be getting hot air from the engine because the air filter is in the engine bay?

Tons of controversy re oiled filter elements, not just K&N, wreaking havoc on mass air flow sensors. Usually it's attributed to over oiling but there's a fine line between over and under oiling the element. Those claims may or may not be accurate but the small amount of HP increase isn't worth the trouble IMO. If you're looking for more horsepower from a 4 door sedan an air filter isn't going to do much. Google the JBrady intake mod which became popular for late 90's LS400 owners. Something like that might be a good place to start since it's FREE...u

Fish is correct the injen intake will just be sucking hot air from your engine bay you would have to make something to get cold air to it, the stock air box allready does this. The k&n filter will probably not add power the injen cai without a cold air source will loose hp and tq 100%.

Im in cali so a cai is illegal to have, so i resorted to the K&N. First drive put it in sport turn power mode on drop it down to 3rd did a pull till 4k acceleration is a noticeably faster i also have 3rd cat delete resenator delete with 2 dirft dialects cananon ball mufflers im haappy with this $45 purchase CAI is a waste for this car in my opinion

imho it would be more effective to sell the LS, and get something that can accelerate faster if that is the goal.

To make any HP gain, the physics is the engine need to suck in more air from intake and let go more air from exhaust. Changing filter media, even if it somehow let more air into the engine, there is still issue with getting the hot air out of the exhaust.

If somehow one can get more air in and out by simple mod, then maybe the engine may gain some horsepower (tbh, unless someone dyno the before and after the mod, I call it BS).

Even if the engine produce some extra horsepower, the car is still a 4000lbs boat with the same automatic transmission that shift the same way, so the LS maybe accelerate 0.001 sec faster. The car may sound louder, and that makes it feel faster... but if you are happy, we all happy for ya :)

Pulling air from inside the engine bay is definitely going to sending warmer air inside the engine than pulling air from the front of the grille. I don't understand why people think engine bay air is better than fresh cold air from the front of the car. K&N is also highly controversial and not worth the risk, you can easily Google their problems.

Also, by using these aftermarket air intake products, you are saying that the Lexus engine design engineers did not do extremely sophisticated engineering (CAD/CAM/FEA/computational fluid dynamics/etc) to create one of the most efficient V8 engines ever made. It is widely reported that Toyota spent one billion US dollars in R&D to develop the LS430 and 3UZ-FE. However, if the Lexus engineers overlooked something, surely these aftermarket manufacturers can prove lower air intake temperature, enhanced fuel economy, and enhanced power output with a simple before and after readout from TechStream's live ECT screen. You can do this comparison yourself with a $30 USB cable and a laptop.

Since it's been many years and no one has posted up such proof, this should be your clue that these aftermarket intakes don't do anything. Now, if Toyota Racing Division or TOMS designed a special intake, that may be worth considering, depending on the other components required to maximize the benefits of such intakes (e.g. forced induction).