First decent road trip for my Cummins.

[Diamondpilot]

My main reason for switching over to the K&N style filters was cost. On many diesels the paper filter is $70 or so and the K&N is about the same cost but only one time, not once a year.

My diesel trucks all have bigger exhaust and chips so the filter just rounded off the package also.

Chris

 

[RobertN]

When I got my '01 RAM, I got the heavy duty camper package, including 4:10's. I found two things...

- Mileage hit; I have done 19mpg empty on a road trip up Interstate-5 in N. Calif and Or. I was babying it a lot to get that.
- That Cummins does not need 4:10's... I have thought about changing to 3:73 if budget would allow...

I don't think it's your engine, I think it's your rear end, well, your trucks rear end. Probably have the low gear ratio, 4:10's or what ever they were then.

But that was an ugly load as far as aerodynamics go, look what it did to your gasser. So I would not be to upset with the MPG's

 

[schmism]

My immediate thoughts on my current mileage tend to be that most people exaggerate, or inflate their economy a bit, or they go by the rather optimistic computer generated figures on the overhead console.

My mpg numbers come from my ScanGaugeII which i use for both RPM reading and MPG. It has a lot of other great features i make use of also including the consumption fill up which calculates how much fuel i should have used and compare that to how much i put in as the pump-cut-off point on the van is VERY inconsistent.

Since i started useing the Scangauge to figure fill up amount, my hand calc MPG is much more consistent and matches the electronic version to withing .2-.4 mpg. prior to that my fillups were not consistent which lead to wild swings in hand calculated mpg.

 

[MFRED]

If the truck wasn't used for towing, or has been babied most of it's life, you should see your mpg numbers increase as is gets used more.

If you want to increase mpg substantially, add a mild tuner. If you drive within reason, you will go may miles without any issues and increase mileage.

Among my fleet of Dodges, there is an 04 3500 dually. This truck is bone stock and will always average in the 10-11 mpg range when loaded 6,000 - 7,0000 lbs. 15 mpg empty.

I have others, single wheel, standards that are in the 24-26mpg empty that can I can get 17-18 loaded 10,000lb. These are chipped 150+ hp & driven responsibly. Around town mileage will drop as well.

Be sure to mash the go pedal & clean it out every once & a while.

 

[oliver1555]

Agreed, I've had the same experience with K&N's...The oil patch example that was posted is a bit extreme...I'd probably have an AprilAir 2400 (house filter)as a prefilter if I ran in that dust every day.

Nothing extreme at all - just an example of how thousands of Dodge CTD pickups are used every day by oil field workers, ranchers, farmers, etc. I have over 200,000 on my present Dodge and have used only Fleetguard - filter division of Cummins - since I bought it. I get them from my area Cummins outlet - $11 for fuel filter, $9 for oil filter, and $14 for air filter. Chrysler will hold you up for over $100 for all three and they are simply Fleetguard in a box that has Mopar printed on it. NAPA is proud of theirs, as well.

As far as what to expect from a gasser - I haven't owned one in many years and maybe K&N filters do help their power. The original poster was asking about a cummins engine and that was what my reply concerned. My cummins will build 21 PSI of boost with a paper Fleetguard filter and has never pulled the filterminder down. The wastegate opens at 21 PSI. I don't see how my filter could be seen as a restriction.

 

[Dmace]

Yup ... but I'm just not sure which aspect you are commenting on (the warranty issue or the downsides to K&N filters ......)

Both points are far from the truth.

Yeah but ..... will it go 500K or 1M ?

The filter - YES, the engine - MAYBE.

You do realize that, generally, the dirtier an air filter is, the better it filters right ?

Sure it FILTERS better but a solid piece of steel would filter better too!
The point of a filter is to FILTER the air while disrupting the FLOW as little as possible. Obviously you care about FILTERING but NOT about AIRFLOW. :laughing:

Uhhh ..... how exactly are you determining that ?
Got a bunch of UOA's with really low silicon numbers you'd like to show us ?

I have an engine that's still running, perfect compression and gets better fuel mileage than stock. That's all the proof I need. If they were as bad as you say, then everyone would have engine problems with these filters which is obviously not true.

To the original poster: Pay attention to the fact that everyone here bashing a K&N filter HEARD they were bad online or from a friend whereas everyone who praises them ACTUALLY USES THEM!
Also, you don't need an entire K&N intake system, just a drop-in filter will make a difference.

 

[rswyan]

Sure it FILTERS better but a solid piece of steel would filter better too!

Somehow, I rather seriously doubt it :laughing:

The point of a filter is to FILTER the air while disrupting the FLOW as little as possible.

No - the point of a filter is ...... to filter .....

To wit, the filter is intended remove contaminates from the stream of whatever it is filtering ....

The inenevitable consequence of doing that is some disruption of flow.

Obviously you care about FILTERING but NOT about AIRFLOW.

Why would you say that ?

I have restriction gauges on both my Dodge Sprinter and my RAM .... I'm at least in a position to make an observation about whether or not I have restricted or inadequate airflow ....

I have an engine that's still running, perfect compression and gets better fuel mileage than stock. That's all the proof I need. If they were as bad as you say, then everyone would have engine problems with these filters which is obviously not true.

Might just be the difference between having an engine that will go 250K miles .... or one that will go 500K or 1M .....

Realistically, I'll probably never put 500K or 1M on my RAM ..... the Sprinter is a different story however .... 500K miles is easily within reach .... another year and half and I'll be there .... maybe sooner ....

To the original poster: Pay attention to the fact that everyone here bashing a K&N filter HEARD they were bad online or from a friend whereas everyone who praises them ACTUALLY USES THEM!

The above assumes that everyone doing (so-called) "bashing" on K&N have no experience with them whatsoever .... simply because they choose to refer to some data available online .....

That is, of course, a logical fallacy .....

 

[oliver1555]

First hand experience - Oil and dust on the fins of turbos on two CTDs, owned by the company I worked for and used in the oil patch. My eyes are good enough to pass my driver license test, so I'm not completely blind, yet. I'm just relaying first hand experience. Your experience may be different. If you like K&N filters, use them.

 

[gilraine]

Wow some K&N bashing here. I put one in my truck and instantly got a solid 5+% increase in mpg's and a little more umph

I did read some of the negative stuff out there, but they say it will not void a warranty.

JB

the issue is that K and N filters don't filter nearly as well as a stock filter.. we dusted the turbo on a 7.3 with a K and N.. stick with a AFE or the like on a diesel.. gassers aren't as bad, they use far less air..

 

[Dmace]

the issue is that K and N filters don't filter nearly as well as a stock filter.. we dusted the turbo on a 7.3 with a K and N..

K&N has a million mile warranty on their filters. If you REALLY "dusted" the turbo on an engine with one PROPERLY installed then file a claim. I'm sure you installed it properly, cleaned and oiled it prior to use and had an air-tight intake system that didn't allow any air in to the turbo after the filter...