K & N Air Filter effects on mileage

[smcclanahan/Vue]

Has anyone tried a K&N air filter in their Vue ? I have a 2003 with the 3.0 liter V6. I'm hoping that breathing better will help the mileage 18.25 mpg to 20.9 mpg in town. love my SUV ! :usa:

[burlyvue2]

I have run stock filters in my Vue for all of its 80K miles. From what I have seen here the K&N changes the sound of the engine but gives little performance gains. I have not personally put a K&N filter in my 2003 V6 FWD Vue but still get a average of 22 MPG with highs of 25 if I really drive like Gramma and stick around 65 MPH on the highway. At $2.77/Gallon here today I am tending to keep my right foot out of the pedal when the light turns green, but dang it, the Vue sure goes when you want to go!


:flag:

[fatabbot]

IMO, K&N air filters are not worth the cost unless you drive an insane number of miles or drive in dusty conditions where you'd be replacing paper filters way too often.

I wouldn't expect any measurable gains in performance or mileage from just a filter.

[D C]

I wouldn't expect any measurable gains in performance or mileage from just a filter.

That about sums it up.
If there was ANY increase in mileage with something as cheap as an air filter, GM and every other company would be all over it.

[fatabbot]

That about sums it up.
If there was ANY increase in mileage with something as cheap as an air filter, GM and every other company would be all over it.

But it sure is a good ploy to make a lot of money for K&N :D

Don't get me wrong, if you were to buy an intake system, I'd recommend a K&N cone filter for said intake. However, just adding a K&N filter to the stock intake tract will do nothing. Just like adding Splitfire plugs or new plug wires. Everyone wants cheap results, which unfortunately aren't easy to come by anymore.

[scotted73]

Has anyone tried a K&N air filter in their Vue ? I have a 2003 with the 3.0 liter V6. I'm hoping that breathing better will help the mileage 18.25 mpg to 20.9 mpg in town. love my SUV ! :usa:

I swapped out the stock filter for a K&N drop-in filter in my 2003 AWD V6 VUE. I noticed a quicker throttle response and a small increase in fuel mileage. At 52,000 miles, I am getting 21-23 mpg with mixed city/highway driving. I generally drive normal to spirited as the traffic flows above posted speed in the Seattle/Everett area. The K&N filter currently has 30,000+ miles on it.

The drop-in replacement filters do not change the intake sound as much or even at all, as a full replacent K&N intake system would. The savings come from the fact that 2 1/2 regular paper filter changes would equal the cost of an average drop-in replacement filter. A simple cleaning and oiling at 50,000 miles of use is all that is needed for maintenance.

[Bill Murray]

Long but worth reading if you want to see a fairly scientific test of various filter designs done by a hobbyist with a Miata (he measures restriction and filtration capability):

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm

[D C]

An air filter will ONLY make a difference if the air filter on the car is a restriction that prevents the engine from getting enough air, which it is not. Any performance increases felt from an air filter alone are probably from the reduced weight in your wallet and the pure hope that it will make a difference.

I knew a guy in college that was pretty successful at drag racing. When he started out, his car looked crummy and he ALWAYS ran a dirty filter. The dirty filter didn't make any difference and his whole appearance made people sympathetic so they were willing to help him and give him pointers. Pretty clever guy.

[stang67gt350]

I have never noticed an appreciable increase in gas mileage or performance by swapping out stock paper for K&N drop in filter. I have noticed huge differences when making changes on my motorcycles, but that's a different story.

Even so, I have been running K&N filters for years. When replacing the stock filter I always opt for the K&N. In part because I typically am cleaning filters for 4 or more vehicles at one time, in part because you can go 50K miles without requiring a cleaning if you are averse to routine maintenance or drive lots of miels, and in part (as scottd mentioned) after 2.5 replacements the breakeven point has been passed.

[05vueblue]

I bought the kn filter right when my truck was new, it only had about 100miles on the facotry one. I now put the entired intake no it...anyway in my BMW I had, the computer in it said I was only getting 28mpg flat out running, when I put the kn in it i was averaging 30 on the same road same conditions. I believe they work, at least in the BMW. Now with the vue and the entire intake replacment, it does make a difference, lost some low-end but mid range it will scream.

[MiSaturn]

Just did 393.3 mi on 9.6gal of cheapo gas or 40.96mpg (2002 SL, 65k). While it may not help - it certainly hasn't hurt! My personal feeling is that tire inflation (I run about 10% over the door sticker) and M1 in engine and tranny are bigger contributors to better gas mileage than the K & N filter.

[dogturd21]

I knew a guy in college that was pretty successful at drag racing. When he started out, his car looked crummy and he ALWAYS ran a dirty filter. The dirty filter didn't make any difference and his whole appearance made people sympathetic so they were willing to help him and give him pointers. Pretty clever guy.

Sort of reminds me of a drag-racing sleeper: a non-descript car easily overlooked that can run like a scalded dog. Or even a WW-I Q-Ship: http://www.answers.com/topic/q-ship