K&N Air Intake does improve gas mileage

[nitrocars1]

I posted some questions a months ago about a K&N intake and said I'd post my results. I've had the intake on there about 2.5 months now (8k miles or so). Once I got over the sound and power from gunning it, it get an extra 2-3MPG on the interstate. I was getting about 18.5mpg on the highway between Nashville, TN and Bristol, TN, going about 80-85 with the tailgate up and the bed empty. I get over 20 now. If I slow down to 75, I get almost 22mpg. For people like me who drive 30k+ miles/year, its well worth the upgrade.

[djeaux]

What was your mileage on the truck when you switched to the K&N? Just curious, because Hondas do usually pick up 1-2 mpg around 8-10K on the odometer.

Also, keep tracking your mileage improvement. I used a K&N drop-in on my 2003 GMC Sierra & after a couple of months, the improvement faded back to the previous average. My guess was that the on-board computer actually adjusted the mixture to compensate for the increased air flow.

That said, I'm not slamming K&N, which others are certainly about to do. The K&N kits are very good quality, very good fit'n'finish & if you follow the maintenance directions for the filter, you can prove the doomsayers wrong.

[nitrocars1]

I had about 26k miles on the truck when I put the K&N on there. I have about 33 now.

The onboard computer should be able to adapt within a period of a few miles if its going to change things. The difference of a few months might be that the fuel changed with the seasons (gas is different summer and winter) or the weather changed.

I'll keep my eye on it and see what i find.

Originally Posted by djeaux

What was your mileage on the truck when you switched to the K&N? Just curious, because Hondas do usually pick up 1-2 mpg around 8-10K on the odometer.

Also, keep tracking your mileage improvement. I used a K&N drop-in on my 2003 GMC Sierra & after a couple of months, the improvement faded back to the previous average. My guess was that the on-board computer actually adjusted the mixture to compensate for the increased air flow.

That said, I'm not slamming K&N, which others are certainly about to do. The K&N kits are very good quality, very good fit'n'finish & if you follow the maintenance directions for the filter, you can prove the doomsayers wrong.

[acridgeline]

Hey guy's!

I agree that the K&N 63 series cold air improves gas milage. I too experienced an increase when first installed. After about two weeks, I noticed that it had gone back to normal. I was told that if i disconnect the battery for a short period and then reconect that the computer will reset and you will see the increase is mpg again. With that said ,I think that you just need to to every now and then disconnect the battery to keep the ecu gussing on the mixture to take full advantage of this mod.


Any thoughts?

[mtber]

Originally Posted by acridgeline

I was told that if i disconnect the battery for a short period and then reconect that the computer will reset and you will see the increase is mpg again.

Complete bull****.

[mugen1]

Originally Posted by mtber

Complete bull****.

Which part?

[acridgeline]

It could be BS. But if the computer changes the air/fuel mixture after you have installed the mod and then corrects it back why would this not work? It is like installing the mod all over again as far as the computer is concerned.

[mtber]

Contact hondata ask them if re-setting your ecu has anything to do with your gas mileage or learning a new modification.
I am willing to bet they will tell you it has nothing to do with the performance or gas mileage etc.
The ecu runs on a static program. The variables that control how much fuel/timing are your conditions such as intake air temperature, coolant temperature, baro etc.

[brandont]

Originally Posted by mtber

Contact hondata ask them if re-setting your ecu has anything to do with your gas mileage or learning a new modification.
I am willing to bet they will tell you it has nothing to do with the performance or gas mileage etc.
The ecu runs on a static program. The variables that control how much fuel/timing are your conditions such as intake air temperature, coolant temperature, baro etc.

And actually, the default values you get when you clear the memory are going to be on the safe side, IE: rich & retarded. LOL. When the truck leaves the factory, they don't know how good your gas will be or exactly how prone your engine is too knock. So the mixture will have a little too much fuel and less timing. After driving it, the ECU learns how much it can advance the timing and trim the fuel mixture. Resetting should actually worsen your mileage because you lose that optimization.

[gonzo's rt]

Make sure that when you clean and recoat your K & N Filter, don't over do it with the oil. It's been know to clog the oxygen plugs in some cases.