Is there any significant benefit to having a cold air intake?

[Ext1809]

Just posted this on jokes, but make it more aerodynamic!

And all kidding aside, proper tire inflation is huge - but with 26 MPG (nearly 10 above my mpg), I'd say you could teach us many lessons on getting better MPG!

Is this patent pending anywhere?

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[Grumpaw]

Is this patent pending anywhere?

I believe if you contact subquark he may have a huge supply of the special material used to make those highly complicated and aero parts. He gets stuff delivered on a regular basis, packaged in that stuff.
He also makes frequent dump runs and may be able to pick up a supply there.

 

[Ninong]

I wouldn't go looking for any significant MPG gains based on the addition of an after-market cold air intake. I do run the Rousch air intake, and did notice improved acceleration, but it's part of combined modifications including cat-back exhaust, after-market charge tubes and intercooler along with a tune and running premium gas. I am not looking for MPG, rather that push you back in the seat feel when the skinny pedal is pushed. For MPG I would look at lighter wheels/tires and rolling resistance.

 

[Jason B]

Actually no, the entire term is a complete misnomer and has been since its conception.

In the firearm world it is the function equivalency of calling a suppressor a "silencer".

I would argue, purely for the sake of argument, that Nitrous Oxide use in a car is the closet functional equivalent to a "cold air" intake than a marketed "cold air" intake pipe ever could be.

"Cold Air Intake" has been and always will be a marketing buzzword.

Now if you were to ask the most functional air intake piping you can possibly purchase, then the answer to that would be a snorkel intake. With that said, performance per dollar a snorkel still rates on the bottom tier of products people are buying for turbocharged engines if we are speaking strictly on terms of gains on any level.

I agree on the misnomer. I have seen photos of people that installed a 'Cold Air Intake' with the cone filter directly in the engine compartment. These might improve air flow, but it isn't cold air.

 

[davewho]

Your ’19-21 Ford Ranger IS equipped with a cold-air intake.

 

[Djlink]

I bought my 2021 Ranger crew cab XLT 4x4 from Fullerton Ford 2 years ago. Fullerton is 500 miles from me. On the way home with just me in the truck I got 19mpg. When I got home I put a tonneau on the bed and am AFE Magnun Force cold air intake and a Velossa Tech Big Mouth snorkel. 2 months later I drove to Palm Springs with my wife and got 25mpg. This summer I drove to Washington and got 28mpg with Oregon gas. I feel that the air intake modifications were a big help in increasing my mpg.

 

[JohnnyO]

Your ’19-21 Ford Ranger IS equipped with a cold-air intake.

Agree. Just get a K&N replacement filter and call it good.

 

[Grumpaw]

Agree. Just get a K&N replacement filter and call it good.

Plain old regular paper type air filter is probably around twice as good in filtering vs. a K&N air filter.
Depending on which "test" you view, a K&N will stop particles up to 25-100 microns, while a regular Ford Motorcraft paper filter will stop particles from 3 to 12 microns in size.
There's really nothing in the aftermarket "free flowing" filters that come close to an OE or even a regular Fram/Purolator paper filter.
All the K&N filters do is lighten your wallet and make woooshing sounds.

 

[landiscarrier]

I bought my 2021 Ranger crew cab XLT 4x4 from Fullerton Ford 2 years ago. Fullerton is 500 miles from me. On the way home with just me in the truck I got 19mpg. When I got home I put a tonneau on the bed and am AFE Magnun Force cold air intake and a Velossa Tech Big Mouth snorkel. 2 months later I drove to Palm Springs with my wife and got 25mpg. This summer I drove to Washington and got 28mpg with Oregon gas. I feel that the air intake modifications were a big help in increasing my mpg.

WOW, those are crazy gains!. I have Lariat 4x4 with the Mishimoto CAI and Velossa Tech and I drive like an old man (well I am 55 haha) and I've never seen 28mpg. I do a lot of highway and the best I get is 23mpg....typically I'm around 21-22. I am also Unleashed tuned 93octane with 1" wheel spcers. I think I saw a drop when I added the spacers.

 

[davewho]

Agree. Just get a K&N replacement filter and call it good.

I like K&N filters for off-road racing. Not for street. K&N filters flow more air than stock (reportedly) but they also flow more dirt. Plain pleated paper is actually better at keeping dirt out.

 

[JohnnyO]

Plain old regular paper type air filter is probably around twice as good in filtering vs. a K&N air filter.
Depending on which "test" you view, a K&N will stop particles up to 25-100 microns, while a regular Ford Motorcraft paper filter will stop particles from 3 to 12 microns in size.
There's really nothing in the aftermarket "free flowing" filters that come close to an OE or even a regular Fram/Purolator paper filter.
All the K&N filters do is lighten your wallet and make woooshing sounds.

I like K&N filters for off-road racing. Not for street. K&N filters flow more air than stock (reportedly) but they also flow more dirt. Plain pleated paper is actually better at keeping dirt out.

The full cold air kit maybe but a K&N replacement filter is fine.
I haven't got one for the Ranger yet but I had one in my old Sport Trac for 200,000 miles and it saved me money over that time since you can clean it and reuse it.
Filtration wasn't the question that was asked here, it was will it help mpg? Which I can say in my Sport Trac it made exactly zero difference in mpg. As I always say, the stock intake is already a cold air intake.
I got a few used oil analysis on my Sport Trac with the K&N filter and the silicon level, i.e. dirt in the oil, was always in the normal range. I would clean and re-oil it once a year.

My experience:
Performance increase - negligible, if any
MPG increase - none
Cost - saves you money if you're going to keep the truck for a while

Again, my experience is limited to a K&N replacement filter with the stock airbox. If you want a whole new CAI, okay fine, so the S&B costs $349 and the K&N and Roush are $399 so how long until you save that much money in gas? Probably never. JMHO.

 

[Friday yet?]

All the K&N filters do is lighten your wallet and make woooshing sounds

Well that and also allow/welcome larger sized particles to enter the air intake.

None for me thanks.

 

[shovelhd]

I put a tonneau on the bed

I bet most of your gains came from that.

I am a big fan of aFE drop in filters, though. As has been said, the OEM setup is already cold air. All you need is a drop-in filter, and I prefer dry filters like the aFE. I am not a fan of oiled filters like the K&N. I've seen them screw up MAP sensors and the like.

 

[seanellaz]

Will it increase fuel efficiency? I have a 84 mile round trip commute so I put about 19k miles on mine per year just driving to work. Currently averaging about 26 mph since I'm doing 60 mph almost the entire drive.

I am quite happy with my Injen PF9071WB - Cold Air Intake (https://injen.com/i-30498853-injen-pf-cold-air-intake-system-wrinkle-black-pf9071wb.html). Might improve gas mileage as it very much frees up intake air flow. Compared to stock, no tiny slit for taking in air, fat pipe and smooth bends. I put it on for added power. It helped in this manner and I enjoy the improved sound of the turbine and pop off valve. Their site says " On our dyno, the PF9071 put down an impressive 14 additional horsepower and 13 pound-feet of tire-scorching torque! "

 

[Jason B]

I am quite happy with my Injen PF9071WB - Cold Air Intake (https://injen.com/i-30498853-injen-pf-cold-air-intake-system-wrinkle-black-pf9071wb.html). Might improve gas mileage as it very much frees up intake air flow. Compared to stock, no tiny slit for taking in air, fat pipe and smooth bends. I put it on for added power. It helped in this manner and I enjoy the improved sound of the turbine and pop off valve. Their site says " On our dyno, the PF9071 put down an impressive 14 additional horsepower and 13 pound-feet of tire-scorching torque! "

I think their dyno needs calibration, 14HP? Either it's a lie or a typo that should read 4HP.

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