I was wanting to add some more power and my choices were between a k&n intake kit FIPK, and a bama tuner.

Now I was thinking about the bama tuner because basically it's pretty simple...you're getting an increase in horsepower and an increase in fuel economy. Then I got to thinking. All manufacturers pretty much want to write a higher number on those window stickers...if it was really as easy as reprogramming your internal computer inside your truck to gain some fuel economy, don't you think that Ford would have done it? I mean cost-wise, they've got people working on that already...so it would cost what, maybe a couple days work to get some workers involved to create a new program for the computer...then bam...toss that puppy in every ranger that leaves the line. There *has* to be some drawback that I'm not aware of.

So then I was thinking about the FIPK K&N kit...Now obviously this is the mod that makes more sense to me. First off, Ford wouldn't install this on every Ranger because of the cost of the pieces...I don't know what the intake tube costs now, but I'm figuring at least 5x the cost, and that could cut into profits dramatically when you're producing as many trucks as they are. Secondly, from a noise stand-point, it will create more noise, which would be another reason why Ford would use the intake tube that is somewhat restricted and disrupts airflow going in...because the more the air is bouncing around in the intake tube, getting sucked through those little ridges, the less probably noise is to come back out...and to a lot of people, they want a quiet engine.

So if both are claiming 15'ish horsepower and some fuel economy gains, the only one that really makes sense to me is the K&N FIPK...that is from my understanding anyway...please feel free to fill me in on something I may be missing.

 

hrmm...I see some people claiming that the FIPK could reduce miles per gallon, but then in the next sentence go on to suggest changing your air filter and keeping that clean to keep your miles per gallon up, which kind of condradicts itself.

If a dirty air filter can reduce miles per gallon, and swapping that out for a clean one would increase your miles per gallon, then certainly adding a K&N would also increase your miles per gallon.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for the whole more air = more fuel thing there, I mean that's common sense as the computer tries to keep things at 14.7:1 or whatever that stoichiometric number happens to be...but that brings me back to my original question...

If a dirty air filter can reduce miles per gallon...and replacing that with a better-flowing, clean air filter increases it, why wouldn't the k&n also increase your miles per gallon? No doubt there is a happy medium where the dirtier and more restrictive your intake gets, the worse your gas mileage would be and the cleaner and more open it gets, the worse your gas mileage would be, but are we all just speculating when we say that a k&n FIPK would cross over that medium and reduce miles per gallon? Or do we have some scientific data that backs these claims up?

Furthermore, if in fact the throttle body is the most restrictive point on an intake, then anything less than WOT should yield exactly equal results as far as miles per gallon and horsepower would be concerned. Of course with the k&n kit, there would always be that option to open it up to WOT where you may see some benefit over the stock set up as far as performance.

 

The reason people get worse mileage is usually because they drive a little harder after they get their intake to hear the noise and feel the 'power'.

Of your choices, I'd definetely say to go with the Bama. That will yeild far more power than the intake ever would.

 

 

I bought the FIPK for the 3.0 and noticed nothing but sound. No gain in power or fuel economy with just the CAI. HOWEVER, when coupled with exhaust you can feel a little more power and I gained 2-3 mpg after I got exhaust. I feel that if you help the air flow into the engine why not help it out?
Stock MPG: 17.8
Only CAI: 18.1
CAI and Flow's: 21.3
CAI, Flows, and 33's: around 17 CALIBRATED

Your best bet would be to not doubt the Bama Tuner. Tons of member have them with no complaints and I'll be getting one within the next month.

 

bama all the way.. its the only choice..

 

Care to elaborate?

 

ok after i got an intake for my other ranger i did drive it harder to fell the difference and the same after the exhaut

 

There are basically two ways to get more RWHP from an engine and that is for the engine to make more and use less(parasitic loss).

Such a small engine will never be able to draw enough air even at maximum rpm's to use all the airflow the k&n filter can offer. There are no bolt on's that will give huge power gains because it takes an engine with a balanced package of parts to get the most out of all the individual mods. In my opinion, based on the price for actual power increase, most of the aftermarket performance parts are not at all worth getting because they don't address the major limiting factors (cam and heads). You can upgrade all the peripheral systems like intake and exhaust but you will never get the most out of them until the engine breathes better internally. Upgrade to a supercharger and then we're talking some noticeable power increases. Headers and intake will make more of a difference when the stock manifolds really become a restriction.

I personally will not invest in a chip or tuner unless I have better systems on the truck to take full advantage of it and right now power isn't much of an issue. However, if anyone ever makes a diesel conversion I will be all over that.

 

I would go with the X2 all the way, tuning from either Rogue(www.stuffforyourranger.com) or BAMA (www.jusnesmodified.com). I saw 18 mpg while double lifted and 35s, 21 with 33s and a BL. On top of that the performance is awesome.

 

the downside to the tuners is that they fall outside of the manafactuers specs for the life of certain parts of the truck. Since the tuner creates more power, your exhaust is hotter and hence, u burn out your cats faster. so instead of lasting 5years, they may only last 3 years. Stuff like that. There are a multitude of factors going into programming any computer for a car, and these factors all have variables as to whats cost effective. Ford is looking at how much power can they gain from a particular product, yet still keep the maintnence of that car down? And not to mention reliability is also a factor in this too. Now, im not saying that the tuners are bad, im just saying that the thin line ford has to walk between reliability and power is the reason the ranger doesnt come with 300hp

 

and for air filters, i remember D mentioning this when I was over about how the filters alone actually dont really do anything. this goes for all aftermarket filters. Which makes sense, if your drawing in extra air, but dont have the other stuff in place to make use of that, then why bother? D has a heavely modified engine in his ranger, and while it seriously has *****, hes constantly working on it to keep it on the road. So there ya go, reliability vs power.

 

OH OH.. I know this one!

The stock tune on any car and especially a truck from ford is conservitive on purpose. Reason being that we build drivetrain product for 150K miles w/o major work. During that time you will have carbon build up, degraded valves, piston rings, and deteriorated ignition components. Nearly all owners don't keep thier motors in a good state of tune when it has over 100k miles on it so we design things to operate in that degraded state.

Adding a tune is an awsome way to make it where it ought to be IMO. The "price" you'll pay is just that you need to keep the motor in better tune. Change the plugs & wires every 80-100k. Change oil as you should. Clean the induction system. (MAF, TB, intake valves) Keep a clean fuel filter in it.

And if possible relieve the exhaust backpressure. (you won't burn your cats out)

The intake is called a "zip tube". Ford quality people are generally ***NOT*** car people. They hate mechanical noises. And induction noise is somthing that is always on the list. It's not really the cost of the parts... it's the noise they are trying to kill.

Rich