I have had a K&N FIPK intake system before, but heard from a local shop to me that the AFE Stage 2 is the best out there. What is the general consensus on which intake system is the best on the LB7 motor?

Stock

Stock:exactly:

The AFE is a nice CAI but are pricey IMHO;)

with big HP programs they help a bit; However the stock does just fine too.

Jeff S,

There's no doubt the AFE Stage II is the best flowing system there is, be sure to get the Pro Guard 7 filter too to keep the engine protected too!!

There is a misconception here about intakes, they do make HP but you should not buy one for the small HP increase they do make. You want an intake to lower EGT with increased air flow, quicker spool up on the turbo so you're off line performance is improved and for the potential MPG they can provide with the increased air for the combustion process. Most guys here are adding a module/p[rogrammer that adds fuel, if you don't add in more air you are wasting some of that fuel as it doesn't have the air avaialable to get the full BTU use of the combustion of that fuel.

Mark @ DPPI

go with the volant and put the ram air kit on it or make one it isn't that hard with the stock bumper but the volant is a closed box and a larger element then the stock box they are a bit more expensive but worth it to me i have had airaids in two of my trucks and the volant is the best i have had

In the last couple issues of Diesel Power mag. they have articles on Air Filter shootout. This mo. is AFE, Airaid,Volant and S &B.
Have a great day.
FourEyes

In the last couple issues of Diesel Power mag. they have articles on Air Filter shootout. This mo. is AFE, Airaid,Volant and S &B.
Have a great day.
FourEyes

i looked all over my sept issue of diesel power mag and did'nt see that article..i am very interested in reading that...are u sure it is in diesel power mag????

I use TXChristopher's CAI, much cheaper then the rest and does an excellent job of pulling in cool air since his system blocks out all under hood warm air. Very hard to beat for the money!

Swish cheesed stocker, OEM paper element and TXChristopher's CAI gets my vote! There are far better things to spend your money on IMO.

Scott Sorry it was on a Dodge not the DMax its on page 96.
Sorry
FourEyes

Jeff S,

There's no doubt the AFE Stage II is the best flowing system there is, be sure to get the Pro Guard 7 filter too to keep the engine protected too!!

There is a misconception here about intakes, they do make HP but you should not buy one for the small HP increase they do make. You want an intake to lower EGT with increased air flow, quicker spool up on the turbo so you're off line performance is improved and for the potential MPG they can provide with the increased air for the combustion process. Most guys here are adding a module/p[rogrammer that adds fuel, if you don't add in more air you are wasting some of that fuel as it doesn't have the air avaialable to get the full BTU use of the combustion of that fuel.

Mark @ DPPI

:exactly:

Scott Sorry it was on a Dodge not the DMax its on page 96.
Sorry
FourEyes
It was page 86 in the August issue and it is for a 2004.5 Dodge Ram.

I would tend to have agreed with you on the AFE II up until just recently, but the rubber boot is about to fall apart. It is cracked, and so soft, that you can remove chunks from it.Jeff S,

There's no doubt the AFE Stage II is the best flowing system there is, be sure to get the Pro Guard 7 filter too to keep the engine protected too!!

There is a misconception here about intakes, they do make HP but you should not buy one for the small HP increase they do make. You want an intake to lower EGT with increased air flow, quicker spool up on the turbo so you're off line performance is improved and for the potential MPG they can provide with the increased air for the combustion process. Most guys here are adding a module/p[rogrammer that adds fuel, if you don't add in more air you are wasting some of that fuel as it doesn't have the air avaialable to get the full BTU use of the combustion of that fuel.

Mark @ DPPI

hdmax,

Hye stuff happens etc, that's a sourced part and not something AFE actually molds etc. Call them at 877-512-8111, they'll get you a new one I bet!!!

Mark @ DPPI

Please forgive my skepticism. I am not as "easy of a sell" as I used to be on intakes and filtering for the Dmax.

We all remember the Testand Corp filter test where the stock AC Delco filter outflowed and outfiltered all the rest (especially the cotton-gauze units), to the surprise of all of us. We also know there is no significant HP gain with an aftermarket system, or even when running no intake--at power levels under 450 RWHP, maybe higher--based on many dyno test results posted here.

However, EGT reduction is always a good thing. So what proof do we have that an aftermarket intake reduces EGTs? Do we have controlled before and after test results? How much was the EGT reduced? How do we know these aftermarket intakes actually are flowing more air? Has there been any test showing the increase in flow? Or are all these claims of the "well, it has a bigger tube so it must flow more air" type?

If there are reductions in EGT then isn't it more likely caused by the blocking off of hot engine compartment air than any reduction in intake restrictiveness? After all, the cold air kit one of the DP Members offer here seems to actually reduce EGTs and there is no airflow increase with that kit.

If EGTs have been measurably and significantly reduced, then we need to weigh the EGT reduction against the potential increase in dirt in the engine. How much HP we are running and the conditions we drive in would be the biggest determiner in making that choice.

I race bikes and on our racers when we change exhaust a free flowing filter is a must. More air out, more air in. Not so sure on the trucks though.

Ive got a Vararam air box modification and Green filter coming for my truck they've done alot of HW and there systems are reallly nice

I race bikes and on our racers when we change exhaust a free flowing filter is a must. More air out, more air in. Not so sure on the trucks though.

That is well understood and I did the same thing on my drag race car. The issue here is the Testand Corp filter test showed the K&N flowed a few percent better when new (not double as claimed) but it plugged up to the point where it reaches 10" HG of restriction in 20 minutes where the AC Delco did not reach that level of restriction for over an hour. Further, the K&N passed much moe dirt than the AC Delco. The Amsoil air filter wasn't much different than the K&N.

That was based on flowing 350 CFM of air and introducing 9 or 9.5 grams of dirt per minute in a completely sealed system on a $285,000 dollar air filter testing machine. The complete results are summarized on this webiste here. The AFE Stage II was not tested (don't think it was available then) so it may actually work as well as the AC Delco paper filter. However, I don't think that level of flow will allow any power gains untill you exceed 450-500 RWHP, and I think the EGT reduction has more to do with sealing off the hot underhood air than it does allowing increased flow.

I would probably put one on my list of things to buy if there was solid edidence that it did cool EGTs by allowing more airflow at HP levels under 450-500 RWHP.

hdmax,

Hye stuff happens etc, that's a sourced part and not something AFE actually molds etc. Call them at 877-512-8111, they'll get you a new one I bet!!!

Mark @ DPPI

Thank you very much Mark; I made the call, and they are UPS'ing it to me.
Thanks again, I just wanted too let everyone know that AFE is taking care of it.

On a side note, When I installed the AFE stage II intake, there was a huge increase in turbo noise, which to me was worth the cost. I get looks all the time now, and have been ask several times if I have an aftermarket turbo. (Which I don't) The turbo whistle could not be heard before, but with the AFE I can easily hear it driving down the road with all the windows closed.

I found the Testand results. In rare monemt of planning ahead with the computer I actually have them saved. Here they are.

Filter
Holding Capacity
Dirt Passing Filter
Total Dirt Used
Flow Restriction
Test Time in Minutes *
Dirt Passing per Hour
Flow Restriction After 1 Hour

AC Delco
573.898
0.4
574.298
6.23
60.5
0.40
16.16

Baldwin
388.154
1.1
389.254
5.71
41.0
1.61
20.35

Mystery
350.402
2.4
352.802
4.78
37.1
3.88
20.94

AFE
232.516
1.8
234.316
4.99
24.7
4.38
29.32

WIX/Napa
447.366
4.4
451.766
5.06
47.6
5.55
17.68

Purolator
388.659
5.0
393.659
5.05
41.4
7.24
19.53

AMSOIL
196.323
2.7
199.023
5.88
20.9
7.73
34.52

UNI
374.638
7.9
382.538
5.40
40.3
11.77
20.30

K&N
211.580
6.0
217.580
4.54
22.9
15.72
30.74

* Test time in minutes was on the first chart used 9.8 grams/min, should have been 9.5 grams/min

Great info Blaine!!!!!

Which AMSOil is that?