PolishJoe

Hi All!

My newb is showing...

I recently bought my Dad a K&N Cold Air Intake system for his '08 Mustang GT. He just got it 2 months ago but I've noticed he's been hesitant about throwing the kit on. Apparently a guy at his work has an '07 V6 with a K&N kit. According to him, you have to change your fuel type to premium after installing the kit.

Is that true?

From everything I've read, I didn't find that to be true at all. But I figure I'd just ask to see if that's actually true. The whole point of the K&N was that there was no tuning and it was essentially "plug and play".

Thanks!

05 Mustang

I know that with the K&N you don't have to install any type of tune, but I've never heard/read anything about having to uprade to a premium fuel.

If you already have the intake, I say install it and take the car out for a spin. You'll know right away whether it'll need higher octane or not, because the car will make a "pinging" sound. If it does, just put some 89 in the car and you should be just fine.

SirKnightTG

No 87 still works (unless you get pinging). I had the K&N CAI. There's nothing to be afraid of with this kit. It also makes the exhaust a bit louder. It sounds sooo much better.

I now have a Steeda CAI which needs a tune and I gotta say, it's much better. MUCH. Even louder and deeper exhaust and A LOT more power increase. The larger tuner requires CAIs are VERY worth the price. Oh and even then, I can get an 87 tune if I wanted to. But, 87 in a V8 mustang (or any muscle car) makes about as much sense as wiping before you poop.

crozerstang

i fitted the K&N also and agree that it is a good upgrade and improves the exhaust note. It doesn'd need a tune because the ECU detects higher airflow and fuels accordingly. I had back to back dyno runs and achieved 12 hp at the wheels with the CAI, I got about another 5 hp with a tune (forget which one - not bamachips). My car always had a tendancy to ping even when standard, it pings now if I run the 93 octane tune and so I retard spark by 5 degrees at +4000 rpm or just run with a 91 tune. I use 97 (UK) fuel which is about the same as 93 US.

Nuke

Correct. The K&N CAI doesn't need a tune. Unfortunately, the CAI alone provides maybe 3-5 RWHP or a tad more whereas a good CAI & tune combo can provide 15-30 RWHP. Much better bang-for-the-buck.

SirKnightTG

Yeah mine has a tendency to ping as well, even with the stock air box I think. I have to run a slightly lower octane. I have a 93 torque tune and I may have to retard the spark when summer comes along. I normally run my 91 race tune though. 4K and higher is where I get the ping too. I think that is out of the range of the VCT.

12 rwhp is about right. I've heard others say that as well. K&N claims 15 and included a dyno sheet in the box when I got mine proving 15. Maybe your post will be proof to some *ahem* that you DO get a good HP increase with the K&N. If it only got like 5 or less you wouldn't be able to feel the difference (or hear the difference), but 10+ you can and I did. I wasn't talking out of my *** in previous threads and maybe this will prove that. Don't doubt those who actually have or have had the thing.

PolishJoe

Thanks all!

I really didn't think that whole thing about the gas was necessarily true. With gas being a bit higher in the city here, (at least it will be come summer again), I think he was scared he'd have to switch. As for the other CAI, I've always been a huge fan of K&N, but there were a few things out there that caught my eye. But with him, I think he likes the K&N name and with it being pretty much "plug and play", he'll be content. Plus, at least it's some added HP - and free to him.

I'm just glad we'll be throwing it on after this!

Thanks again!