K&N Filter Charger Kit is On

[bigslim]

I just spent the morning with Lidio at his shop trying out the K&N Filter Charger on a N/A MM. He did five Dyno runs without the charger and five with the charger. The worst run without the charger was 256.7hp and 279.7 ft pds of torque. The best run without the charger was 259.6hp and 282.1 ft pds of torque. Now the results after the charger was installed, worst run with the charger was 263.9hp and 285.8 ft pds of torque. This is the results of adding the K&N Air Charger. The was no 20hp as some have claimed. The difference between to the worst run w/o the charger and with the charger was 4.3hp and 5 ft pds of torque. After a tune my numbers went up to 263.2hp and 287.1 ft pds of torque. One thing I can say is I love the WOT sound that comes from under the hood now. Also, the car seems a little more responsive. I have posted some pictures and will post the dyno sheets to show the results. Lidio will go more into detail about all later.

[Lidio]

The results are in for the K&N filter kit for the Marauder that’s all stock except for our own performance tune.

I took great care to make sure this was done in as fair of conditions as possible. Just to get a very proper and consistent average I made five pulls with, and five with out the Filter charger kit.
Starting with out the kit, just the way the car pulled in off the street.

The only thing I did was take the normal ’04 MM performance tune I usually use, witch Slim bought from me a few weeks ago. And made it so that it wouldn’t down shift out of 3rd gear once it was over 35mph and locked the converter after 40 mph. This makes for a very braud and correct looking HP and torque curve, similar to when a stick car is dyno’d in 4th gear ( 1 to 1 trans ratio).

You guys can go over and decide what to make of it. But in the end the filter kit appeared to be worth about 5 - RWHP. All the runs were only about 4-6 minute apart and the temp in my shop with the garage door open stayed at about 63 degrees. The shop did not appear to get hot soaked and neither did the cars motor. In my opining this was a very fair and correctly done test.

One can see though that if you wanted to… you could take the worst pull with out the kit and compare it to the best pull with the kit and conceivably come up with a higher gain.

This is why so many gimmicky, over hyped parts seem to never really own up to what’s claimed when I actually get my hands on this stuff. Always seems like claimed numbers aren’t quite met when unbiased, consistent and proper tests are preformed.

Please do not think that I’m knocking the K&N filter kit for the MM. It is a great looking, nice fitting kit that works great with a blower so far and 5hp gain on a N/A MM at the rear wheels could amount to be 8-10 gain possibly at the flywheel. Not to bad for a small bolt on type part.


Thanks



I’ve posted all five runs with and w/o the kit and then posted a graph with the most "in-between" run before and after as well.
All my dyno pulls and tests are SAE by the way.

[SergntMac]

Thank you both BigSlim and Lidio, your professionalism is very much appreciated.

[Gemmdiver]

When using the K&N air charger system should we have any concern with rain and puddles? Or should I say any more concern than with the stock air filter?

[bigslim]

When using the K&N air charger system should we have any concern with rain and puddles? Or should I say any more concern than with the stock air filter?

I know people that have put the Pro-MAF air filters on their MM's and have no problem with the rain. I would imagine that it should be the same for the K&N. It will probably do better since it has a heat sheild around it.

[CRUZTAKER]

You guys can go over and decide what to make of it. But in the end the filter kit appeared to be worth about 5 - RWHP.

THIS IS REALISTIC AND BELIEVABLE!

Thank you Lidio, I respect and value your tests and opinions above any of the manufacturers.

I would love to say..."I told you so" to a few people.

[Bluerauder]

I’ve posted all five runs with and w/o the kit and then posted a graph with the most "in-between" run before and after as well.
All my dyno pulls and tests are SAE by the way.

Really good analysis and documentation of the comparison. Thanks, Lidio and BigSlim.

[gonzo50]

The results are in for the K&N filter kit for the Marauder that’s all stock except for our own performance tune.

The only thing I did was take the normal ’04 MM performance tune I usually use, which Slim bought from me a few weeks ago. And made it so that it wouldn’t down shift out of 3rd gear once it was over 35mph and locked the converter after 40 mph.

But in the end the filter kit appeared to be worth about 5 - RWHP.
This is why so many gimmicky, over hyped parts seem to never really own up to what’s claimed when I actually get my hands on this stuff. Always seems like claimed numbers aren’t quite met when unbiased, consistent and proper tests are preformed.

Thanks

After adding this kit, did you have to re-adjust the AFR ?

[mmmmmmarauder]

What is the best cold air induction/air filter system
for the Marauder (power-wise, of course)?


I would be willing to add a hood scoop, cut a hole
in the hood (see Mitsubishi mesh top sport design),
or anything else until I save up for a blower or a
bigger engine...


Can anyone give an unbiased review of the JLT,
Metco, K & N, or other systems...?

How long would the engine last without an air filter?
(kidding)



Peter

[CRUZTAKER]

What is the best cold air induction/air filter system
for the Marauder (power-wise, of course)?Peter

They all function alike. Pick the one that appeals to YOU.

I have the PHP KIT. I like it.

[FordNut]

When using the K&N air charger system should we have any concern with rain and puddles? Or should I say any more concern than with the stock air filter?

Here are a couple of threads on that subject:

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forum...ad.php?t=11452

I followed the suggestions of Constable and researched the prefilters, then did this:

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forum...ad.php?t=11855

The foam prefilter stops most moisture and virtually all the grit from getting up to the filter. Then the nylon "sack" keeps any moisture that does get by from getting to the filter element. During dyno tests, at WOT, the nylon prefilter doesn't move to try and collapse on the filter element, so I believe the open weave makes it very free-flowing.

[QWK SVT]

What is the best cold air induction/air filter system
for the Marauder (power-wise, of course)?

This seems to be one of the nicer looking kits, and appears to be well designed. From the last comparision, of the two runs, it looks like about a 5HP gain, from about 4200rpm up. That's not too bad, I s'pose.

We all know that a cool engine makes more power... Back to back runs, with similarly lengthy cool downs would have been interesting. Dyno numbers, and real world experience can be quite different. Does anyone think the opened hood defeats the purpose of the heat shield?

Data logging of IAT and MAF readings before and after, during real world driving would be cool , and could give imperical data, to substanciate the subjective SOTP

[Lidio]

After adding this kit, did you have to re-adjust the AFR ?

Didnt check it on this MM, but I assure you, it probably didnt change at all or very little. Stock MM's are always at about 13:1 and stay pretty close to that with minor induction and exhaust changes.

[Joe Walsh]

I just spent the morning with Lidio at his shop trying out the K&N Filter Charger on a N/A MM. He did five Dyno runs without the charger and five with the charger. The worst run without the charger was 256.7hp and 279.7 ft pds of torque. The best run without the charger was 259.6hp and 282.1 ft pds of torque. Now the results after the charger was installed, worst run with the charger was 263.9hp and 285.8 ft pds of torque. This is the results of adding the K&N Air Charger. The was no 20hp as some have claimed. The difference between to the worst run w/o the charger and with the charger was 4.3hp and 5 ft pds of torque. After a tune my numbers went up to 263.2hp and 287.1 ft pds of torque. One thing I can say is I love the WOT sound that comes from under the hood now. Also, the car seems a little more responsive. I have posted some pictures and will post the dyno sheets to show the results. Lidio will go more into detail about all later.

I thought that the 20HP claim was on a Trilogy S/C car?
A 'Roots' type S/C is very sensitive/responsive to improvements in flow prior to the blower....I wouldn't expect a N/A MM to have nearly as big a HP gain.
A Trilogy S/C engine is much "hungrier" for air.

[bigslim]

I thought that the 20HP claim was on a Trilogy S/C car?
A 'Roots' type S/C is very sensitive/responsive to improvements in flow prior to the blower....I wouldn't expect a N/A MM to have nearly as big a HP gain.
A Trilogy S/C engine is much "hungrier" for air.

That is true Joe. There were some under the asumption that there would big a big increase for the N/A MMs. One thing is when I do put the blower on mine later I already have this. I do like the way it sounds.