Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance KKM vs stock paper

Ok I know that on an SVT that is stock or has minor mods, people claim between 3-6hp with the KKM but isnt that power on the Dyno..with the engine already not too hot with the hood open?

What happens after say 20 to 30 mins of driving? I mean how does a stock svt with paper filter drawing all the air through the fender compare to a slightly heat soaked KKM?

The reason I ask this is that I have a KKM and its great for about 10 to 15 minutes then the car is a dog. The stock filter is a bit weaker than the KKM when cold but it doesnt get anywhere as doggy.

Whats your experience on this?

Oh I've also noticed that driving on the highway doesnt help that much because the freaking hood seals so well that heat pretty much still stays where it is. The intake is HOT but with the stock filter its not hot but just warm.....

Thanks guys

Never mind guys. I came to my own conclusions...

The stock SVT airbox with a clean stock ford filter works better than a KKM. The KKM may produce a better number on the dyno but after a few minutes when the intake is hot, then the stock box will outperform the KKM or any other open air filter that is located under the hood.

Furthermore looking at the stock filter, I suspect that the bullet shaped nose on the end of it will smooth out the air going to the filter so the velocity of air may be higher. True that the stock opening is small, but the velocity of air through that would probably be better than some other filter that does not have that little thing on the end of of it. Speculation but it looks like it would make sense.

Anyway I believe that I may have lost about 5% of my top end compared to the KKM when both are cold but I have gained about 5% more top end when warm and probably what feels like 10% more torque when hot. I would kill my car the way it was before. The fault is not the KKM but the lack of cold air.

For myself, I think I'm going to stick to the paper filter and just buy a clean one every month. The paper filters tend to filter smaller particles than a clean KKM or K&N type filter. There is a chance that very small particles could get into the engine which over the long haul may be bad. True that when the KKM gets dirtier, then it would filter smaller particles but thats when most people would clean it and put it in again. Oh well...

I'm sure many will not agree with what I concluded but I feel that SVT engineers probably knew what they were doing with that airbox.

I don't dispute any of your facts, but the KKM does sound better...

I agree with you 100% there The intake noise on the duratec is just wonderful and the KKM brings it out very well. The stock box works but now my car sounds so mellow. I may as well fall asleep while driving!

Maybe I need to make something very similar to the stock SVT box to hold a KKM, then rip out that snorkel in the fender, enlarge the opening and shove some big ass hose in there

Open air filter will out perform the stock paper filter in the choked off airbox in any situation besides rush hour traffic.

Solution.

Cheap heatshield ($2-3) to a full blown custom airbox ($20 self made - $60 range pre-made)

Torquemonster, I agree with you 100%. The open element air filter under the hood is nothing but a heat soak magnet, especialy with our cars where they could barely fit the engine under the hood to begin with! I am going to come up with a large cold air draw on my 98' SE from the fender and incorporate it in my stock airbox somehow for better draw. I think that more (cold) air draw will benefit the flow consideribly and I will more than likely end up cutting out a good portion and routing tubing from the fender somehow to the box and sealing it somehow. I have done things like this in the past, so it shouldn't be too bad.

Heat shield or not, hot air rises, air filter placement is right at the top, and there is hardly any air movement under the hood since there is no cowl opening at all and the engine bay is so incredibly packed. Only place where you won't be getting significant heat soak with an open element air filter is on the freeway or at decent cruising speeds, traffic or not, other than that, there is going to be and is a lot of hot air under there. Although I like the KKM and really think it is a nice setup, it should NOT be called cold air induction. That term get's tossed around waaaaaay too much. :p More like hot air induction :p (Watch me get flamed as I usualy do when I go against the norm)

I'm thinking of taking out the KKM. I really don't feel any difference inpower. And the sound is minimal for $100.

If anyone is interested in a very lightly used KKM, drop me a PM.

What is the paper filter we need? Where can I get it?

Paper filter meaning stock. If I were you guys, I would just throw a K&N replacement in your stock airbox and you are lucky to have a conical end on the box... something could be routed/done with that if you really wanted to other than that wierd shape thing

Ditto. I think for you, Torquemonster, a K&N drop-in will outflow and outprotect the paper filter, since paper only has one chance to catch a particle, whereas media with depth, such as the K&N, has several, and flows better to boot.

I disagree with the hot air assessment, however. I've had much better flow since I removed my hoodliner. There's a big high-pressure zone right around the left headlight to allow air in, and the edges of the hood are not really sealed at all. I used to have trouble with heat soak, til the hoodliner came out. Now I only have trouble sometimes.

Also, what good is the sound going to do when you suffer alot of heat soak especially where I live. I use have a kkm element and my car suffered alot of heat soak in the summer months. However I do agree it does have good sound to it. And it had increase in performance when the weather is cool. Also, when changing oil I've always used 10w30 conventional oil because of the hot and humid weather down here. Even in the winter I still use the same grade ever since I bought my car brand new in 1996. Right now I have 127200 miles on my car still running strong. Hopefully I won't have any engine problems in the future since I change my oil and filter every 3000 miles.