4.6L vs 4.0L intake, whats the diff?

[SuRrEaLNJ]

Is there any difference between the 4.0 and 4.6L's intakes? I hapened to look at the instilation guide for the K&N 63 Series AirCharger for a 4.6L and the layout looks exactly the same as the layout fo my 4.0L.
Is there any reason the K&N intake for a 4.6 wouldnt fit a 4.0?

~Jay

 

[Doug]

4.6l and the 4.0 are completely different motors, I haven't seen the underhood of the 3rd gens but I doubt the intakes are similiar.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

I agree with Doug.

 

[CDW6212R]

Same subject. An intake is an intake manifold. An intake is not an air cleaner. When in the world did what fool decide to name an air cleaner, an intake?

Doug, and ExplorerDMB, thanks for replying correctly. A 4.6 intake manifold is different than a 4.0 intake manifold. The air cleaners may be the same on each though. That wasn't the question though was it. Regards,

 

[CDW6212R]

SuRrEaLNJ, Jay, sorry if I turned you off of this site with my first reply. I didn't mean any disrespect. My response was based on my expectation of the question being a comparison between the two engines' intake manifolds.

Please, welcome to this site. I don't know the answer to the question I assume you were asking. If you did mean to compare the air cleaners of the 4.6 and 4.0 engines, please ask it again, slightly more clearly. Regards,

 

[SuRrEaLNJ]

alright, ill try to clarify a little here.
I looked on K&N's web site and noticed that the V6 and V8 share the same replacement filter from K&N. I then assumed that the air box should be the same if it uses the same filter. From this i got curious and looked at the instilation guide on K&Ns site to see if the airbox and intake hose and MAF sensor looked the same in the pictures, and by my eye they did. I then asked a guy from work with a trans-am, and he said the layout looked the same to him as well.
By this we assumed that if in fact the airbox and hose are the same, as they apeared to be in the picture, than an aftermarket intake kit replacing the airbox and hose should fit both engines.
So i guess the corect way to ask the question would be is the air box and intake tube the same on both engines. And if so will the K&N intake kit for a V8 fit a V6.
keep in mind im asuming this based on the little photo in the instilation guide i saw online.

~Jay

 

[CDW6212R]

Thanks for the clarification. Short of someone here having done it, and telling you so, I'd say call K&N. They would be the best source to answer that. Calling Ford parts could also tell you if the factory parts are the same. If Ford used the same parts, most likely K&N would not make different pieces for each model. Good luck,

 

[fromme]

The airbox is the same, the tubing to the MAF sensor and throttle body is different, so it won't work. The throttle body is not in the same place. If it'll help ease your mind, all you have to do is visit a dealer and have them pop the hood on 4.0 and 4.6.

FWIW, I also hate the fact that a replacement air filter element and piping is referred to as an intake.

 

[ffdemoss]

Why shouldn't the piping leading to the intake manifold be considered part of the intake? I would consider the intake of a system to be from the air filter to the intake valves. Each part has a specific name and he just failed to mention intake filter/tubing. If you don't feel the air cleaner is part of the intake system then what is it part of? The same can be said about every system in a car. If someone ask what kind of exhaust would you put on your vehicle I would bet you would assume that person meant cat-back or muffler....but exhaust starts at the exhaust valves and ends at the tail pipe. You wouldn't assume exhuast manifold would you? But using the same thinking you just used for intake, "exhaust" would have to mean exhaust manifold. 20 years ago I would agree, intake menat intake manifold. But that was before fuel injection where there were many more parts added to the intake system.

 

[CDW6212R]

Why shouldn't the piping leading to the intake manifold be considered part of the intake? I would consider the intake of a system to be from the air filter to the intake valves....

Answer your own question, thus; go out and ask ten people at a car event, not the import crap events. Ask them what an intake is for their vehicle. Ask them to describe it, or give its value, etc.

Without any other details, absolutely everyone not right out of highschool will know that you are talking about the intake manifold. "Intake" has been the common term for an intake manifold for decades, for longer than you have been alive. That it means something else is the very reason that it shouldn't be a term used to describe a part which already has a perfectly good name.

An air cleaner is an air cleaner, all vehicles have an air cleaner. What's wrong with calling an air cleaner an air cleaner. It's a very clear description, and cannot be confused with any other part. An intake is an intake manifold.

Thus the answer to your question is, because the piping leading to the intake manifold is part of the air cleaner. It's sold as a component of the air cleaner, not the intake manifold.
Regards,

 

[ffdemoss]

I agree, if those ten people had cars with carburators or EFI systems without MAF units then yes their answer would be Eldebrock or Holley.... But I would purpose to you that anyone with a vehicle equipped with a newer model vehicle and you asked the same question you would hear answer like "AirRaid" or "K&N" or "Mac". Not Edlebrock or Holley. Import or domestic show the same would apply. Gone are the days where you go buy a Edlebrock/Carb combo from Jegs to bolt on 50 more HP. You are more likely to buy a Cold Air Intake (there's that word again) and computer tuner to get 50 more HP.

Also, when you say air cleaner that is not very descriptive. To me that means the old style round filters that sat on top of a carb. Not a 3" piece of aluminum tubing with senors plugged into it and a cone filter attached to it.

Times change and with the changing of times words mean different things. My only beef was the way you treated the gentlemen when he asked his question. You tried to put him down because he used today's terminology, not your old school terminology.

 

[CDW6212R]

An air cleaner cleans the air, it has an air filter in it. An intake has always been a short word for intake manifold, having nothing to do with an air filter. The plumbing between an air filter and an intake manifold is not an intake. Using the word "intake" for that is wrong, given the existance of the word "intake" as a commonly accepted term for an intake manifold.

If the term for that air cleaner plumbing(which includes the air filter) somehow made sense to describe an air cleaner, then it would be an alternative. "Intake" does not sufficiently describe a component which includes an air filter. Air cleaner clearly describes any component, or group, which does include an air filter. Changing the name of an air cleaner is superfluous, and a waste of time, and causes arguments, unnecessarily.

This will never be resolved until either everyone agrees that "intake" is a poor name for an air cleaner, or enough time passes so that this bad decision is universally accepted.
I am done discussing these facts, I have stated the facts, and my position. My involment in beating the dead horse is over.
Regards,

 

[ffdemoss]

Why is it wrong using "intake" for anything other than an intake manifold? Because you say it is? In your opinion intake is the wrong word, but that is your opinon. Everyone has to agree with you or it "is a poor name"? Come on, a little bit over stated I think.

But for some it is the right word. In fact, many of those who feel it it the right word have millions of dollars selling intakes. K&N, Mac, AirRaid sell cold air INTAKES. Not cold air CLEANERS. Furthermore, you have failed to state facts, only your opinion. And because you don't agree it is a bad decision. It is fine if you want to end this discussion but no matter what you say times have changed and the word already means something different then you are used to. Just look at K&N website.