K&N/KKM filters, two questions...

[timfretwell]

I'm new to the page and I've read an awful lot about the K&N and KKM air breathers. I'm considering the modification (especially since one guy said it increased his mileage by 50 miles per tank! Can anyone else confirm this?)but I have two questions:
1. My explorer has the square air box with two vaccum lines connected to it. What do I do with those vaccum lines, plug them? If so, what will that do (they have to go to something, right?)

2. I'm no motor head engine expert or anything, but I do have concerns about the hot engine compartment air going staight into the engine, as opposed to the tube feed air coming from the grill area. What can I expect concerning that? I know about the ram air thing, but what if I don't do that right away?

I might try the trick of removing the bottom half of the air box and tapeing the filter in place for a while just to see how it goes. (Just for fun I won't tell my wife, then I'll see how she reacts when she turns the key and hears the difference!...HeHee)Hey,how else does a married guy have fun?

Anyway, your feedback here is greatly appreciated!
Happy Exploring!

 

[redexplr]

tell me how it went.
can you actually hear the difference and is it much??
im wondering because im considering doing that.

 

[flyguy]

Okay... well.. in california.. and probably most other states, the KKM is not legal. It bypasses some smog stuff. I.E., those two hoses. I drilled and installed mine into my KKM just for grins, but Im sure it would still fail the visual smog. The K&N, unless you get the FIPK, does not replace the air box. And I believe if you buy the FIPK, (which is expenive) it comes with a hot air "shield" of sorts. but they only make those for certain years and engines. I would recommend the KKM, when it came time to smog, I just plopped my airbox back in. and I got gains, (or at least felt them) even in the summer. As of recent, I have relocated the filter to the front of the car, near the headlight. Seems to run better there...

nick