K & N Free Flow Air Filter and Exhaust Systems

Hello;

I am thinking about installing a free flow air filter and exhaust systems in my 2018 1500. Has anyone done this and if so, what is your opinion on performance and any possible gas mileage improvement?

Thank you,

Rick

Hi Rick, you wont see much of an improvement in power however you will get a little added throttle response and may see a little better mpg. You will also gain some smiles per gallon with the better exhaust note from the aftermarket exhaust!

Message me if you would like to go over options and pricing on either of these items

I did K&N drop in and flowmaster hd50 with single exhaust on my 2011. Ran good and got better gas mileage. Really woke truck up when I added Flashpak tuner. I have 392 gears which probably made a difference. Single cab, 2 wheel drive goes [email protected] mph with 2.05 sixty foot time. Has gotten as high as 24.5 mpg with 92 non-ethanol gas at 65 mph otherwise gets 21 on highway. breakin was 18.5 when new first couple tanks.

Rick Stevens said:

Hello;

I am thinking about installing a free flow air filter and exhaust systems in my 2018 1500. Has anyone done this and if so, what is your opinion on performance and any possible gas mileage improvement?

Thank you,

Rick

Click to expand...

Go for it! I had the same system/setup on my older suburban. I have zero proof, but it helped. I'll strongly say, mpg went up 2-3 mpg... Well you might say, damn that's not great. Consider we were towing RVs and tons of road trips. With rv, 8-10 mpg... Up to..10+. Normal driving, 15mpg+.

The horsepower I'll guess went up prob 10+. Know this was an older gas truck. It too had 'true' dual exhaust (flowmaster cat-back).

I'm totally sold on K&N and flowmaster. To me it's worth the money spent.

K&N CAI and a Magna Flow cat back on my '09 1500 4X4 with 5.7 and 3.92 rears sounded better, a nice growl, especially when I really booted it.

A lot of that was the CAI though. You know, the thing I paid $300 for that essentially does the same thing as flipping the air cleaner cover over on your old mans carbureted Rambler he lent you for a date. Had to flip it back before coming home, lol.

Would I do it again? Yup. Why? I still like that sound! My brain forgot to grow up. Now, however, I have added the filter cover so I'm not sandblasting my engine's internals. I grew up a little.

If you want noticeable performance boost, you gotta put a tune in it.

PS: Now I'm 61, I have a '17 2500 4X4 CCLB 6.4 and 4.10 gears and yes...I am Running a K&N CAI and a Magna Flow with dual 5" tips.
Looks good, sounds good and gas mileage is the same. Sometimes worse, depending how much I want to hear that monster!

Rule #1 Buy what you like.

KeepRight said:

Go for it! I had the same system/setup on my older suburban. I have zero proof, but it helped. I'll strongly say, mpg went up 2-3 mpg... Well you might say, damn that's not great. Consider we were towing RVs and tons of road trips. With rv, 8-10 mpg... Up to..10+. Normal driving, 15mpg+.

The horsepower I'll guess went up prob 10+. Know this was an older gas truck. It too had 'true' dual exhaust (flowmaster cat-back).

I'm totally sold on K&N and flowmaster. To me it's worth the money spent.

Click to expand...

Oh hell yes... The nice purr that goes with this setup....

I wish I could have that sound with my ecodiesel...

Thank you guys...very much appreciated...

Don't expect any big gains on the 5.7 with CAI or Exhaust. I've had them on almost every truck I've owned, gas and diesel, and never seem a noticeable increase in power or mileage on a gas motor without additional modifications. The CAI will give a nice little rubble in the cab and exhaust will let people know your coming down the road. Now if you had a diesel I've seen some ok-gains in the past with the exhaust and CAI, though the mileage gains were normally loss due to the additional fun factor.

If your going to spend the money for them, just accept the only real gain will be the extra smiles you get going down the road.

There are much better options than the K&N filter. The quality is okay, but its a hot air sucker pure and simple. I had one on when I purchased my truck and threw it in the garbage and went with a Vararam. The Vararam has proven dyno results and will actually add a little HP. Don't have any experience with their exhaust, just make sure its all heavy stainless.