[Wheelie]

2014 Charger R/T 5.7 Hemi, 5,000 miles, DynoMax SS Cat Back Exhaust system and K&N CAI

I've had DynoMax SS Cat Back Exhaust system installed for about 6 months and it added a noticeable power gain so about 3 weeks ago I added a K&N CAI intake hoping to get a little more HP. Immediately I noticed a power loss (especially in the mid range). Every vehicle I have ever put a CAI on I have noticed a HP gain so this is the first time where I have experienced a power DROP. For instance: on my 2005 Dodge Magnum R/T 5.7 Hemi the K&N CAI really helped improve power.

After installing it about 3 weeks ago on my new Charger I waited a few weeks (during which time I drove it hard) to make sure the on-board computer had time to re-learn and adjust the engine but that has not helped at all.

Before I rip this thing out and punt it to the curb are there any things I can do to rectify this situation?

THANKS!!!

 

[drsvelte]

Every vehicle I have ever put a CAI on I have noticed a HP gain so this is the first time where I have experienced a power DROP.

Did you do any dyno testing to confirm your impressions of gain or loss? I say this because most objective assessments of CAIs have revealed little or no performance changes. Mostly a modification for cosmetic and/or sound enhancement.

 

[Playhard]

Agree with drsvelte on this one. Plus, do you have a tuner? You may now need a custom tune with your added mods to get the most out of those mods. Just an idea.

 

[krautmaster]

The K&N has been proven to decrease power on the dyno: the pipe is poorly designed, the oiled filter restricts flow if not kept perfectly clean (contrary to their advertisements that it flows well when dirty, it does not).

http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/kn-vs-oem-filter.html

About the only thing you can do is Craig's List it to someone else to recoup some of your investment and buy a better CAI with a DRY filter (MOPAR, LegHammer, etc.)

 

[neuroticdave]

I've read the same elsewhere, that they tend to actually lose or keep power levels the same. Why don't you try to pull the NEG battery terminal for 10-20 minutes and let the car relearn itself. Worth a shot

 

[gotzaRT]

I'm liking very much my Volant CAI with the dry filter. Better gas mileage and not obvious negative affects.

 

[Wheelie]

Thanks for the fast feedback. I didn't know this about CAIs. I never researched this topic ... I just "assumed" better flow meant better power and economy lol. I have not dyno'd any of my cars (before and after CAI) but I can tell a marked drop with this one in the mid-range. One of the hallmarks of the hemi is how well it pulls in the mid-range and now it's noticeably less. I don't have a tuner installed - looks like I'll be on to a better designed CAI & tuner module (based on actual tests!) or possibly back to the OEM setup. Thanks for the link to "Debunking the K&N Myth – Why OEM is Better" krautmaster. A quick Google search for "oem vs cai" shows a lot of conflict and knowledge on this subject. One thing I just learned is this: the CAI really needs to be "tuned" to the car (and its exhaust).

 

[nerp]

All that effort just to have statistically the same, or worse, performance isn't worth it. It really only matters if you plan on parking with the hood up and want a CAI to look at. Some people like the sound, and that's cool. I'd totally advise against an oiled filter setup. People tend to put too much oil on them and that just creates a host of new issues.

 

[76r8der]

I had noticeable power loss issues with a K&N on my Tundra a few years back soon after adding it. Got online and read others had same complaints with K&N. Went back to stock and problem solved.

On my Charger Im using a R2C CAI dry filter (Black Hex Series). Havent done a dyno yet, but there is a noticeable increase in airflow and I believe performance as well. Their filters are known for their good filtration.

 

[Playhard]

From the K&N site. I already knew this but for those who are not aware.

How often do I need to clean my K&N air filter?

If you have not experienced a decrease in mileage or engine performance, chances are your filter is fine and does not yet need cleaning. To be more specific, the filter does not require cleaning if you can still see the wire screen on the entire air filter regardless of how dirty it may appear. When the screen is no longer visible some place on the filter, it is time to clean it. When used in normal paved road, street or highway conditions, our replacement air filters that fit in the factory air box should require cleaning every 50,000 miles and our large conical filters on an intake system should require cleaning every 100,000 miles. When used in dusty or off-road environments, our filters will require cleaning more often. We recommend that you visually inspect your filter once every 25,000 miles to determine if the screen is still visible

So point being is that if your cleaning or oiling your filter to often and with excessive oil, yes it would not perform well. I plan on running my k&N for 30k and then just replacing it unless it's still clean. The visual inspection recommendation used for this filter is the wire mess still being visable on all parts of the filter. If not cleaning is recommended.

Like I said earlier, I like my filter a lot.