Aftermarket air filters - Increased MPG

[flagger]

Probably an old topic, but can't find any discussion in searches.

For those of you that have installed aftermarket air filters, (K&N, Macht Schnell, aFe, BMC, etc.), have you seen any increase in MPG? There is a lot of discussion about power increases, both documented and seat of the pants, but almost nothing about mileage.

My interest is - I do a lot of steady state cruise around 70 mph for hours at a time, generally using cruise control to keep the local constabulary at bay. I'm getting about 23 MPG. Can I expect an increase in mileage?

Thanks

[C17MooseDriver]

No MPG increase. Can't feel much on the butt dyno.

Only really notice is a slightly louder growl. Hard to notice 5 hp gain on a 414hp car.

[isugoo]

Originally Posted by C17MooseDriver

No MPG increase. Can't feel much on the butt dyno.

Only really notice is a slightly louder growl. Hard to notice 5 hp gain on a 414hp car.

+1.
It's really about adding a bit of mean noise.

Had a MS filter.
Had a Dinan full intake.
Now have a stock intake/filter.
Go figure.

[flagger]

Thanks to all.

[M0J0]

An air filter will not give you better mpg unless your old one is really dirty. The only real way on any car to improve the mpg is drop weight or somehow improve the drag coeff.

[flagger]

Originally Posted by M0J0

An air filter will not give you better mpg unless your old one is really dirty. The only real way on any car to improve the mpg is drop weight or somehow improve the drag coeff.

Aftermarket air filters tend to breathe better than the stock ones allowing more air into the engine, so using your analogy of a dirty filter, the dirty filter is the stock filter and the aftermarket is the clean filter. That is where I'm looking for the increase in mileage.

As for the reduced weight and better drag coeff., you're correct, both will help as will driving style. The only way I'm going to reduce weight is to go on a diet, something I need to do for more reasons than MPG. I'm not into all the body part add-ons in the name of aero (personal design preferences) and driving style is pretty tight, especiallly since I'm talking about steady state cruise using cruise control.

I do appreciate you input - thank you

[JCtx]

Originally Posted by flagger

have you seen any increase in MPG?

If anybody answers 'yes' he'd be lying. Using common sense your engine uses more air the higher the rpm. And even at redline, if the stock filter provides all the air the engine needs (which is typically the case), installing a racing filter probably helps the engine 1% of the time at the most (near redline) for the majority of owners, but it brings in more dirt 100% of the time (no free lunch).

[persian54]

Originally Posted by shift@red

I have the MS filter and I usually see 24 mpg at 70.

how the hell do you do 24mph with this car

[G-SPQT]

Please go read a SAE mechanical engineering book on how engine work.
Aftermarket air filter, intake systems is waste of MONEY PERIOD!
ohh yea dyno show proven,its just a click of my mouse changing the graph.
And intake system it does suck in cold air it does burn more gas,with resulting 10-15HP increase, YOU WONT FEEL A THING ON THE CAR PERIOD.WASTE OF MONEY.
Going hifi,turbo,supercharger thats different story.
changing air filter does not improve MPG on the car.

[flagger]

Originally Posted by persian54

how the hell do you do 24mph with this car

I'll apologize right up front, but I can't help it.

You put the car in 1st gear and let the clutch out. 24 mph comes up pretty quickly.

- - - - - - - - -

I know you meant 24 mpg - I've gotten it on occasion myself, but more often than not my mileage runs in the mid 23's. Again, that is a steady state cruise for many miles.

[flagger]

Originally Posted by G-SPQT

Please go read a SAE mechanical engineering book on how engine work.
Aftermarket air filter, intake systems is waste of MONEY PERIOD!
ohh yea dyno show proven,its just a click of my mouse changing the graph.
And intake system it does suck in cold air it does burn more gas,with resulting 10-15HP increase, YOU WONT FEEL A THING ON THE CAR PERIOD.WASTE OF MONEY.
Going hifi,turbo,supercharger thats different story.
changing air filter does not improve MPG on the car.

Okay, I think we've exhausted this discussion. It is time to move on to something else.

Consensus is no increase in MPGs. That's what I needed to know, anecdotally, not from theoretical discussions.

Thank you all.