K&N Air filter, Short ram and cold air intakes???

[Slayer33]

Figured I would start this thread since no one else has yet.

I've owned many air intake kits in my past vehicles, I've always ran either a K&N replacement filter or intake kit in all of my previous cars. I liked the sound that the intakes would give off with moderate to max acceleration.

But, I now have a Mazda5. Not to say I shouldn't enjoy it, but I feel like perhaps its not worth the trouble? I had a friend with a 06 Mazda3, he had a short ram intake and he had issues with the Check Engine Light coming on (had something to do with the MAF I think), and I've read that a couple ppl here as well with their Mazda5s are having similar issues.

Sure you might gain a little power, enjoy the sound of the engine more, but at what cost?

I read that K&N replacement filters do not filter as much dirt and they produce very little gains if any. I don't think I want to consider an intake for this car as there are just too many ppl with issues.

I plan on owning this car for a long time, at least 7+ years and I want it to last and run well with regular maintenance and good all round care.

I think for myself, I would consider a K&N drop in replacement filter as they last long and will pay for itself after 2-3 OEM/paper filter changes, but I don't want to put it in if it will degrade the internal engine components from an increase of dirt entering the engine.

I'd like to hear what your opinion is on this, experiences with the K&N drop in filters and with intake kits.

For reference, the K&N drop in replacement filter part # is 33-2293.

[aha]

I don't do K&N anymore - 11 different cars, always had K&N but getting impatient to wait for cleaning,drying,oiling. Regular dry cotton filter from amazon is the way to go. Short ram gets hot air, CAI gets water during pouring season plus here in cali smog is getting restricted. My last 4 cars had the drop in type, very little improvement, not worth the trouble.

[ErikO]

In my opinion, you should modify aspects of the car that you want improved, not just for the sake of modifying them. That is why I'm not bothering with powertrain modifications on my 5. I don't need it to go faster, since it's a minivan. I do plan on lowering it to improve the looks and handling a bit, however.

That being said, I've had K&N filters on my cars in the past with no complaints.

[90210]

In my opinion, you should modify aspects of the car that you want improved, not just for the sake of modifying them. That is why I'm not bothering with powertrain modifications on my 5. I don't need it to go faster, since it's a minivan. I do plan on lowering it to improve the looks and handling a bit, however.

That being said, I've had K&N filters on my cars in the past with no complaints.

Agree 100%, exactly what I am doing as well.

[SporkRacing]

I have had the CorkSport intake kit In my 5 for 1000 miles now and I love it!! No problems with engine light or heat soak and nice sound when you get on the gas a little!

[eyeballs]

Apexi makes a nice dry drop-in replacement, not sure if its available for the 5. Ive used a couple of them on my subarus, way better than k&n.

[Meppen]

I have had the CorkSport intake kit In my 5 for 1000 miles now and I love it!! No problems with engine light or heat soak and nice sound when you get on the gas a little!

Does it give you any added power or economy?

[MarkVII88]

I installed an AEM cold air intake on my old 2004 Corolla back in 2009. With everything else stock, I definitely noticed a small increase in power and torque in the mid-range RPMs and an improved engine sound, without any noticeable sacrifice in mileage or any check-engine lights. This was a true cold-air intake which ran from the throttle body, back behind the battery, and terminated in the cone air filter in the space behind where the fog light would be, in front of the driver side front tire. The CorkSport short ram system isn't quite the same in that it is all contained within the engine bay where the temperatures are hotter. I would be afraid of sacrificing my mileage for a small or negligible power increase and I'd be more interested in the mileage benefit than the power benefit. Can you comment on if or how your CorkSport intake has impacted the power and mileage of your Mazda 5? Thanks very much!