Air filters

Symetry · Mar 4, 2021

As most of you know by now, I'm the forum tightwad.

I have three problems.
1 I'ma tightwad
2 I don't have deep pockets
3 that budget thing

I'm slowly doing some accessories and updates to the White Knight. Just got the windows tinted this week.

Yeah , Borla exhaust and a tune is in my future.

But I have a question.....
Is there any gain from getting a good high flow , drop in air filter.
And.

Which one do you recommend?

I'm not that tight.

Thanks

Jim

zdubyadubya · Mar 4, 2021

Hey Jim,

Its an affliction most of us share. LOL.

Couple of suggestions... If going the tune route and you haven't yet bought an exhaust, it may be worth investing in a 2.5" or 3" system. You will be spending about the same amount of money but get better flow. At OEM power, Borla is great but its really just going to be more noise rather than much performance benefit. This is coming from someone who is currently running a Borla ATAK. I bought my exhaust in March of 2020 when there was nothing else on the market but now with downpipes, I am going to find myself having bought two exhausts. If you elect to go the no-tune route or the Ford Performance Tune route, then IMO the sound of both the Borla S-Type and the Borla ATAK are great. The ATAK is LOUD though. Without additional soundproofing in the rear cargo area and the spare tire well it was "hard to have a conversation in the baskseat" loud under anything other than cruising throttle.

To address your actual question, yes. There is a benefit to a drop in air filter. Whether you go dry or oiled is up to you. The price is pretty similar so if you don't mind washing and oiling your filter regularly you do save some money in the long run. I'm running the AFE MagnumFlow 5R. Part #30-10215.

schaggatron · Mar 4, 2021

I have the AFE filter (K&N) makes one too. Super easy to install, and I like it. Though I'm curious about maintaining/cleaning it long term. I think there may be gains (I'm no expert) at higher RPMs, but it may be small. Again not 100% sure.

TMac · Mar 4, 2021

I'm Scottish and a "bang for the buck" guy as well. The very best upgrade is a tune. Totally stock with a tune you could be looking at low to mid 12s in the quarter. If that's not enough HP, I'd follow up with the turbo upgrade. Every dyno chart I have seen on the ST shows stock turbos reaching peak boost as low as 2900 rpm. That means you're leaving a lot of horsepower on the table (due to turbine back pressure) at higher RPMs. I know the 3" dual exhaust sounds great, and is sexy, but I've seen numerous vehicles running over 700 hp on a SINGLE 3" exhaust so unless your goals are way more than that, the stock dual 2.25 (at midpipe) is probably not a giant restriction as you still have a greater cross section than a single 3". If I were actually interested in making max power on this vehicle, those two steps would be my starting point. From a frugality standpoint, for the price of the exhaust and intake, you could easily get the turbo upgrades. After that, it's up to you.

Symetry · Mar 4, 2021

I was told , years back , on my Ram Cummins , not to use an oiled K&N air filter . It's not good for the turbo.

Maybe that oil ain't good for these turbo's either.

I suppose it can't hurt to do a dry , high flow , filter .
I'll see if it helps in power, pedal sensitivity , or mpg.

Jim

TMac · Mar 4, 2021

It won't hurt to get a different air filter, my point is it's not going to make an appreciable difference if you haven't done anything else. I wouldn't do an oiled filter.

hbalek · Mar 4, 2021

I'm the ultimate tight wad! I don't do any mods on any of my vehicles. I never have. I just like to get the higher or highest trim with all available options and I am content with how it looks and performs in stock form. Cupholder Hero is the full extent of my mods on my ST. I'm still not convinced it looks better after having them for 6 months. LOL

Symetry · Mar 4, 2021

hbalek said:

No sir I'm the king tightwad.
Amazon wanted $110 for a set of black lug nuts.
I just couldn't pull the trigger on them.

Here's where tightwad kicks in.
Because I hated the chrome lug nuts so much, I wouldn't take the St to town.

So i experimented with one .
l pulled one. Scuffed it with 2000 grit emory cloth, then wiped down with laquer thinner, then put 3 coats of black gloss laquer paint on it, then 3 coats of laquer clear coat. Let it dry 30 minutes , then baked it 2 1/2 minutes at 360 deg.

When it cooled off , I put it back on at 140 ft lb .
Took it off and on several times. Tried the impact wrench off and on a few times. Not a mark on it.

Soooo, being a tightwad ...I did the whole set today.
They are tough and look great.
I guess time will tell how they would hold up.

Wasn't out any money , and if they don't do well.

I'll buy a set , nothing lost.

Now, that's the epitome of tightwadness.

Jim

TMac · Mar 4, 2021

Yep....you win.

Symetry · Mar 4, 2021

Thank you ^^^.

Do I get a trophy or a prize ?

Jim

zdubyadubya · Mar 4, 2021

Symetry said:

No sir I'm the king tightwad.
Amazon wanted $110 for a set of black lug nuts.
I just couldn't pull the trigger on them.

Here's where tightwad kicks in.
Because I hated the chrome lug nuts so much, I wouldn't take the St to town.

So i experimented with one .
l pulled one. Scuffed it with 2000 grit emory cloth, then wiped down with laquer thinner, then put 3 coats of black gloss laquer paint on it, then 3 coats of laquer clear coat. Let it dry 30 minutes , then baked it 2 1/2 minutes at 360 deg.

When it cooled off , I put it back on at 140 ft lb .
Took it off and on several times. Tried the impact wrench off and on a few times. Not a mark on it.

Soooo, being a tightwad ...I did the whole set today.
They are tough and look great.
I guess time will tell how they would hold up.

Wasn't out any money , and if they don't do well.

I'll buy a set , nothing lost.

Not that's the epitome of tightwadness.

Jim

I CANNOT WAIT until I can retire and my personal $/hr labor cost goes to zero. Kudos to you man.

Symetry · Mar 4, 2021

zdubyadubya said:

I only do the fun stuff....

Pay the grandkids to do all the work. [whip]

Jim

hbalek · Mar 4, 2021

Symetry said:

I'm also lazy and indecisive! So I reluctantly pay for things I could do myself.

FiveLeeter918 · Mar 4, 2021

Symetry said:

I call that ingenuity... You are not a tightwad, just see where you can do for yourself instead of what others are marketing

As for the original question, yes a filter helps, plus it is reusable instead of paying $15 for the disposable every 10-15k miles so it will pay for itself over the life of the vehicle. I like the AFE personally.

Symetry · Mar 4, 2021

I did until my health went bad.
Can't do anything strenuous anymore.

So I have to pay now.

I hate it but I've accepted it.

Jim

FiveLeeter918 · Mar 4, 2021

Sorry to hear. Thank you for your service.

Symetry · Mar 5, 2021

Me being a tightwad...looked for best deal...here's what I ordered from Advance Auto
Just in case others may want to get a deal.

AFE 31-10215

Jim

Garda934 · Mar 5, 2021

Symetry said:

Jim thanks for the discount code it worked for me too!

1 Items totaling $56.99 Hide Items
6-8 business days

aFe POWER Magnum FLOW Filter
Part No: 31-10215
Warranty 2 YR REPLACEMENT IF DEFECTIVE
$56.99 X 1 $56.99

ORDER SUMMARYPRODUCT TOTAL$56.99 TOTAL SAVINGS-$14.25 SHIPPING$0.00 TAX$3.15 ORDER TOTAL$45.89

Symetry · Mar 6, 2021

@Garda934 , glad you saved a few bucks.
Most sites were $65 and up.

Pays to shop .

Jim

boosted_st · Mar 6, 2021

I put in a AEM Dry flow filter, I didn't want to do anything oiled since that can cause problems if you don't apply the correct amount of oil when cleaning.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GBQ75NC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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