Best Aftermarket Air Filter?

[diezelraccoon]

I was leaning on installing a cold air intake in my 03 Tahoe with the 5.3 Vortec but a buddy of mine told me it really doesn’t do much for performance or fuel mileage and just recommended a lifetime aftermarket air filter like a K&N.

Traditionally I have gone with K&N air filters but wanted to know if someone had any better recommendations?

 

[B-train]

Just buy OEM filters. They are designed and tested for you powetrain. Anything else is a gimmick.....and they may do more harm than good on downstream electronics. Put the saved money into other add-ons that actually make a difference.

 

[Marky Dissod]

K&N air filters don't filter (dirt) as well as similarly sized GM OE paper air filters, provided you already have RPO K47 (if you don't, get it).
Most of the time, you're driving under 3000RpM anyway, when every cold air intake or aftermarket air filter does NOTHING better than GM OE anyway.

Only headers that are worth the money are long-tube headers, but they may move the catalytic converters backward, which your state may whine about.

After that, it's a pcm tune, and 4.10 axle gear(s). Those two are the only mods that can improve your MpG, and make your 4L60E last LONGER.

 

[diezelraccoon]

K&N air filters don't filter (dirt) as well as similarly sized GM OE paper air filters, provided you already have RPO K47 (if you don't, get it).
Most of the time, you're driving under 3000RpM anyway, when every cold air intake or aftermarket air filter does NOTHING better than GM OE anyway.

Only headers that are worth the money are long-tube headers, but they may move the catalytic converters backward, which your state may whine about.

After that, it's a pcm tune, and 4.10 axle gear(s). Those two are the only mods that can improve your MpG, and make your 4L60E last LONGER.

K&N air filters don't filter (dirt) as well as similarly sized GM OE paper air filters, provided you already have RPO K47 (if you don't, get it).
Most of the time, you're driving under 3000RpM anyway, when every cold air intake or aftermarket air filter does NOTHING better than GM OE anyway.

Only headers that are worth the money are long-tube headers, but they may move the catalytic converters backward, which your state may whine about.

After that, it's a pcm tune, and 4.10 axle gear(s). Those two are the only mods that can improve your MpG, and make your 4L60E last LONGER.

Any recommendations as far as PCM tuning?

 

[Marky Dissod]

Any recommendations as far as PCM tuning?

pcmperformance.com
in my sig.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

For tuning, give @BlackBearPerf a call and discuss what you'd like to get out of your truck. For ~$750, you can get a tune for both your motor and transmission, which will perk up your motor and improve transmission operation (and extend its life). The phone call is free, and IMO, this tune is by far the best performance bang for your buck.

 

[swathdiver]

I was leaning on installing a cold air intake in my 03 Tahoe with the 5.3 Vortec but a buddy of mine told me it really doesn’t do much for performance or fuel mileage and just recommended a lifetime aftermarket air filter like a K&N.

Traditionally I have gone with K&N air filters but wanted to know if someone had any better recommendations?

Can't believe it's been 5 years already since he made this!

 

[Trey Hardy]

I was leaning on installing a cold air intake in my 03 Tahoe with the 5.3 Vortec but a buddy of mine told me it really doesn’t do much for performance or fuel mileage and just recommended a lifetime aftermarket air filter like a K&N.

Traditionally I have gone with K&N air filters but wanted to know if someone had any better recommendations?

Open air intakes are junk if you do get a cold air get a true boxed in one that utilizes the factory airbox hole or just throw a k&n in the stock box with a air raid mit tube that’s been proven to work good.
I’ve used HP tuners that’s what my local tuner uses and has always worked well for me for in person tuning on my trucks and suvs.
Best bang for your buck like above said
Longtubes headers, good intake, gears, tune
That alone will make that thing rip it’ll be night and day difference

 

[Mudsport96]

This is all you need to know.

Tahoe with 5.3 285-305 horsepower and 315-383 lb-ft of torque.

Suburban with 496 cubic inches (8.1 liters). It produces 340 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque

Take the same air filter.... so if somehow your 5.3 or even 6.0 is making more than an 8.1 maybe you need a different filter. But, chances are you can get by absolutely fine with a quality stock replacement filter.

 

[Jetskier77]

My 05 Suburban (5.3 engine) came with a K&N filter on it. Every 4 or 5 months it would generate a check engine light. Long story short, the oil on the K&N filter was fouling the MAF sensor. Threw the K&N filter in the trash, cleaned the sensor, replaced it with an OEM filter and never had another issue. These newer engines dont play well with a lot of aftermarket engine accessories.

 

[Marky Dissod]

These newer engines dont play well with a lot of aftermarket engine accessories.

To be precise, MAF sensors have not liked aftermarket filter oil since the late 80s.
Best 'aftermarket' air filter is either:
an even larger air filter than GM OE - as in, larger active filtration surface area,
or
at least as much air filtration as GM OE, but upgraded to withstand Baja1000 / Dakar desert racing;
aFe & ITG are two firms I know of that provide finer filtration capability compared to GM OE.
Neither require 'oiling' of any kind.

 

[swathdiver]

To be precise, MAF sensors have not liked aftermarket filter oil since the late 80s.
Best 'aftermarket' air filter is either:
an even larger air filter than GM OE - as in, larger active filtration surface area,
or
at least as much air filtration as GM OE, but upgraded to withstand Baja1000 / Dakar desert racing;
aFe & ITG are two firms I know of that provide finer filtration capability compared to GM OE.
Neither require 'oiling' of any kind.

I run the thicker ACDelco A3085Cs in all of our trucks. They still make good horsepower with them too. When my supply runs out and if I can find them, might run the winner of Project Farm's testing, the Purolator, if memory serves.

 

[Eighthtry]

Can't believe it's been 5 years already since he made this!

Believe what Project Farm says. That is a damn good test with a couple of pleasant surprises. K&N are track filters only. You will pick up additional hp/tq, but not enough to notice.