I have a 96 ram with a 5.2 and the previous owner put one of the universal elderbrock round air filters you can get from any parts store and it's way to tall and does not seal very well. I was wondering if I should go back to stock or go with a CAI. If I should go with a CAI what brand, will it help or hurt my MPG, and how do you kee from water going in the filter ?

 

stock is step backwards, replace with a CAI for sure. you can always buy a filter wrap, it keeps water splashes and large dirt particles out of the filter. mpg's should be about the same as some say to use round filter and others like myself use CAI's. CAI's have heat shields that also can block out some of the water splashing into the engine bay. I have the spectre kit the outside of heat shield is all splashed up with water spots, the inside not so much.

Brand if you get the spectre cheapest kit possible/but yet well put toghether you might have interferance with WOT, as it is hitting the air hat. K&N are good but expensive. really your call as there are about 6 to 12 different choices. also summit brand is K&N just marketed to you for summit house brand. I believe the rep from summit said, "it would come in the box like as if bought the K&N."

 

So will i get better mpg with stock or cai and what kind of problem do you mean at WOT ?

 

Spectre had a problem with their air hats, wouldn't allow the throttle linkage enough clearance to open all the way. They now have a redesigned air hat though...... I would like to think that is what they would ship with a new order.

 

So to keep the best mpg stock or cai ?

 

CAI flows better, not sure how much of a difference it will make in fuel economy.

 

I'd keep the stock setup and use a good filter like a WIX. The others are just for looks IMHO.

 

I've read on Ram Forumz that Spectre and K&N go head to head a lot and most have found comparable if not the same performance. I read about a 1-2 mpg improvement if you can keep your foot out of the cool sound it makes when romping on it.

My Spectre is on the way and I will let you know what I'm getting for mpg.

 

I just bought a summit racing 14*3 for $21. I like the round filters because they make tons of room in the engine bay (especially when changing plugs etc). Either way, a cold air intake is only going to net you 2-3 WHP, if you are lucky.

I will testing my 1/4 mile times and 0-60 with the stock intake as well as the summit intake. Numbers are soon to come!

 

I seriously doubt you will see 2 mpg improvement from a CAI alone. I had the FIPK at one time, and by itself, I saw no MPG increase.