bluesrocker137

First of all, I'm not sure whether or not this is the correct forum, so if not please feel free to move it!

About a week ago, I installed a K&N Typhoon intake on my 2009 G5. It sounds fantastic, I can feel a bit more power at higher rpms, completely satisfied. Other than the fact that my fuel mileage has went to crap. I was getting roughly 23 city, 36 highway on my stock airbox, and I am now getting about 20 city, 31 highway.

I had the negative battery terminal unplugged when putting in the new intake, so from my understanding the old fuel trims should have been wiped in doing that. I drove about 200 miles combined city and highway, and got roughly 20 city, 31 highway, 23 combined. I had heard that the oil on K&N intakes can hurt the vehicle's MAF, so after about 200 miles I pulled out my MAF and cleaned it with electrical contact cleaner to make sure none of the K&N oil got on it, put it back in, and results haven't been any better. I should also mention that I pulled the filter off the end of the intake and felt inside for any sort of residue of which there was none.

Any help would be greatly appreciated here, I'm loving the way the car feels and drives with the intake, but the lowered gas mileage really sucks. I'd really appreciate any help that someone can give me on this.

Sl0wbaltSS

It's typical cause you want to hear the sound everywhere you go

ECaulk

iTrader: (6)

How are you calculating the mpg?

Also I'm sure you get on it a little more with the intake

WVU_SS

iTrader: (1)

^^^ This. If you're using the readout on the dash it isn't accurate. Mine say's I'm getting 28 MGP on E85, and 1/16 of a tank will get me 80 miles. You're better off setting the trip counter and using a full tank to get a proper MPG.

bluesrocker137

I usually use both and have found that my dash is within 1/2 of a mile per gallon of hand calculations most times. I've also been pretty conscious to drive calmer than i usually would and not get on it as much since my mileage started going down, so I don't really think that wanting to hear the sound has been it either.

Jesse

iTrader: (4)

I'll agree with the blame being placed on the right foot. I was the same way. Just for kicks I did a ****-ton of steady-state research on my fuel mileage. For what it's worth, fully bolted on the stock tune I could still get 35mpg on the highway. Then I tuned it and gave it an obscene but safe amount of timing in the cruise RPMs and I could get 47-50mpg at 55mph, 45mpg at 60mph, and 38mpg at 80mph. That's when I was intentionally trying to get good mileage.

Now I'm on E47, and I could probably still get 40mpg at 55mph, but I'm so preoccupied with mashing the gas pedal and watching the shitty V6 mustangs and V8 Rams disappear angrily in my rear-view mirror I don't care how much gas I'm using. I drive 60 miles a day and my tank lasts like maybe 6 days tops. More like 4-5 days.

slapbetcommissioner

iTrader: (3)

Intakes that aren't tuned for often cause fuel mileage to go down since the maf sees more air and in order to balance the afr it adds fuel.

bluesrocker137

Is there any chance that this is something that could get better with time? I've heard from some of the other forums on this site that the MAF needs time to "learn" your new setup and will adjust to a more favorable setup, even if it won't be as perfect as a tune would have been. Is this true?

Jesse

iTrader: (4)

To a certain extent yes. That's what ltft are for.

northvibe

iTrader: (1)

stop flooring it to make noises How long has it been since intake install?

slapbetcommissioner

iTrader: (3)

It will to some extent yes. I think it's less likely the fuel economy will get better so much as the car will learn how to regulate the air a little better.

Best thing to do is to get a tune. Imo

bluesrocker137

Drove around tonight for awhile and my city mileage has climbed up to 22.5 according to the car's display. Whether that number is correct or not, it's going in the right direction apparently. The intake has been installed for roughly 1 week and 300 miles worth of driving so far. I do plan on tuning the car eventually, but I'd rather not spend the money for a tune until all the mods I want to do are done. I at least want to put on a decent exhaust, and possibly the 2.4l intake manifold and throttle body. A tune is in my plans for the future though!

slapbetcommissioner

iTrader: (3)

Yep that's a good call. Don't waste the money unless your tuner makers free adjustments as you add mods.

bluesrocker137

Trying to do this right, too many people turns cobalts into ricers and give our cars a bad name!