Cold Air Intake for JKU

look into the banks cold air intake the specs looks impressive.  for a bolt on unit remember also that a lot of them suggest a chip programmer as well

I was always afraid of fine dust particles getting in the engine. I never thought they were worth the money or the risk.

Gilbert & Betty said look into the banks cold air intake the specs looks impressive.  for a bolt on unit remember also that a lot of them suggest a chip programmer as well    

Thanks!  I will take a look at the Banks system.

JohnDF said I was always afraid of fine dust particles getting in the engine. I never thought they were worth the money or the risk.  

That is certainly a big concern. I will have to do more research to determine if they really do let more fine particles into your engine.  I am not sure if they truly do give that much of a performance boost or gas milage increase either.  Then there is also the concern about CA emissions... I may just be talking myself out of one of these and just go with the higher clearance exhaust set up and leave my cold air intake alone.

Anybody in the club running one of these aftermarket cold air intakes that can comment on what they have experienced?

Thanks!

Im dont have a JK but I can say that they are pointless on the TJ 4.0 since the motor is not high revving.  The JK is a higher revving motor so there may be some improvement.  I would consider it on a daily driver but I would rather do a snorkel on a Jeep.

CARB legal is an issue so if you get one be sure it has the sticker which SMOG places require.  As mentioned before, the oil based filters like the K&N are useless in the Jeeps since the oil collects dust so quickly and they don't filter as effectively as the paper elements.  Intakes with dry re-usable filter elements are better but still dont filter to the same level as paper elements.

As to if they are worth it, I don't know how restrictive the factory intakes are on the JK.  On TJs they offer no significant improvement since the 4.0 isnt a high revving motor and the intake is basically smooth straight tube already.  Unless your factory intake is a maze of piping, improvements will likely be single digit.  The increased noise may give you a placebo effect into thinking it is faster but it is just that.  Also mileage improvements on the TJ were non-existent with tires bigger than 33s.

The final thing to consider is the ease of water intrusion with the cold air.  On the TJ when fording water, the factory intake was protected and could submerge to just over the front fenders.  With the cold air intake I had, the fan splash would hit the filter at anything deeper than the bottom of the front bumper.

kris_olof said Im dont have a JK but I can say that they are pointless on the TJ 4.0 since the motor is not high revving.  The JK is a higher revving motor so there may be some improvement.  I would consider it on a daily driver but I would rather do a snorkel on a Jeep. CARB legal is an issue so if you get one be sure it has the sticker which SMOG places require.  As mentioned before, the oil based filters like the K&N are useless in the Jeeps since the oil collects dust so quickly and they don't filter as effectively as the paper elements.  Intakes with dry re-usable filter elements are better but still dont filter to the same level as paper elements.   As to if they are worth it, I don't know how restrictive the factory intakes are on the JK.  On TJs they offer no significant improvement since the 4.0 isnt a high revving motor and the intake is basically smooth straight tube already.  Unless your factory intake is a maze of piping, improvements will likely be single digit.  The increased noise may give you a placebo effect into thinking it is faster but it is just that.  Also mileage improvements on the TJ were non-existent with tires bigger than 33s.   The final thing to consider is the ease of water intrusion with the cold air.  On the TJ when fording water, the factory intake was protected and could submerge to just over the front fenders.  With the cold air intake I had, the fan splash would hit the filter at anything deeper than the bottom of the front bumper.  

Thank you as always Kris!  You make some great points!  Like I said earlier I think I am quickly talking myself out of a cold air intake conversion.

Sharkbyte said We just got done with a successful Rubicon Run with the Jeepers Jamboree this past weekend and everything went great.  However, we crushed our exhaust pipe tip for the second time.  So I am upgrading my exhaust system to a high clearance set up where the exhaust will no longer be as immediately in harms way. I figure if I am going to upgrade the exhaust I should take a look at the cold air intake.  Yes, I know both the exhaust and cold air intake will make the jeep louder.  I am going with the Flowmaster HP2 muffler that is a bit quieter than some of the other options i have heard.   Problem is I tried to order a K & N cold air system from Northridge 4x4.  They ended up holding the shipment as they are not able to ship it to California due to smog restrictions. Anybody have a suggestion on cold air intakes for California?  Are they even worth buying? Thanks!  

You need to request a different K&N that is CARB certified. I have a CARB certified K&N cold air intake. Just buy it from a reseller who know that they make a CA model!

BKGM Jeepers said

You need to request a different K&N that is CARB certified. I have a CARB certified K&N cold air intake. Just buy it from a reseller who know that they make a CA model!  

Thank you!  Do you believe that the CARB CA certified K & N unit is more susceptible to water pouring in over the stock air intake during a deep water crossing?  That said I hope I never see water up that high on my Jeep.

Sharkbyte said

Thank you!  Do you believe that the CARB CA certified K & N unit is more susceptible to water pouring in over the stock air intake during a deep water crossing?  That said I hope I never see water up that high on my Jeep.    

I believe it's quite the oposite.  The stock box draws from the fender.