How Much Horsepower Can You Get from a K&N Intake?

Whether you drive a 15-year-old commuter or a brand new sports car, if you're anything like us, you can always find a reason to squeeze more power out of your ride. Whether your goal is to get more acceleration while merging onto the highway, better torque and power for uphill towing, or simply a more responsive driving experience, a K&N intake can help you get the most from the car you already drive. Even better, you can typically install your new intake in less than an hour* in your home garage with basic tools you likely have in your tool box.

Yes, K&N intakes really do increase horsepower and torque; in fact, it's guaranteed. One of the fastest ways to add more airflow, horsepower, and throttle response to your vehicle is by installing a cold air intake. An engine operates by ingesting air, mixing it with fuel, and combusting the air/fuel mixture in order to send power to the crankshaft. Adding additional oxygen to the mixture can help increase the efficiency of the fuel burn, which is where a cold air intake comes into play. The premium air filter included in a K&N intake system helps increase airflow by up to 50% over a traditional disposable paper air filter, and the intake tube is engineered to flow a high volume of oxygen-rich air without the excess baffles and airflow-slowing components that many factory systems have.

Because vehicle makes, models, and engine sizes vary widely, along with vehicle condition and environmental factors, horsepower gains also vary across applications and individual vehicles. However, K&N intakes typically add an average of 15-25 additional horsepower over a stock system**. Each kit undergoes significant testing to help ensure that the filter and intake tube are positioned to deliver large increases in airflow and horsepower. Dyno testing charts can be viewed on individual product pages, which can help provide an estimate of the amount of horsepower increase you can expect from a system upgrade.

Yes, K&N intakes protect your engine through the use of a premium, specially-designed high-flow air filter. A paper filter exhibits a principle called surface loading, as dust collects only on the surface of the filter media. In contrast, K&N oiled High-Flow Air Filters™ utilize a depth-loading design, in which multiple layers of cotton fibers provide particle retention on the various levels within the media, and also feature pleats to increase the contaminant-capturing surface area. As a result, K&N filters are able to hold significantly more dirt and particulate matter per square inch of media over an average paper filter. This depth-loading capability is also what makes it possible for the large, conical filter included with each intake to perform for up to 100,000 miles before cleaning, versus a disposable which must typically be thrown away and replaced every 12,000-24,000 miles.

Most disposable paper filters create a large amount of airflow restriction, as the openings in the filter media have to be extremely small to filter efficiently—which slows airflow. Because dust accumulates on the surface of the disposable filter and blocks the openings in the media, the filter will typically become increasingly more restrictive to airflow over time. Conversely, K&N oiled filters are engineered to become more efficient over their recommended service life as dirt and contaminants are integrated into the filter media, while still allowing a high volume of air through to the system. This allows you to continue to get the performance you expect from your K&N intake, while also being able to rely on the cutting-edge efficiency and protection that a K&N oiled air filter provides.

SOME INTAKE SYSTEMS ARE NOT LEGAL FOR SALE OR USE ON ANY POLLUTION CONTROLLED MOTOR VEHICLE IN CALIFORNIA.

*K&N intake systems can typically be installed in less than 60 minutes. Actual installation time may vary.

**Horsepower gains vary among products and applications, but each K&N performance air intake system is designed to increase airflow efficiency for specific vehicles and their engines. Each kit undergoes significant testing to help ensure that the filter and intake tube are engineered to deliver large increases in airflow and horsepower. Please visit individual product pages to view horsepower estimates for your specific vehicle.