air cleaners

[possum70]

I read a few years ago that the standard air cleaner was better than the type that you can see the filter from the sides, which is the type that came on this truck. Is this true? If not, why not? I don't want to handicap myself over something so easily fixed.

possum

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Cold air is usually better than hot air. Open element style filters let in hot air from the engine bay unless you have some sort of hood scoop or something pointing cold outside air directly at it.
It takes a large increase in hot engine bay air being sucked in to offset the fact that it's hot.

The cold air intakes are also usually a bit better sealed and prevent wanter splashing up in the engine bay from getting sucked in...assuming the factory baffles and the like are still there and you aren't windshield deep in water.

 

[4X4HIGH]

It is true that an enclosed air cleaner is better, the reason is because cold air produces more power and won't hurt fuel mileage. Lots of people use an open element air cleaner thinking that they are able to get more air into the engine (which must be better) and in reality the engine only uses the amount of air that it needs and can't use anymore than the size of the carb bores will allow anyways.