Intense Fenderwell Intake Problems?!

[Dannyg420]

I have a close family friend who is a service manager at GM dealer and he does most of the work on my car. Recently my power booster went out so he took it in and ofcourse he noticed when he started the car for the first 5min or so the intense fwi was very loud so he looked into it more. Keep in mind he is not trying to make money off me and he has been in the auto business for over 30 years. He tells me that the k&n filter that's on there is a little too small but what hew worried about is all the dust and grime that the filter is sucking into the engine. He says I'd be much Bette off going back to the stock airbox. Ofcourse I don't have my stock air box anymore. Any ideas? Has any one ever had this problem? I thot intense fwi is the best for the bonne? I'm lost. Help plz.

[2003 SSEi]

LOL a GM Service Manager giving advice about aftermarket parts......A lot of technicians believe that if its not a stock part its not worthy and not as good as the OEM.

Leave the FWI on

[00Beast]

That K&N is HUGE, idk what he's smoking. Way more surface area than the stock filter. Properly oiled, a K&N filter will catch as much or more than a paper filter.

[Tekara]

I run a Fender Well Intake as well; but to be honest, I've never seen any real gains off of them, especially considering the stock airbox already did a great job of pulling air away from the engine.

These guys do a pretty respectable test series to show what I'm talking about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCi2yo4UqPI

[SSEiMan01]

Noise and modified motors are reasons people do it. I had one for about a year and a half on my 01. It's worth doing I'd say and there isn't really any harm in it. People on here have done extensive testing as to why and how it makes the intake better. Dealers ALWAYS frown upon any kind of modifications because the majority of people don't do things completely right. But the percentage of us that do, do so for a reason.

[1oldman]

The youtube video was very informative! Thank you - BC

[00Beast]

I notice a HUGE difference having the stock airbox on my SSEi with some mods, trying to sell it. I'd bet it cut 15 HP easy.

[2003 SSEi]

Agreed, on the SC cars, there is a huge difference in power.

[Dannyg420]

Yes i understand the k&n filter is better than stock and mite be able to catch more but I mean the stock filter was in the engine bay while the fwi down in the fendwell seems to be exposed to a lot more

[00Beast]

Not really, unless you regularly run without a bumper cover, splash guard and wheel well liners in pouring rain or drive into lakes...

[nos4blood70]

Not really, unless you regularly run without a bumper cover, splash guard and wheel well liners in pouring rain or drive into lakes...

I run with a cracked bumper cover, no splash guard, and rubbed through wheel well liners all year. Pouring rain, puddles deep enough to spill over the hood, feet upon feet of snow, driving on a beach etc etc.... No issues on my end. Oddly enough, the cone looks pretty clean, and still feels oiled when you touch it.

[freneticburn]

I love people's reactions to cold start ups. Everyone always freaks out. Just gutting out the baffles in the stock airbox make it loud though too. I've been using Intense's FWI setup on my car for years now and I drive it all year round in Minnesota. Unless you're getting yourself into some stupid deep puddles I wouldn't be too concerned.

[Zeik75]

So you don't just leave the wheel well cover off? Ah.......oh well it was broken anyway.

[Dannyg420]

hahah ight guys just had to ask you know