The K&N conical filters have been used in all of the cars in our family. I would not say that it increases more than 5 to 10 hp, especially if it is not install in conjunction with the exhaust and/or chip modification. For a 240 hp MDX, the percent of horsepower increase is minimal. However, in day to day driving, it does reduce the engine lag, and improve the throttle response.
So, for those of you who can get past the cost, noise and the actual horsepower gain debates, don’t mind taking your car apart, here is what a “poor-man” conical K&N filter installation would look like.
First are some disclaimers to the installation:
1. There is no K&N cold air box kit presently available for the MDX to install with the conical filter. All brackets, elbow and air box partition parts would have to be retrofit or fabricated. You will have to be creative for now if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on marginal horsepower gain.
2. There is no hard data on how many horsepower increase with this installation, although it does give a quicker throttle response due to reduced air intake restriction from removing the resonator box.
3. The car will be a little bit noisier because the air filter box is removed to make room for the cone filter and the air intake resonator is removed to provide maximum airflow. The air intake sound dampening is no longer available, but the noise is no worst than the wind noise.
4. Not sure if it voids any warranty, but the installation is reversible.
Since there is no after-market conical filter kit for MDX available, prepare to make you own. Parts used here were select for their availability. The K&N High-Flow Air Filter part # RE-0870 ($42.99 plus S&H from Jeg’s) was used for this installation. It is a 4” diameter input, 9” long taper cone filter.
You will need one 4” hose clamp and one 3” diameter 90-degree elbow. (A $3 PVC/ “stainless plastic” plumbing elbow would do the trick, you can also get a can of chrome spray paint while you are at the store). A metal L-bracket would need to be fabricated to secure the elbow and air filter assembly to the car. Eventually, a cold air box/partition will be made to separate the cold intake from the adjacent hot air generated from the engine in order to maximize the performance. Since this is a work in progress, the cold air box is not yet been designed and installed. For now, the battery gives enough separation between the engine and the air filter, and you can feel the difference already.
Step 1: Remove the air cleaner/filter box. Leave the factory spring tensioner on the air hose. (Reuse the rubber mounting bumper and bolt from the lower air cleaner box for mounting the K&N air filter later).
Step 2: Remove the front bumper (download the trailer hitch installation from Tim/Hondacuraworld to see how to remove the front bumper).
Step 3: Remove the air resonator (this is located behind the front bumper at the driver side).
Step 4: Install the K&N filter onto the 4” diameter end of the PVC elbow and the 3.5” diameter end of the elbow mounts to the air intake hose.
Step 5: Use an approx. 6-inch long 90-degree steel L-bracket, cut one leg down to 1”. Drill a 1/4” hole on the end of each leg. Weld a ¾ “ L x ¼-20 stud onto the 4” hose clamp for the air intake hose.
Step 6: Attach the 1” leg of the L bracket with the rubber bumper and bolt (from the stock air box) to the car. Attach the 4” hose clamp to the air hose and secure to the 6” leg of the L-bracket through the predrilled hole.
Step 7: Check to make sure the air filter does not rub against any part of the engine bay. Rotate it upwards if necessary. Tighten all hose clamps.
Step 8: Reinstall the front bumper.
You will feel the difference when you step on the gas pedal. The power is available more freely without flooring it. There is no noticeable gas mileage change.
So, for those of you who can get past the cost, noise and the actual horsepower gain debates, don’t mind taking your car apart, here is what a “poor-man” conical K&N filter installation would look like.
First are some disclaimers to the installation:
1. There is no K&N cold air box kit presently available for the MDX to install with the conical filter. All brackets, elbow and air box partition parts would have to be retrofit or fabricated. You will have to be creative for now if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on marginal horsepower gain.
2. There is no hard data on how many horsepower increase with this installation, although it does give a quicker throttle response due to reduced air intake restriction from removing the resonator box.
3. The car will be a little bit noisier because the air filter box is removed to make room for the cone filter and the air intake resonator is removed to provide maximum airflow. The air intake sound dampening is no longer available, but the noise is no worst than the wind noise.
4. Not sure if it voids any warranty, but the installation is reversible.
Since there is no after-market conical filter kit for MDX available, prepare to make you own. Parts used here were select for their availability. The K&N High-Flow Air Filter part # RE-0870 ($42.99 plus S&H from Jeg’s) was used for this installation. It is a 4” diameter input, 9” long taper cone filter.
You will need one 4” hose clamp and one 3” diameter 90-degree elbow. (A $3 PVC/ “stainless plastic” plumbing elbow would do the trick, you can also get a can of chrome spray paint while you are at the store). A metal L-bracket would need to be fabricated to secure the elbow and air filter assembly to the car. Eventually, a cold air box/partition will be made to separate the cold intake from the adjacent hot air generated from the engine in order to maximize the performance. Since this is a work in progress, the cold air box is not yet been designed and installed. For now, the battery gives enough separation between the engine and the air filter, and you can feel the difference already.
Step 1: Remove the air cleaner/filter box. Leave the factory spring tensioner on the air hose. (Reuse the rubber mounting bumper and bolt from the lower air cleaner box for mounting the K&N air filter later).
Step 2: Remove the front bumper (download the trailer hitch installation from Tim/Hondacuraworld to see how to remove the front bumper).
Step 3: Remove the air resonator (this is located behind the front bumper at the driver side).
Step 4: Install the K&N filter onto the 4” diameter end of the PVC elbow and the 3.5” diameter end of the elbow mounts to the air intake hose.
Step 5: Use an approx. 6-inch long 90-degree steel L-bracket, cut one leg down to 1”. Drill a 1/4” hole on the end of each leg. Weld a ¾ “ L x ¼-20 stud onto the 4” hose clamp for the air intake hose.
Step 6: Attach the 1” leg of the L bracket with the rubber bumper and bolt (from the stock air box) to the car. Attach the 4” hose clamp to the air hose and secure to the 6” leg of the L-bracket through the predrilled hole.
Step 7: Check to make sure the air filter does not rub against any part of the engine bay. Rotate it upwards if necessary. Tighten all hose clamps.
Step 8: Reinstall the front bumper.
You will feel the difference when you step on the gas pedal. The power is available more freely without flooring it. There is no noticeable gas mileage change.