Top Frequently Asked Questions
Filters
- HOW MUCH OIL SHOULD I APPLY TO MY FILTER?
- DO I HAVE TO USE AN S&B CLEANING AND OILING KIT TO SERVICE MY FILTER?
- DOES AN S&B FILTER COME PRE-OILED?
- WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RED AND BLUE OIL USED ON A FILTER?
Cold Air Intakes
- HOW MUCH HORSEPOWER WILL I GET FROM AN S&B COLD AIR INTAKE KIT?
- ARE S&B INTAKE KITS EASY TO INSTALL?
- WILL AN S&B INTAKE KIT OR FILTER VOID MY WARRANTY?
- WILL AN S&B FILTER OR INTAKE KIT IMPROVE MY FUEL ECONOMY?
- HOW OFTEN SHOULD I SERVICE (CLEAN) MY FILTER?
- WILL THE OIL ON THE FILTER DAMAGE MY VEHICLE'S MASS AIR SENSOR?
Filters
The amount of oil applied to your filter is critical, so be sure to utilize the S&B Precision Cleaning & Oiling Kit to properly service your filter.
To determine the proper amount of oil to apply, enter your part number on our web site or lookup the filter by vehicle or dimension. The correct amount of oil to use on your filter will be listed under the Product Details.
Yes for two (2) reasons. First, our cleaning solution and oil has been designed specifically for our filters. Second, the S&B Precision Cleaning & Oiling Kit is the only kit on the market that will allow you to properly apply the correct amount of oil. Applying the incorrect amount of oil will adversely affect the performance of your filter.
Yes. S&B utilizes robotics to precisely apply the correct amount of oil to your filter before it ships.
The color is the only difference between red and blue oil. You can purchase the Precision Cleaning & Oiling Kit in either color and achieve the same great results.
Cold Air Intakes
Horsepower can be increased by decreasing the restriction of airflow to the vehicle's engine. Typically, the OE stock air box and induction tube significantly restrict the airflow. S&B design's its intake kits to increase the amount of horsepower by 5-10% by allowing the engine to breathe easier.
S&B does not publish horsepower results specific to each part because the majority of our competition makes outrageous horsepower claims that are unsupportable and often are accompanied by the disclaimer "Up To, As Much As or Results May Vary." Since there is no standard for dyno testing; therefore, it is difficult to hold our competition accountable for their inflated claims.
S&B utilizes its 1/2 million dollar, climate controlled lab to test its intake kits and filters to the same standard (ISO 5011 Test Standard) used by the OE manufacturers, so there is substance behind S&B's test results.
S&B publishes two (2) critical results: Airflow and Efficiency.
- Airflow Rating: This rating shows how much the filter and/or intake improves the airflow versus stock. By improving the airflow you will improve both the performance and fuel economy of your vehicle.
- Efficiency Rating: Protecting your engine while dramatically improving the airflow is S&B's competitive advantage which is why we post the efficiency numbers along with the airflow rating. The efficiency rating shows how much dirt our filters will stop. Our minimum goal for efficiency is 99.0%.
Look-up the ISO 5011 Test Results for your specific application.
The installation process for an S&B Intake Kit is extremely straight forward and can usually be completed in less than 30 minutes using only standard tools.
Installing an S&B Intake Kit or Filter will not void your vehicle's warranty as long as you follow the proper procedures found at Your Vehicle's Warranty is Safe.
It is illegal for a dealership to void your warranty based solely on the fact that you have installed an aftermarket product. Your rights are protected by the Consumer Product Warranties Law, often referred to as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
The simple answer is yes. By lowering the restriction level versus stock, the S&B Intake allows the engine to work more efficiently which will improve fuel economy.
According to the Department of Energy, a dirty air filter will have an adverse affect on fuel economy. Fueleconomy.gov states that replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.shtml) The reason a clean filter improves fuel economy is because it is less restrictive than a dirty filter, so the engine works less to consume the air it needs. This S&B Intake Kit is substantially less restrictive than the OE induction system with a clean filter installed thus allowing the engine to breathe even easier which results in better fuel economy. S&B does not make a specific claim with regards to fuel economy because there are too many factors that can affect your miles per gallon.
The cleaning interval will depend on your driving conditions. We recommend that you inspect your filter every oil change or 6,000 miles. If debris has built up on your filter equal to the height of the wire mesh, your filter should be cleaned and oiled. Servicing your filter more frequently will result in better performance. At a minimum, the air filter should be properly serviced using a Precision Cleaning & Oiling Kit every 12,000 miles.
No! In fact, many OE paper filters contain oil in order to improve the efficiency of the filter. S&B uses robotics to precisely apply the correct amount of oil at the factory and provides consumers with the Precision Cleaning & Oiling Kit to properly service the filter in the field. Oil could potentially damage the mass air sensor only if it is over-applied.