3.3TT K&N Typhoon Cold Air Intake System for Kia Stinger GT

Are you sure the K&N Typhoon isn't CARB compliant?

Yeah - I’m sure. I couldn’t find anything on the CARB website for 2017-2018 vehicles except applications that will be ongoing for a long time. None of them reference KIA or Hyundai. I had to tell the vendor that shipped me the CAIs that I would only be using the car on the track for them to even ship to California. Like my air filters cause the car to grossly pollute? Come on.

Incidentally, I accelerated away from a signal while making a right turn today because someone pulled out of a driveway and I didn’t want to be in their blind spot (an awareness from riding motorcycles). I accelerated to 40mph (the speed limit) safely and at about 50% throttle, and then noticed a cop sitting in the left turn lane in opposite traffic.

The sound the CAIs make was very obvious at 50% throttle, and when I saw the cop I immediately lifted my foot from the gas pedal, which makes the “blow back” sound even louder.

I haven’t had a ticket in 7 years (knock on wood), because I’d like to believe I’m a very responsible driver - but my heart raced like I’d been caught doing something terrible. Still undecided on whether or not it’s feasible and smart for me to modify the car further. Thanks, California: fasten your seatbelt, put on your helmet, and leave all personal liberties at the border.

Found out today that there’s a $10,000 fine for any smog test station that “ignores” a non CARB compliant intake mod, even if the sniffer in the tailpipe passes smog requirements. It can’t pass the “visual inspection”.

I know the owners of a few smog stations really well, so I could get around it I’m sure - or I could put the factory intakes back on in under an hour - but the paranoia of getting a ticket just for the sound might kill it for me.

I understand smog regulations, but if the car can pass smog with a sniffer, how am I hurting the environment? Anyone else feeling the same way?

Disgruntled,

Chris from SoCal
 
Honestly, with so little benefit from an intake with stock turbo and exhaust, I feel it's the exhaust that has the most potential for helping the engine breathe at this point. Finding one that lets CA residents pass tests and brings more performance makes more sense to me. I know that may not be available yet. Just my $.02.
 
Honestly, with so little benefit from an intake with stock turbo and exhaust, I feel it's the exhaust that has the most potential for helping the engine breathe at this point. Finding one that lets CA residents pass tests and brings more performance makes more sense to me. I know that may not be available yet. Just my $.02.

Agreed, at least until I get the uncle chip installed...
 
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And that's when dynos become important and when intakes come back to the discussion. Let alone when larger turbos start entering the discussion. But taking advantage of the latter will require more piping be upgraded, I'm certain.
 
couple of questions. I have heard on a couple of forums that oiled filters can cause problems with the mass air flow sensors. K&N says no. also will cai intake void warranty
 
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couple of questions. I have heard on a couple of forums that oiled filters can cause problems with the mass air flow sensors. K&N says no. also will cai intake void warranty

I've never heard of a cold air intake voiding a warranty but I suppose it's possible - and just very rare. Not sure. Let's see if somebody else has some information to share. Here's what K&N has to say about their filters and mass air flow sensors:

K&N Mass Air Flow Sensor Statement
Every stock replacement air filter we sell comes with this sticker, which we advise consumers to place prominently on their air box. The sticker is to alert service technicians that they should not throw away your K&N air filter because it will last for the life of your vehicle. When service technicians see this sticker it means "STOP SELLING THIS CUSTOMER DISPOSABLE AIR FILTERS OVER AND OVER." In our opinion, this is why some dealerships or service providers may attempt to discourage a consumer from using a K&N air filter or worse blame a vehicle repair on our lifetime air filter. Most dealerships provide excellent service and fulfill car warranty obligations without issue, argument or tardiness. The rest of this discussion is about a minority of dealerships who are either misguided or misinformed.

We are aware of the "urban myth" (K&N News Story) created by a few dealerships that a vehicle's MAF sensor can be contaminated by K&N filter oil. No evidence has ever been provided to support this "myth" and years of diagnostic testing by K&N has shown that not only is this allegation not real, it is not even possible. In our opinion, it is an excuse for a dealership and/or the vehicle manufacturer to avoid a legitimate warranty repair. In the last 4 years, we have sold over 10,000,000 lifetime air filters and received only a few hundred calls from consumers who are having dealership or service provider challenges. We believe that Dealership's or service provider's real incentive may be to discourage the use of reusable products so they can sell disposable products over and over. In order to provide consumers with added comfort that they will not be placed in a bad position by an improper warranty denial, we offer our Consumer Protection Pledge.

Mass Air Flow Sensor Investigations
No dealership or service provider, when contacted, has ever been able to provide us with evidence to support this "myth," and in fact, our investigations have revealed that even authorized dealerships are simply speculating and do not have the test equipment necessary to know whether the sensor has failed or why. In the last 7 years, we have had more than 300 actual sensors sent to us by consumers with documents showing dealerships claimed our product had caused them to fail. Microscopic, electronic and chemical testing revealed that none of these sensors were contaminated by K&N oil (K&N Detailed MAF Sensor Test Results). What is perhaps the single biggest clue to what is going on is that over 50% of these sensors sent to us were not broken in the first place for any reason. Click here for more information on how this may happen.

The oil treatment on our cotton is very small (usually less than 2 ounces) and is a critical component of our filtration technology. There is nothing unusual about the use of oil as a tacking agent to improve air filter efficiency. In fact, certain Ford Motorcraft and Fram disposable air filters are treated with oil. This makes us wonder if it is only the oil treatment from reusable lifetime air filters that is alleged cause a vehicle problem? The idea that oil comes off our filter throughout its life is truly ridiculous. Just like oil treated disposable air filters, once our oil is properly and evenly absorbed through the cotton, no oil will come off, even under extreme engine conditions. We have even conducted a test with an over oiled K&N air filter in which we flowed 1,000 cubic feet of air per minute for over twelve hours (few cars or truck could generate even 500 cubic feet of air flow). The use of an absolute filter confirmed that no oil came off the K&N filter tested, even in these harsh conditions.

We have tested many MAF sensors claimed to be damaged. We can fully diagnose their condition and likely cause of failure. For a full discussion of our MAF sensor test protocol and findings, see K&N Mass Air Flow Testing Results and Findings.

K&N Response to Mass Air Flow Sensor Concerns
 
couple of questions. I have heard on a couple of forums that oiled filters can cause problems with the mass air flow sensors. K&N says no. also will cai intake void warranty

It takes less than hour to swap them out (which I’ll have to do for smog, anyway, in a few years). You need to get to know your local service manager - the one here turned me onto the uncle chip for my ‘12 Optima SX, which he used on his own Optima - but advised me to take it off before bringing it in for service. It would be awfully hard for Kia to prove that CAI by themselves could damage the engine, but if you add free flow exhaust and any other mods they could start blaming it on the computer.

I haven’t decided if I’m going to swap mine every time I take it in to the dealership. They really want to give me a free oil changes, but I won’t let anyone touch the car that I don’t know personally (or at least their supervisor). I’d rather do my oil change myself and take it in when something goes wrong that I don’t want to pay for.

I may go to my local dealership and talk to the manager that told me about the uncle chip - and ask his advice. Don’t want to void my 100k warranty, but I’m dead set on building the car a bit. I’ll let you know what he advises.

With regards to oiled filters, can anyone else chime in? I suppose the question is whether or not an oiled air filter will clog the MAF? I found that MAFs clean up 90% of the time with a little carb cleaner - but it would be a hassle to do it all the time. Is that helped by the ‘oil catch can’ that they recommend with an uncle chip?
 
Update: I’m realizing I rarely drive at 15% throttle, and unless I’m really trying to be silent I notice the sound all the time. But I LIKE it. It’s not screaming loud until you really get on the throttle, or until you pull your foot off the pedal suddenly and get the ‘blowback’ sound. Both of which can be really fun if they don’t get you in trouble.

I also think the throttle response is noticeably sharper, even at low RPM, when in sport mode (on the engine and transmission if in custom mode).

I just really hope California's laws don’t make it a problem for me. I’m guessing there’s no CARB compliance for several years based on what I’m finding online.

On a side note, the aggressive downshifting in sport mode drives me nuts sometimes. Drives my neck forward under slow, smooth breaking and is alarming to passengers. Would be great if ‘custom’ let you adjust both upshift speed and downshift speeds, but I’m guessing it is just a quirk of a first year model. It’s less obvious in comfort mode, but shouldn’t happen at all in comfort IMHO. Anyone else ?

It’s all based on how hard the turbos are working... cruising there is no sound at all (unless you are on a hill, etc. - and then there’s a slight hiss). If I drive in comfort mode on flat ground and keep it to 15% pedal or less, you don’t hear it at all (turbos are asleep). But it gets noticeable very quickly after that.

Just found out from a friend that had CAIs on his 350z that if a cop in California hears it, he will pull you over and ask you to pop the hood. If there’s no CARB sticker they’ll write a ticket. His advice was tell them you won’t open the hood without a warrant - not sure how well that strategy will work, hoping I don’t find out.

Thanks, California - I’m sure my CAI is really causing gross pollution!
 
On a side note, the aggressive downshifting in sport mode drives me nuts sometimes. Drives my neck forward under slow, smooth breaking and is alarming to passengers. Would be great if ‘custom’ let you adjust both upshift speed and downshift speeds, but I’m guessing it is just a quirk of a first year model. It’s less obvious in comfort mode, but shouldn’t happen at all in comfort IMHO. Anyone else ?
It looks like you're having the same issue as discussed here: Jerky automatic transmission shifting
 
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From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
Based on my experiences with motorcycles, I was worried about "drone" now coming from the intakes.

In regards to air being heated by turbos, doesn't a lower starting point mean a lower exit temperature? Also, even slightly cooler air going thru IC will mean less heat entering the engine compartment, radiator, etc.
 
Based on my experiences with motorcycles, I was worried about "drone" now coming from the intakes.

In regards to air being heated by turbos, doesn't a lower starting point mean a lower exit temperature? Also, even slightly cooler air going thru IC will mean less heat entering the engine compartment, radiator, etc.
In theory yes but not enough to make a difference. In this situation the turbo has a greater affect on the air temp coming in then would make a difference attempting to pull cooler air. Again you're looking to pay say 100$ if not more for a true CAI (all the extra piping and mounts) for what?

It doesnt make sense that why you seen a majority of manufacturers making a short ram for force induced engines
 
When cleaning the MAF, using nothing but products that are designed for cleaning MAFs (such as https://www.amazon.com/CRC-05110-Mass-Sensor-Cleaner/dp/B000J19XSA). They are electronic devices and can be damaged by products like carb and intake cleaners.

No offense, but I’m going to do a little research on that one. I’d like to know exactly what the difference is between the marketed “MAF cleaner” and other solvents.

My family has a strong background in electronics, with my Dad being both an electrical engineer and doing all our own work on cars, airplanes, and boats. The only part of the MAF that needs to be cleaned is the platinum wire and electrode that are exposed to the air, and any solvent that removes the buildup of oil and foreign particles without damaging the metal (quick evaporation is a plus) should do the job unless there’s some metallurgy I don’t know about yet (admittedly, that may be the case!). There’s a big difference between cleaning a circuit board and cleaning a platinum wire - but we used awfully harsh chemicals, like MEK, on circuit boards and video heads too - as long as they wouldn’t eat away the surface material.

What did they clean MAFs with before someone started marketing MAF cleaner? Doubtful I would ever use one can of that in 15 years unless I owned a shop.

Just my 2 cents, I could be way off here (wouldn’t be the first time). Anyone else know the specifics about MAF cleaning pros and cons?

Update: I live in California, and can’t buy that product here. Will hit the local auto parts store to see what they have and do my research based on that.
 
I learned about cleaning MAFs with dedicated MAF cleaner with a car I purchased just over 18 years ago.
 
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
Agreed, at least until I get the uncle chip installed...
Be careful with the uncle chip. There are spark plug issues showing up with installation of these. I would hold off for a while to see if all the bugs get worked out. Then go for it :) I'm still waiting for my K&N to show up :(
 
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SGT you will love it!!! The blow off sound is pretty loud and when giving her decent throttle to WOT you can hear her sucking in air. Its greatness and I like the heat shield regardless if it helps or not. Looking forward to your video....
 
just installed the K&N intakes. I have to say I did notice alittle difference in performance. Like the sound it makes. 2 hose clamps didn't fit good but easy to install
Throttle response should be better. The turbos should be able to spool up faster with the increased airflow if I'm correct in my thinking. Who did you order yours from?
 
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
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