Which is better to have ??? I see alot of you run K&N open air elements on your engines. Does this affect the performance of your emissions control systems ?? To get good emissions standards, doesn't filtered air have to travel from the stock snorkel element via tube connected to the valve cover ?? If this circut is cut out or closed off, wouldn't that effect how the ECM gets correct air/fuel mixture readings ?? I understand the better air flow = better performance principle, but for smog legal engines, shouldn't you maintain the airflow system that came stock......or can it be rerouted to work properly, or does it really matter one way or the other ??? Thanks!

 

The only "legal" air cleaner is a snorkel type. It will have the aforementioned PCV filtered air inlet (going to the air cleaner helps prevent vapors escaping to the atmosphere when the engine isn't running - otherwise, a filtered cap would be fine), as well as the thermovac system on the snorkel to keep inlet air temp more constant, and the charcoal pack to obsorb fuel vapors when the engine isn't running.

An open element probably wouldn't affect the sniffer one way or the other, based on the limited operating conditions under which they test. This is all about visual inspection.

 

Thanks five7kid !! It's not so much the visual aspect as it is the sniffer in this state ( For Now ! ) Some say junk the snorkel for a high-flow filter, others contend that the engine needs the source of cooler air flow to run better. Whats your view point on the matter ??

 

More air is better for the emissions test.... when they run the test here they do it with the hood open and a large fan pushing air onto the motor anyway. Only makes sense to run with an open element.

 

Unless you run a cowl hood on a third gen,there's not much room under a stock hood for the motor to get fresh air.The close gap between hood and open element filter limits the carb to hot engine heat soaked air and you'll actually run better with fresh air fed to the carb with a snorkle type setup.