The following is taken from the K&N FAQ page. Is this reset procedure really necessary?

"10. Will I need to make adjustments to my vehicle after I install a K&N filter or intake kit?

On fuel injected vehicles the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) computer and emissions control system will adjust for the increase in air. The OEM computer will adjust immediately if it is reset. Removing the battery cable from the battery for 15 minutes or more should reset it."

 

Not neccessary at all...the ECU is constantly making adjustments, and, if any are necessary, it will adapt fine on its own.

 

Wrong

Everytime you do a bolton aftermarket part, make sure to reset the ECU by disconnecting the negative battery

 

Well, two opposite opinions. Who's right?

 

The ECU will learn that something is different. By resetting it, you are only going back to default settings, not some magical aftermarket setting. It really just depends if you want it to work from the current state or from a default baseline. Either way will bring you to the same point after some driving.

 

Sounds reasonable.

 

EvolvedDSM is correct especially since this is such a small change (mod). I have a K&N drop in and your lucky to gain anything over the factory air box/filter. I actually lost 1.5 mph in the 1/4 by changing to a K&N with no other mods. go figure? However, dyno tests have proved some gain with the K&N.

 

Losing as bit of mph over the 1/4 mi may mean you gain a bit of time.

 

It means I lost a bit of upper end hp, but possibly gained some lower end tq. Unfortunately my time difference (100th's) was too small to make any kind of conclusion.

 

I posed the question to K&N and this is the response I received:


Dear Customer,

The OEM replacement filters are capable of flowing quite a bit more air than the
OEM filter, but the computer should have enough tolerance to adjust to the air/fuel
mixture. Sometimes the computer is stubborn and at that point you would have to
reset the computer. Disconnect the negative battery cable for approximately 1.5
hours to make the computer loose the memory of the factory air/fuel mixture. Once
the battery is reconnected it will automatically start relearning and should be
done after about 200-300 miles. Typically this procedure is not needed for the OEM
replacement filter, but if you do not see any increases this would be the next step.

Thanks for writing,

Tony Yorkman
Technical Support
K&N Engineering

 

I followed the Evomoto procedure which seemed reasonable. Disconnect the battery (negative) before you're putting it in and then reconnect it when you're done.
Not a hard thing to do and no worries.
The email basically tells you the same - disconnect and start with a clean state.