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I found this on my Scion xb site www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=166146

Just curious if theres any merit behind what this guy is saying. Thank you in advance for all your help and comments.

I know this mod is nothing new, and I'm sure its been covered here enough as far as instructions, pros and cons, etc., but what I can't believe is the difference it made in my mileage! I've waited a couple of weeks to run a few tanks of gas just to make sure it wasn't just some quirk increasing my MPG.
When I installed my K&N filter, it jumped my mileage by about 1.5 - 2 mpg, and based on the "butt dyno" only, it seemed like the car had a very slight increase in "ooomph". Taking the snorkle off really didn't seem to change the performance of the car that I could tell - other than giving the intake/exhaust a bit fuller, richer tone - but my mileage increased dramatically.
I commute 160 miles a day, 3-4 days a week in Los Angeles traffic, so while traffic conditions may vary a bit, my driving history stays pretty much the same over time.
My average MPG for the 7 tanks previous to the snorkle removal was 32.63 (this was after my aftermarket tires and wheels were installed, hence the lower mpg than my old readings on stock tires).
The average for the 7 tanks since I removed the snorkle is 37.08!!!
That's more than a 4.5 MPG improvement!
For an investment of exactly $0.00, and about 2 minutes of time!
I'm blown away... (and thinking about slapping the stock tires back on just to see how high I can take that MPG number!)...especially since gas just hit $3.15/gallon at the corner station!

This post talks about using a K&N filter and also talks about eliminating the intake snorkel which carries air to the conventional airbox. That is two distinct changes that you have to consider separately.

In my car the snorkel was the most restrictive part of the intake system, at least considering everything in front of the throttle body. So opening up the airbox system was a clear-cut good idea.

In my case I kept the original filter but eliminated the snorkel leading to it. I think in most modern cars you'd need to put in a fatter and/or more direct snorkel; in my car the airbox location directly behind the grill made things easy - I just cut out the front of the airbox and eliminated the snorkel.

The K&N's that I've seen have no snorkel, just a filter on the end of a flexible duct. They breathe whatever air is inside the engine compartment - which I don't think is very cold, IMHO.

If you're going to use a K&N air filter be sure you maintain it. Re-oil it properly. Too much oil is probably bad for the AMM and they are expensive. K&N works by having larger pores than regular filters so you're probably letting in larger dirt particles. That's my big beef with K&N. But this post is from a Volvo driver who expects an engine to last 400K miles.

Hi CoasterToaster:

___You are just now starting to pull great numbers and with that, a K&N is not the reason unless your OEM air filter had seen better days some 10K miles or more ago. We have seen similar time and time again. You cannot feel 5 HP just as you cannot see the difference between 40 and 50 mpg while temps rise from 20 to 60 degrees F w/out an SG-II, SuperMid or internal FCD. There are far too many variables and with a new hypermiler, your numbers are rising far to fast to hone in on a simple HW addition to make a difference. What you need to do is peak first and then you can start making positive or negative comments about a HW addition. All I can tell you is a WAI is better then a cold one in terms of FE. A CAI is better then a warm air one in terms of HP but only when you are pushing far beyond where a hypermiler would ever drive in terms of power output.

___I know I sound like a wet blanket on a fire but you really do need to peak over many tanks and then do the addition to prove it to yourself. About all I can add is your Scion is more then likely worth a touch over 50 in your locale and we will help you get there without the snake oil claims.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I totally agree with everything you said. I really don't have any interest in doing the mod. I was more curious if actually does anything. On the SCION site everyone is starting to salivate over the potential of this mod.

I'm so inconsistent with hypermiling. One day I'm doing great the next day I cant figure what on earth i' doing wrong.

I have a 2006 Scion xB Auto.
I have tried both the K&N Filter and Disconnecting the Snorkel mods seperately, both undoubtably decrease MPG forf my car. Also I think the Lucas Oil Treatment and the temperature drop from 70's-80's to 40's-50's has caused my milage to trend down.

29.538 MPG 11/09/2007 disconnected snorkel, major drop in milage ---------------
37.396 MPG 10/31/2007 50psi
32.985 MPG 10/29/2007 aggressive
34.0 MPG 10/22/2007
36.553 MPG 10/12/2007 Lucas Oil Treatment
36.646 MPG 10/04/2007 87 oct, 40psi
37.64 MPG 09/28/2007 87oct, 200lb. load, 35psi
39.458 MPG 09/27/2007 Yoko Avid TRZ new tires, 40psi, 93oct,oil chng,

Scions are a great car. taking it slow and get a scanguage will help dramatically. The temps are dropping in NJ and Ive been having a harder time hanging on. My tank now is roughly 38.