The K&N Filter is currently installed, took less than 5 mins to install...didn't really notice a difference, but at the same time I wasn't expecting to see a difference.

The cat back exhaust is sitting in my garage. Every place wanted >$100 to install a fairly easy bolt on exhaust, so I am waiting for the weather to clear up to install it.

On a side note the weather has been real crappy here and the snow/slush situation has increased my use of the MMH, so I think I am up to >800 miles now! WOO HOO!

I am also looking forward to seeing what, if anything, the exhaust does... Anyone in the Chicagoland area want to help me put the exhaust on? I am in the SW suburbs. I'll keep everyone updated... Still haven't broke 26mpg yet, but then again it's cold and the interior cabin heat has been on constantly.

 

I run K&N's in/on everything I own so it is a no brainer for me but I am real curious about the exhaust. I made an exhaust for my HCH and an intake which helped it a lot, wife says go for it but I don' want to be the first this time. I am curious how loud it will be compared to stock, that was he only complaint about the last exhaust I made she got tired of the additional noise.
Seems to me for someone with a heavy foot, the low miles, and the snow you aren't doing that bad.
Clif

 

Yeah I am curious as well what this will do. From what I am told is the Gibson exhaust is as quiet as stock as they come, and the fact it states on the website that it fits hybrids must mean there are those that have it on there.

Yeah I am very happy to see the decent gas mileage I have on my hybrid... I have to admit I don't drive it as heavy footed as usual, especially with the amount of snow there is on the ground it would be pointless. I do like driving it in snow and watching those around me spinning their tires...

 

Have you installed your exhaust yet?
Clif

 

Clif:

Nope sorry... It just warmed up here in Chicago, and I can't believe how much my gas mileage improved! I am >29mpg and floating around 30mpg.

I'll try and get around to installing it this weekend. I would have done it today, but I couldn't find the right blade on my reciprocating saw. The instructions say I have to cut the stock exhaust to get it off...

Seems like a really simple bolt on, not sure why places want to charge me >$100 to install it... Although if I could find some place to do it for $75 I would. I am lazy by nature, and after work the last thing I want to do is more work...plus I have Harley's I need to work on this Summer.

Don't worry I'll get to it. Anybody local want to help? My subdivision is really **** about people "working" on their cars on the driveway, so part of it is clearing the garage to get the MMH in there.

 

I just installed a K&N last week @ 35,000 miles. Wish I did sooner!

#1 My water temperature is running 8-10 degrees COLDER. This tells me the engine is not working as hard. ( Have a ScanGauge with Water Temp. )

#2 On a hill I take every day... I normally needed 4,000 RPM to climb it at 65 MPH. The past two trips, 3600 or 3700 RPM. This tells me I'm getting more power.

#3 On my daily routine, I am getting +3 MPG driving the same speeds.

To be honest, I replaced a dirty "paper" filter, so perhaps some of the advantages above "may" be from going from dirty to clean. I still like the fact that this is the last filter I will ever buy. One less thing to worry about!

Of interesting note: For the first 30 miles, my instant MPG reading was all whacked out... like making wild jumps while I was driving at constant speed and throttle. Now, it's seems normal... just better!

Finally, Part# 33-2347 fits 2005 also, although 2005 is not listed on their website. Typo? -John

 

gpsman1:

Hmmmm... I've had the K&N installed since I've owned the MMH, and as I've noted before I do not drive it like the standard hybrid gas-meiser. I like to keep up, or stay ahead of traffic a bit, and people are shocked at how "decent" my mpg are. Maybe it's because of the K&N? I don't know, I know there are always variances in production as well, so maybe I got one of the "good" ones? Maybe a combination of both.

Well I'll be curious if the exhaust does anything...although I'm beginning to experience how much warmer weather (positively) affects my mpg. So it will probably be difficult to gauge if the mpg variances will be from the weather or the exhaust.

 

Clif:

Ok weather finally warmed up and it's installed. The exhaust was made for a FEH, and had I had a FEH it would have gone smoothly at just over 1 hour to install. The just loosened a few bolts, and had to take the passenger rear tire off to get the exhaust on. The MagnaFlow instructions said you had to cut the stock exhaust to get it off, but it's completely unnecessary.

Anyways, I install the MagnaFlow made for the FEH and everything goes smoothly EXCEPT that the tailpipe exits in the wrong area...and does not come out of the stock notched area in the bumper for my MMH. It looked like crap, and plus it rubbed on the bottom of my bumper and the heat would have just melted the bumper. Took it to a local custom exhaust place that has done work for me before and he just heated the stainless steel exhaust tube and bent it the 10-15 degrees necessary to make it come out of the right area. Now it looks really good, only at really close inspection would you notice that things are slightly off center and the drain hole out of the back of the exhaust is not dead center (I'll upload pictures later).

Ok, I've been driving it around all day...and here is what I noticed. The cabin noise is significantly louder, which I expected. Much less noisy than the F-150 and Mustang, and no where near the loudness of my Harley...but compared to stock it was definitely louder. The seat in the pants pickup is pretty much the same as stock. The differences are my mpg definitely has gone up 1-3mpg, and the engine definitely runs at lower RPM's going up hills and around town.

I'll give updates as I have more time driving with it, and the weather warms up. Things seem good, although I probably would not have done it since my main purpose was to see increased seat in pants pickup, and not necessarily mpg gains (although that is always appreciated)...plus it wasn't an exact fit for my MMH (since they don't make one for the MMH). Not sure how many years it would take to see the Return On Investment on a $400 exhaust just to see 1-3 mpg gains...

Actually thinking back I think the Gibson might have worked out better. I think it's quieter, and the exhaust comes out of the side behind the rear tire (not the stock location). The reason why I picked the MagnaFlow was because I saw this HUGE kinked bend in the Gibson, and the MagnaFlow appeared to be straighter...come to find out the MagnaFlow had the same big bend, just the angle of the picture (maybe intentional) made it look like less of a bend. Oh well live and learn. Anyone with a MMH, do NOT buy the MagnaFlow...I think the Gibson is the one to go with. I'll report back later.

 

Great info thanks for the update, I am curious to hear how you feel with a week or so under your belt. The one complaint my wife had about the last car I modded was the extra noise so we may be out. Going to try to make an intake first then maybe an exhaust.
Thanks
Clif

 

"Actually thinking back I think the Gibson might have worked out better. I think it's quieter, and the exhaust comes out of the side behind the rear tire (not the stock location)."

The Gibson exhaust for the FEH comes out the rear (stock location), however the product line it is under, is called "swept side exhaust"
Did you disconnect the battery cable after installing the exhaust to clear the fuel trim data from the PCM? It may take awhile otherwise to calibrate it's self to your new exhaust. Who knows, you may pick up some performance gains.