DIY: how to remove hydrocarbon filters from 2024 Mustang GT / Dark Horse

[erocker]

Who is they? When in the world are yall having your cars inspected? Not once have i ever

Testing facilities or repair shops on the state's program. It's different in every state and country.

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[Zig]

When you shut the engine off, there are still hydrocarbon vapors floating around in the engine. The EPA feels they will leave the engine through the air intake. The filter will catch them and hold them until the running engine will draw them back in and burn them. There has been a similar system on your fuel tank for years. When the car isn't running, fumes from the fuel are absorbed by a activated carbon filter. When the the engine runs, it draws air through the filter so they can be burned and the filter is cleaned of the fuel it captured.

Out through the in door is going the wrong direction.

 

[Zig]

thanks.

If ava. before and after fuel trims and airflow readings would be helpful for those that are still attempting to decide.

any ‘official’ information regarding the part? There has to be something somewhere explaining exactly what and how well it has been measured to perform. Someone convinced someone to include it so let’s see the supporting data for its existence.

 

[roket]

what does this actually do?

this removes the hydrocarbon filters from your intake tubes, allowing more air to flow in and possibly increasing power.

There is a potential problem with this modification. When you get your smog test, they may check to make sure the filter is in place. People have removed the catalytic converter and sometimes even get away with it for a while. Then one of the inspectors does their job correctly and finds it's missing. Needless to say, you don't pass inspection until everything is restored to factory specifications.

Same here but they look around to make sure everything is in place. It's not a detailed inspection and because they are currently short handed, I suspect they don't always do everything they should. I do suspect that if it gets out that people are removing stuff, they might take a closer look.

in order for the inspection people to find this change, they would have to take off the intake tube and check it, and even then, this change does not affect your emissions or set a check engine light. unless you take it to a Mustang expert that is actively looking for reasons to fail you, you're all good

Great guide! Very detailed! Thanks a lot for posting it.

I have a few questions:
1- Any long term damage to the engine if this mod is done without remap ecu? Some specialists don't even recommend adding high flow air intake without ecu remap.
2- Could this void warranty? I wonder if the sensors may detect a increased airflow and Ford may find out when reading statistics from the car in case you have another issue with the car and need to use the warranty to fix it.
3- Is this mod reversible?

Thanks!

1. it's very, very, very unlikely that this will have any bad effects or cause damage to the vehicle
2. unless you forgot something loose in the intake tube when you put it back on, there is no chance this will void your warranty, even the extended ones
3. no, because you have to cut stuff. it is reversible if you buy new intake tubes, though

thanks.

If ava. before and after fuel trims and airflow readings would be helpful for those that are still attempting to decide.

any ‘official’ information regarding the part? There has to be something somewhere explaining exactly what and how well it has been measured to perform. Someone convinced someone to include it so let’s see the supporting data for its existence.

i dont have any readings for any of that stuff. i just did this because i heard there was a hydrocarbon filter in the intake and removing it is probably some free extra power. about the part itself, i'm not sure about the performance details, but i can tell you the part is non-serviceable/changeable without buying a new intake tube

 

[Jrws1014]

There is a potential problem with this modification. When you get your smog test, they may check to make sure the filter is in place. People have removed the catalytic converter and sometimes even get away with it for a while. Then one of the inspectors does their job correctly and finds it's missing. Needless to say, you don't pass inspection until everything is restored to factory specifications.

Smog tests are looking at the exhaust system, not the air intake.

 

[DannyJ7]

Potentially stupid question: anyone know if this exists on the EB?

 

[roket]

Potentially stupid question: anyone know if this exists on the EB?

i dont know if anyone has an EB yet

 

[DannyJ7]

i dont know if anyone has an EB yet

I do. Guess I could just go look, but just trying to save the effort. Getting lazy with age I guess.

 

[budman00000]

What about just adding K&N air filters? Or one of the other high-performance filters around?

 

[roket]

What about just adding K&N air filters? Or one of the other high-performance filters around?

nobody makes aftermarket versions of these air filters yet, but also that won't somehow delete a restriction in the intake tube itself

 

[roket]

Mach 1 vs Dark Horse hydrocarbon filter

top is Mach 1, bottom is Dark Horse

 

[Dragster]

Middleton Motorsports did a back to back dyno before and after removing the carbon filters. The difference was pretty negligible; 1 hp gained at peak and 4-5 hp in the midrange.

 

[HopfibreSn]

Middleton Motorsports did this on their Dark Horse, hardly any gains.

 

[MustangMac67]

Mach 1 vs Dark Horse hydrocarbon filter

top is Mach 1, bottom is Dark Horse

I think they removed the clips to try and deter people from removing them. If there is an inspection, in the M1 you can pop it back in. In the DH, it is harder to return to normal.

 

[Mustang8]

Middleton Motorsports did this on their Dark Horse, hardly any gains.

In this vid they got 16 HP gain.

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