I cant really comment on the stage 1 chip, you may or may not see any improvement. To me, a jeep is all about utter reliability, and being capable to go places alot of other vehicles cant go. Think old MB series. So chipping it isnt the direction I would go, as it likely wont improve offroad capability, and reliability. As for the K&N, in my years as a professional, the washable filters are a washout to me. I know their claims, and what they say doesnt happen, but I can tell you my 16 years of experience. All of the vehicles with washable filters had a nice coating of dust inside the duct work from the filter to throttle body. Like, as in, I can wipe my finger, and it leaves a streak like the top shelf in an old library. Vehicles with paper filters, as long as they are replaced as needed(not totally filthy either, just showing dirt), dont show that. K&N claims increased airflow, which I can bet is true, at the cost of more dirt entering the engine, from the evidence I have seen. This dirt fouls up the IAC and throttlebody sooner, scores cylinder walls, and enhances gunk build up in the intake and engine. Not good for reliability. To add to that, on engines with mass air sensors, the majority of the sensor failures I have seen have been vehicles running washable filters. Next would be vehicles running dirty paper filters too long. That dirt, and with washable filters, oil and dirt, sticks to the element in the sensor, insulating it, and causing it to read inaccurately. K&N claims this is BS, that the sensors are designed to withstand contaminates, which is partially true, but not made to be coated with dirt. I'll let you connect the dots on that. Jeeps lack a maf, but they still dont neet dirt in them. Save your dough, buy a new paper filter, and save the rest of the dough for better upgrades, skids, lift, etc.
