Aftermarket Air Intakes

FBarber1 · October 30, 2014

What did you install, and why did you choose that model? More importantly, what would you suggest for a 2014 5.3L? Just searching for some advice, and figure out what to expect in gains.

RadoRage · October 30, 2014

I don't have one in my 2014 but I had a volant air intake with the powercore filter on my 2011 5.3L. It worked as expected. Performance gains with an air intake are vey little if at all so I didnt really see any change besides sound.

chuckl1218 · October 30, 2014

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/156623-2014-intakes-cai-air-filters/

Don't know if you saw this, but lots of really good feed back and pics on the topic.

redwngr · October 31, 2014

Factory air intakes aren't nearly as restrictive as they used to be.

soltys · October 31, 2014

I've installed an Momentum GT Pro DRY S Stage-2 and while I've only had in on the truck for over a month and haven't used it on any extended highway trips. I'll admit that it sounds really good when you have your foot in it and when I have been on the highway, I have noticed that it seams to stay in V4 for a little bit long and doesn't switch back and for quite as frequently.

TJay74 · October 31, 2014

Factory air intakes aren't nearly as restrictive as they used to be.

On the contrary, they are still very restrictive. The worst thing any manufacture has to deal with is the NVH requirements. Too many people gripe about the intake growl, only way around that is to use airflow baffles and smaller intake openings.

When I put the Airaid intake on my 2014 I noticed an immediate increase in throttle response and power. Flooring it stock with the T/C turned off the truck would get up and go, once the intake kit went on with the same punch and you could actually hear the tires struggling to maintain traction.

Now that the motor has 13xxx miles on it and has opened up some it has picked up even more power. Now it will bark the tires on down shift if you are going slow enough to drop back down into 1st gear.

juf · October 31, 2014

I had the Airaid intake on mine and had to take it off. It just didn't sound good on the 5.3l to me, and got really annoying after a while. I've had intakes on my last 4 vehicles, and this is the first one I've had to take take off. I didn't really notice any change in response or power either. I still have the stock exhaust though - maybe the intake sound mixed with exhaust sounds better.

nards444 · October 31, 2014

On the contrary, they are still very restrictive. The worst thing any manufacture has to deal with is the NVH requirements. Too many people gripe about the intake growl, only way around that is to use airflow baffles and smaller intake openings.

When I put the Airaid intake on my 2014 I noticed an immediate increase in throttle response and power. Flooring it stock with the T/C turned off the truck would get up and go, once the intake kit went on with the same punch and you could actually hear the tires struggling to maintain traction.

Now that the motor has 13xxx miles on it and has opened up some it has picked up even more power. Now it will bark the tires on down shift if you are going slow enough to drop back down into 1st gear.

Your right. And you will get some gains. But to be honest, A CAI all by its lonesome is really a waste of money and needs to be combined with other items to make it worthwhile, unless your going to for the lifetime filter aspect.

If these CAIs were really putting down that much more power and better MPG, you dont think manufactures would be doing something similiar?

KARNUT · October 31, 2014

With the HP wars that go on they are not going to lose HP in the intake or exhaust. They just learned to do it with less noise with baffles and high flow cats muffler and resonators. You gain sound not much in the way of HP they are not going to leave anything on the table. Now if you put long tubes on there that's different.

pkpouttu · October 31, 2014

I've installed an Momentum GT Pro DRY S Stage-2 and while I've only had in on the truck for over a month and haven't used it on any extended highway trips. I'll admit that it sounds really good when you have your foot in it and when I have been on the highway, I have noticed that it seams to stay in V4 for a little bit long and doesn't switch back and for quite as frequently.

I agree. I've only had mine on for 2 weeks thus far.

nards444 · October 31, 2014

With the HP wars that go on they are not going to lose HP in the intake or exhaust. They just learned to do it with less noise with baffles and high flow cats muffler and resonators. You gain sound not much in the way of HP they are not going to leave anything on the table. Now if you put long tubes on there that's different.

Ive done the drop in K&N filter the last two trucks(ford and chevy) learned my lesson on the CAI witch craft. I more or less got the drop in due to the fact they are like 45 bucks and paper ones are close to 20, so in a year or so Ill have the k&n paid off. Both ford and chevy trucks I have noticed an aprox 1mpg better on both vehicles. Power ehh, not so much

KARNUT · October 31, 2014

Ive done the drop in K&N filter the last two trucks(ford and chevy) learned my lesson on the CAI witch craft. I more or less got the drop in due to the fact they are like 45 bucks and paper ones are close to 20, so in a year or so Ill have the k&n paid off. Both ford and chevy trucks I have noticed an aprox 1mpg better on both vehicles. Power ehh, not so much

Ive put Cai on every truck since 2001 for the sound mainly, seems that the 14 sounds good stock, or Im getting old. You know how it is you Mod it, its faster. I like that you can put in E85 and gain 25 HP that's just unreal.

TJay74 · October 31, 2014

Your right. And you will get some gains. But to be honest, A CAI all by its lonesome is really a waste of money and needs to be combined with other items to make it worthwhile, unless your going to for the lifetime filter aspect.

If these CAIs were really putting down that much more power and better MPG, you dont think manufactures would be doing something similiar?

Nope, for the exact reason I stated. NVH requirements. The manufactures have to meet certain NVH (noise, vibrations and harshness) specs and open element intakes don't do that. And they do offer CAI from the factory, GM offers them for the Camaro thru the speed parts catalog, they list it as an optional item.

NitroDatsik · November 1, 2014

What do yall recommend for the 4.3?

2014 Sporty Shorty · November 1, 2014

I'm sorry but there are no gains to be had with an intake pipe on these 14 and up trucks. The stock one flows very well, more than these naturally aspirated engines will ever need. I made no gains goong from the stock box to an air raid kit, just some extra intake sound. Along the whole curve, there was no area were I picked up any power that couldn't just be taken as normal variations from run to run. I'm not stock either so I would see a bigger difference if there was one to have than you guys.