new cai and mpg's dropped

[goatboy0067]

installed a cai last week and my mpg's dropped by 1 i thought this was supposed to help did i miss somthing ?

[Carder09]

Lol help mpg, thats all hype. Its very minimal if you do gain any but remove the maf sensor and clean it. Could be the cause, also clean the throttle body if its dirty but make sure you dont get cleaner all over the electronic piece that s on it. You could also get a tune to match the cai for maximum benefits.

[jdubub]

Yea, CAI do not really give any mpg or performance gains unless you have a good custom tune, even then it's pretty minimal. They mainly help when there is lots of other motor work and mods with a tune. Without these things all they really do is sound cool and great under the hood decoration.

[goatboy0067]

ok so whats your opinion i am going to order the autocal from blackbear should i go back to stock or keep the cai?

[jdubub]

What motor/truck is it in? It all really just depends. You could ask Justin in an email at BBP for his professional opinion. He has dyno'd trucks with and without so his opinion would probably be the best. Unless he says the CAI with his tune will gain you a lot, I would just take it off and return/sell it if possible. If you can't, then hell, just keep it on! They look good .

[goatboy0067]

i have an 01 chevy with the 8.1 and allison. i found it odd that i lost 1 mpg and didnt maintain at the ver least

[Doug_Scott]

Chances are you are not driving it the same way you used to. Maybe you are driving it to hear the intake sound? It being only a mile per gallon, you are likely not thinking you have changed your driving habit, but likely have modified your style slightly.

[goatboy0067]

maybe i have changed but i tried to drive the same for that very reason. also i cant really hear it over the exhaust. my intensions wernt to have it look cool i figured if i could gain any mpgs andhelp the bigblock breath easier it would help. i believe it is running the same intake as the 6.0.

[GMstrong]

Does it have some sort of cover or is just sitting in there next to the hot manifolds?If so then thats your problem right there.

[goatboy0067]

it has a heat sheild but i dont think it is sealed properly against the bottom of the hood maybe that is the issue its pulling in the hot air from the compartment? so im going to try a little experiment. i kept the intake tube on and put the original intake filter box back on but i drilled 2 2" holes in the bottom and removed the plate it sits on this should allow more cold air from the front to enter the box. I also did a road test in the rain to see how far up the water comes when driving in the rain so i dont get water in the intake. i will let you know my findings. just for the record i went from 9.1 mpgs to 7.8 mpgs when i changed to the cai that 7.8 is with two full tanks of 89 oct fuel filled up at the same pump ( i always try to use the same pump)

[GMstrong]

What kind of motor is this again,Its a carbed 454 right?Actually i think that motor would get better then 9mpgs.I would throw the stock intake back on anyway doesnt sound like you gained anything.

[goatboy0067]

its an 8.1 with allison

[LURCH HD]

8.1 is 496 I think and I would say 9/10 MPG is about right from what I've heard, maybe a little short but not much.

[GMstrong]

Oh that explains it then i was thinking like a 4.8 or 5.3.

[goatboy0067]

ok ran 2 full tanks of fuel from the same pump new milage is 9.8 mpgs the best i have ever gotten running city and hwy. i am now going add one more 4" hole with a drop tube to get cleaner cooler air from behind the bumper will let you know my findings