Are Air intakes worth the $$$

[rockyridge26]

I know there are threads out there about this subject, but could not find a definite answer from the ones I read. 2014 5.3 Silverado with flow masters already installed would intake increase hp and mpg enough to spend the $$$

[Chris]

Airaid MIT would be best bang for the buck. Same approximate gains as the others. Reuses stock box. In tests it shown 1-3 HP over competition on a 2011 5.3

[arkenzo]

I wouldn't pay for an intake in a naturally aspirated engine. gains are not high enough to justify the expense. just my opinion.

[krellheat]

Darn. Now you tell me. I am getting one for the arsthetics.

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

I put a K&N intake kit on my 98 partially because the fact that over time it saved money over having to buy a paper filter all the time. The K&N intake filter can go 100,000 miles before cleaning and I put over 60,000 on the filter when I got rid of the truck and it still wasn't dirty enough to need cleaning. Plus when I bought it I planned on getting a functional cowl hood and the top of the filter heat shield is open. You don't feel the HP, but I felt the throttle response was better. I just had to make sure the filter wasn't over oiled when I installed it. Some people make the mistake of not checking and then they have problems with the MAF sensor when I only had to change mine once on the 98 and I'm assuming it was just old age. The stock filter in the truck now can go 75,000 miles so no need to get aftermarket in my opinion, at least on a stock engine.

 

I have a Flowmaster Super 44 on my '14 5.3 and installed just the Airaid MIT tube so I kept the stock filter box while getting rid of the maze between the filter box and throttle body. It looks so much better and gives a lot more room to work on anything. I couldn't really tell any difference in MPGs or performance. If anything it might have helped throttle response a little, but nothing major since it's a stock filter. You can also get the JR kit from Airaid which is the MIT tube with a drop in filter, but I don't see that doing anything where you can feel.

[arkenzo]

Darn. Now you tell me. I am getting one for the arsthetics.

Aesthetics

[krellheat]

Aesthetics

Correct but am a pirate.

[nuclearxp]

totally my $.02, and probably in the minority, but I never liked the k&n system of oiling a filter cartridge. having a source of "oil", even if it is minuscule seems like it'll only result in problems.

 

a massive amount of r&d goes into the current intake system to make it quiet, efficient, and providing laminar airflow. it may just be where I am not in my life/budget, but unless you do intake with a new header/exhaust system and a tune you just aren't going to get any improvement you'll actually feel out of it.

[Daly]

CAI don't do anything really, because no matter how much air you get to go through the intake, the throttle body is only going to take what it can handle… Unless you put on a bigger throttle body the gains are going to be un-noticeable. People say they feel the gains, but I think they just think that because most CAI make a lot more bark then bite… That said, even I plan on getting the AirRaid MIT, just to clean up under the hood. You don't gain much of anything, but you don't lose anything either, it's a lateral move…

[RyanbabZ71]

You guys need to see some of the data out there. Black bear did a nice write up on different systems. All had gains, some more the others. This test was done on a dyno not gut/butt feeling

 

 

Ryan

[Daly]

There are a lot of test out there that state otherwise as well. Personally I don't know how much I'd trust a test performed by a tuning company. Maybe they are seeing an increase in power, but they are probably tuning the vehicle as well… Gains that you could probably get with just a tune, and not intake modifications… Cold air intakes showed gains in older vehicles like my 91 because the factory intakes were restrictive, but now manufacturers are designing better intakes and the gains you see from CAI are marginal…

[LTZTom]

I put mine on for the noise .

[Rewillia]

spend the money elsewhere

[RyanbabZ71]

There are a lot of test out there that state otherwise as well. Personally I don't know how much I'd trust a test performed by a tuning company. Maybe they are seeing an increase in power, but they are probably tuning the vehicle as well… Gains that you could probably get with just a tune, and not intake modifications… Cold air intakes showed gains in older vehicles like my 91 because the factory intakes were restrictive, but now manufacturers are designing better intakes and the gains you see from CAI are marginal…

Feel free to read the topic

 

100% stock truck tested

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?/topic/145676-BBP-Independent-Intake-Test-Results

 

 

 

 

Ryan

[Spurshot]

Of course, the K2 has a redesigned inlet duct and the inlet duct itself seems to be where the aftermarket systems get a high percentage of the gains. There hasn't been any dyno tests that I've seen for the K2 OEM vs aftermarket. Given the subtle nature of this issue and the small horsepower numbers, I would not automatically extrapolate the tests that Justin did on an earlier engine to these new engines. And again, noise is not horsepower.