Are Air intakes worth the $$$

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

I've seen dyno test done a few years back. They gave the engine enough time to recalibrate for the extra air flow and then did the tests. They did 3 tests for each intake kit. The 1st one was right at the HP gain that then manufacturer said, but as the engine bay got hotter the HP gain went away and at the hottest point you're only gain is about 2-3 hp. I didn't get the K&N kit for my 98 because of what little HP gain it was, I got it for better throttle response and the fact that I had planned on adding a functional cowl hood and the top of the heat shield was open. I also got it because of the fact that I could go 100,000 miles between cleanings where a regular paper filter for that truck only lasted 5-10,000 miles roughly. If you get a cheap kit off ebay that still has a regular paper element filter then you won't feel anything. The filter is where most throttle response comes from bu letting more air in. The oiled filters are supposed to catch everything, you just have to worry about having it over oiled from the factory or when you clean it. I never had a problem with the K&N on my 98 and I had the kit on the truck for a good 9 years. I only replaced the MAF sensor once and that was probably just because it was old. If I had to change it every couple years then it would be from oil coming off of the filter. They have dry filters now without oil, but I would think that they don't catch as much as an oiled filter or a regular paper filter.

 

All of this is why I decided to just get the Airaid MIT tube for my '14. That way I don't mess with the filter, filter box or the location of the MAF sensor. It just gives a straight shot for the air to go straight from the filter to the TB without any restriction. It also gives more room to work on anything without that huge box in the way. Even if it's just for looks and give more room to work it's worth the money. I didn't want to go the full intake kit route this time. Especially since the paper filter on my truck can last 45,000 miles.

[krellheat]

spend the money elsewhere

Hookers and blow! Argh Mateys

[Jon A]

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…

 

I collected my own data. I can confirm the AFE intake shows significantly less pressure drop accross the entire intake tract than the stock system at mid-high RPM. This measurement removes changes in tuning (due to changing the MAF housing which the intake tubes are on newer vehicles) from the equation.

[rockyridge26]

Thanks for all the great info guys still on the fence lol. Sounds like a lot of mixed reviews[emoji52]

[1300c]

I wouldn't spend the money myself just because the price doesn't justify what little horsepower/torque that you get.

[TJay74]

I don't understand the "little HP gain" comments. I've had 3 vehicles on the dyno for before and after results, each on showed gains in the 7-10rwhp range each time with no tuning. Of course you will see heat soak issues on any intake if you continue to do static dyno test with no airflow coming thru the engine bay. We saw them on my Corvette after the 7-8 dyno runs.

 

I put one on my 2014 6.2l truck and noticed gains in mpg and HP. I have been very happy so far.

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

I don't understand the "little HP gain" comments. I've had 3 vehicles on the dyno for before and after results, each on showed gains in the 7-10rwhp range each time with no tuning. Of course you will see heat soak issues on any intake if you continue to do static dyno test with no airflow coming thru the engine bay. We saw them on my Corvette after the 7-8 dyno runs.

 

I put one on my 2014 6.2l truck and noticed gains in mpg and HP. I have been very happy so far.

 

You're not going to feel a 10 HP gain. What you feel is the added throttle response like my 98 got. It's just less restriction. Also the engine bay will get hot either way, even if you're going down the interstate. The airflow can't overtake the temps coming off of the exhaust manifold/headers. Even if the intake kit has a heat shield around the filter it will still get effected.

[Dunc]

Gains would need to be 50+ before I'd even consider it. 10hp gains are pointless, and less than that you're just wasting your money. So in short, intakes are a waste of money.

[Badnewcastle]

So you get a bigger gain by tossing in Ethanol and you hae have to do that if you feel like it, right?

[tvette1993]

Gains would need to be 50+ before I'd even consider it. 10hp gains are pointless, and less than that you're just wasting your money. So in short, intakes are a waste of money.

 

Aren't 99% of the mods we do to our trucks "a waste of money"? We do them because for some reason we get enjoyment out if it.

[Jon A]

You won't feel 10 HP. But add up enough 10 HP gains and eventually you're left with something you can feel and will easily leave the truck without the mods behind.

 

I don't know where you guys' expectations are coming from--50 HP for $250? So for a $5000 blower you expect it should add 1000 HP? Adding HP costs money and ~10-15 for ~$200-300 is actually pretty decent HP/dollar. People pay 2-3 times that much for a catback that'll add the same or even less. Headers should add about twice that but they cost three to four times as much.

[14'SilveradoLT]

You won't feel 10 HP. But add up enough 10 HP gains and eventually you're left with something you can feel and will easily leave the truck without the mods behind.

 

I don't know where you guys' expectations are coming from--50 HP for $250? So for a $5000 blower you expect it should add 1000 HP? Adding HP costs money and ~10-15 for ~$200-300 is actually pretty decent HP/dollar. People pay 2-3 times that much for a catback that'll add the same or even less. Headers should add about twice that but they cost three to four times as much.

Livernois is claiming an additional 10whp and like ~20 more lbs of tq on their premium tune with an intake. So like Jon A said, those 10's keep adding up. That ~20lbs of tq, depending on where at in the rpm, is def a good investment.

 

Everything builds on something else, LT's, Exhaust, Tune, and then a MIT tube or Intake...all play a part.

[Dunc]

 

Aren't 99% of the mods we do to our trucks "a waste of money"? We do them because for some reason we get enjoyment out if it.

Well hopefully we are doing a mod that provides some sort of visual or tactile feedback. An intake does neither. If people want to spent nothing for doing nothing at all to the car then I say go for it...so long as they realize they got had lol.

[TJay74]

Very rarely is it the one add on that gives gains you can feel (nitrous, supercharger, turbo, cam/heads excluded), as said 10hp here and there ends leading to 20-50hp more than before. 40hp shows up on the street against another similar vehicle for sure.

[Daly]

As long as all your mods work together. Just because two things each add 10hp doesn't mean they will produce 20hp, together they could add up to only 10hp. Could only be 5hp together…