Word of caution with Airaid drop in filters.

Badass69 · January 30, 2016

I should have took some photos I guess but I will just explain. I have an Airaid Junior kit on my 2015 Silverado and pulled the Synthamax dry filter out and replaced it with the original paper one. The gasket on the air filter is too thin and leaks dirt between it and the lid of the stock airbox. I have fought with this before with my 05 Sierra as some aftermarket filters ( paper or otherwise) have too thin of a gasket and don't seal the lid to the base. It always leaks in the same spot.... the edge along the passenger front fender of the box.

If you guys are running one of these and don't have it greased or a gasket added to the inside of the lid I would be inspecting it for letting dirt in between it and the stock boxes lid!

I emailed Airaid about it and will see what they say.

muddkatt · January 30, 2016

The problem you found is the reason I have held off on buying a CAI. Keep us posted on what the outcome is.

Badass69 · January 30, 2016

The problem you found is the reason I have held off on buying a CAI. Keep us posted on what the outcome is.

I will say this though.... this is not just an Airaid issue. I have had the same issue on my 05 Sierra just running paper filters as some have too thin of a gasket to seal correctly. The only thing that changed here was the tube and it's fine. I just don't need to pay all this extra money for a filter that doesn't fit right.... like the Wix paper ones that didn't fit in my 05 correctly lol. I will probably reinstall it along with a foam gasket in the airbox lid but am curious what cop out reply Airaid will send me.... if anything at all. In all reality my 05 has the same box as this 2015 anyhow lol.

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BigBadSierra · January 30, 2016

I've seen the OEM filter do the same thing. The box is not letting enough air in for the engine.

The full Airaid is working great in my truck it's just has a good growl under acceleration.

muddkatt · January 30, 2016

This seems to be the problem with most after market parts. They just don't fit like they should. The tube from any manufacturer should not be an issue, it would be the connectors and the sensor locations. Hell, a piece of PVC pipe will work if you can get it sealed. My bitch is with the seals letting dirt in, having to trim or modify to make it fit, or just the parts themselves being junk. I do agree its not just Airraid, its nearly everything now days due to no quality control and everything being made in China or some third world country.

Badass69 · January 30, 2016

BigBadSierra, on 30 Jan 2016 - 07:38 AM, said:
I've seen the OEM filter do the same thing. The box is not letting enough air in for the engine.

The full Airaid is working great in my truck it's just has a good growl under acceleration.

The oem box let's in plenty of air for the needs of the engine and I don't like hot air intakes so I don't run open cones. On the 2005 and this truck it's a gasket issue as air like anything is path of least resistance... so if it can bypass flowing through the filter you bet it will! No denying if the gasket isn't contacting the lid it doesn't seal.

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Badass69 · January 30, 2016

This seems to be the problem with most after market parts. They just don't fit like they should. The tube from any manufacturer should not be an issue, it would be the connectors and the sensor locations. Hell, a piece of PVC pipe will work if you can get it sealed. My bitch is with the seals letting dirt in, having to trim or modify to make it fit, or just the parts themselves being junk. I do agree its not just Airraid, its nearly everything now days due to no quality control and everything being made in China or some third world country.

Yeah... but be careful with any aftermarket air filter... especially since everyone seems to love Wix on the Internet. .. their air filters don't seal worth a damn!

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muddkatt · January 30, 2016

I've seen the OEM filter do the same thing. The box is not letting enough air in for the engine.

Only time I have seen OEM filters lose the seal is when they were so dirty that the engine suction caused them to deform. OEM filters flow more than enough air for the engines.

Badass69 · January 30, 2016

So you can see the gasket is thinner on the new filter both in width and height. No it's not a lot... but you don't really have much to play with when it comes to with that filter box in the first place. I put wrenches under the Airaid to get it up to the same height as the Delco just for photo purposes.

Food for thought. The first pic is the surface that always leaks on these boxes which is the fender side of the lid. The second is just so people know what I am talking about.

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