Review: Cold Air Inductions Intake for 2014+ Silverado/Sierra

[Zane]

Zane Merva

Executive Editor, GM-Trucks.com

3/30/2016

 

Are you looking for an easy to complete home project that will give your new Silverado or Sierra a little kick in the pants? Cold Air Inductions has an intake system designed for your truck that’s not only easy to install but adds a custom look under the hood, too.

 

Before vs After

 

Product: CAI Cold Air Intake System for 2014-2016 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra with the 5.3L V8

Manufacturer: Cold Air Inductions
Suggested Retail Price: $429.99

 

Product Website: CAI - 2014-2016 5.3L Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Intake System (Textured Black Finish)

 

Features

• +12-horsepower
• +6 ft-lbs of torque
• Up to +3 MPG increase in fuel economy
• Aluminum Insulated Air Box
• Removable Box Lid with filter viewing window
• 4-inch thermal coated intake tube
• High-performance air filter
• Made in the USA
• No tune required

Unboxing

Our CAI Intake System came in securely shipped in a single cardboard box. The entire intake came in only a few pieces and without any small or loose parts. We found the items inside packaged well and free of damage.

 

Inside we found the cold air intake box, a black coated metal snorkel tube, a rubber joint with vacuum hose hookups, and a pre-oiled cone filter. All hardware was already assembled or attached to the parts.

 

Installation

We installed this intake on a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado with the 5.3L V8. If you know how to work a screwdriver, a socket/ratchet combination, and are not afraid to have to climb into the hood of your truck, we think you would have no problem completing this installation at home in your own driveway. A topside creeper would make this easier but is not required. A tool set that includes hex bits and socket extensions is required.

 

We started off the process of removing the stock air box and plenum by disconnecting the negative terminal from the battery. We then removed the brace that runs over the battery to gain more room to work and carefully pulled the mass airflow sensor (MAF) out of the factory snorkel. Do not disconnect the MAF sensor.

 

We next disconnected the two stock vacuum hoses that run into the valve covers. We also loosened the clamp that holds the stock intake to the throttle body and removed the resonator box.

 

Then we snuggly pulled up to pop the factory air filter box out of place. We also transferred a rubber grommet from the factory box to the CAI intake shroud. This was perhaps the most difficult part of the install. We eventually had to cover the rubber grommet with dawn detergent to be able to push it in the hole on the shroud. It’s a snug fit, so be careful not to bend anything.

 

The CAI air filter box then simple snaps back into the location where the factory air box was removed. We then secured the new rubber connection joint to the throttle body and reconnected the vacuum tubes to the tops of the valve covers.

 

After slipping on the intake tube and attaching the cone air filter, we were nearly complete with our install. After carefully reinstalling the MAF sensor and applying the CAI Decals, we reattached the intake lid. After reinstalling the cross brace and reconnecting the negative terminal of the battery, we were done. Our total install time was approximately 30 minutes.

 

 

Here lies the remains of the stock intake system.

 

Results

It only takes a turn of the key to hear the difference between the factory intake and CAI’s cold air system. The cold air intake offers a deeper, throatier sound at full throttle compared to stock. At idle, there’s no difference.

 

On the road this Silverado sounds like a new beast. Air intake noise is much louder and right after pushing the peddle down you can hear a rush of air enter the plenum. While the stock intake is designed to hush the sound of air rushing through the throttle body, CAI’s cold air intake system accentuates it. As a result, the engine sound that comes from under the hood is slightly deeper, has more attitude, and sounds louder.

 

 

 

So, does a cold air intake make any difference with how your truck performs? Since we didn't do before and after dyno tests we are not in a position to substantiate any claims of improved performance. There are many independent tests and even members here that have indeed seen horsepower and torque improvements when dyno'd. MPG numbers are a lot more difficult to test, but there are many people who claim improved mileage. What we will say is that as users of various cold air intake systems over the past few years, we have enjoyed benefits from every single one, regardless of which vehicle they’ve been installed on.

 

The easiest difference to spot with the CAI system is how it makes the engine on this 2015 Chevrolet Silverado pop! The stock factory plastic is dull and covers up much of the engine. The CAI intake is slim, well designed and made from quality materials. The clear plastic window shows almost the entire air filter, making inspection a snap.

 

 

 

Conclusion

Are you ready to make some small changes to your truck that give it a more custom look? Maybe you want your engine to be a little louder and have a touch of attitude at the same time. Perhaps you just hate the look of the stock intake and want to spice up your engine bay.

 

The CAI Intake system solves those issues and gives you a quality made-in-America intake that you can install yourself.

This product was provided in exchange for our objective and unbiased review.

[Zane]

Post Space Reserved

[Nargg]

It's about $20 cheaper on Amazon...

But seems to me you could go even cheaper with just a new tube and better filter. http://smile.amazon.com/AIRAID-200-985-Modular-Intake-Tube/dp/B00O65H6S4

Edited March 30, 2016 by Nargg

[GodFather]

here's mine on my sold 2012 GMC Sierra SLT CC All Terrain. Very easy install. Sounded better after I installed a Borla catback system.

[mike49024]

Not to hate, but the claim of +3 mpg doesn't hold water IMO is false advertising.

 

Putting the science beside, if it were that easy to gain mpg on a truck - GM would do it out of the factory in order to make a truck that makes more power and gets better fuel economy. mpg would beat the ecoboost, v6 ram and everything else out there if that was true. Hell it'd even beat the colorado.

 

Not saying it's a bad product, but atleast one of its claims is false.

Edited March 30, 2016 by mike49024

[scooter484]

Look at the manufacturers site!, it was a typo on the reviewers part.

 

http://www.coldairinductions.com/2014-2015-5-3l-gmc-gm-chevrolet-sierra-silverado-1500-intake-system-powder-coated-black

Details

Gains:

 

+ 12 Horsepower (rwhp)**

+ 6 ft-lb Torque**

+ Up to 3 MPG Increase in fuel Economy*

 

Gains indicated is to the wheels (whp) and are tested on an otherwise stock vehicle. CAI Inc. test our systems under real world driving conditions, and dyno test our products to the wheels with the hood closed. Many of our competitors test with the hood open, and under conditions that are not applicable to real world driving. This results in inflated hp numbers that are to the crank, and do not represent real world performance gains. CAI Inc. believes in bringing you the most accurate and applicable information possible, which is why we test with the hood closed and only publish gains to the wheels.

 

Intake System Includes:

 

• Aluminum Insulated Air Box

• Removable Air Box lid with viewing window for easy filter inspection

• 4.0" Thermal Coated Intake Tube with MAF Insert

• High Performance Air Filter (CF-9400)

• Black Silicone Elbow with Stainless Clamps

• Installation instructions

 

Part # 512-0102-B

ONLY FOR VEHICLES W/ ELECTRONIC COOLING FANS

No Tune required!

 

Made in USA!

 

*Fuel Economy is based off of many factors such as the type of fuel you use, tire inflation, the speed and gear at which you are driving, rate of acceleration, engine maintenance, excessive idling, the use of cruise control, the grade of motor oil you use, and the condition of your air filter. For those reasons fuel economy losses and/or gains vary and are not guaranteed

**Dyno tests and gains reported were on a 5.3L engine, smaller or larger engines may see less or more gains varying with their engine size.

[Elite Engineering]

Nice review and write up!

 

 

[barry G]

some vehicles really gain.

 

on vortec '96 and beyond..

the exhaust change is the winner.

 

if anyone has not noticed, the air on the plenums is quite large, for 20 years now.

Exhaust did not change however..

the better win is exhaust.

furthermore, rising temps burns the fuel.

if it is not 180-220 by the time it hits the cylinder..

kaboom or bad runtime.

 

400 bucks into exhaust is 304 stainless if you must spend that amount .. I am never going that far.

I'd still put my 400 elsewhere.

neither exhaust or intake.

Edited March 30, 2016 by barry G

[Thirdcoast]

OK, here is my 2c worth.

 

I have a 2009 Tahoe LTZ, 4WD, L9H 6.2L, 6L80.

 

The mods I have on this vehicle are as follows and the mileage difference was measured after each mod.

 

AirRaid MIT with Dry Filter Stock Air Box: .5 MPG

 

Factory 3.5" exhaust with Flowmaster Big Block 50 Series Muffler 3.5" X 3.5": .6 MPG

 

Nelson Performance Tune: 1.4 MPG

 

Total MPG gain measured cruising at 75 MPH on cruise control on a level highway: 2.5 MPG

 

Real Life MPG -10 MPG after all this money and work because I can't keep my big foot out of it.

 

Not Bad for a Geezer Hot Rod

 

Thirdcoast

Edited March 30, 2016 by Thirdcoast

[okfoz]

I have heard over and over about gaining 3mpg with some of these things and I have never seen 1mpg.

[Rock1500]

OK, here is my 2c worth.

 

I have a 2009 Tahoe LTZ, 4WD, L9H 6.2L, 6L80.

 

The mods I have on this vehicle are as follows and the mileage difference was measured after each mod.

 

AirRaid MIT with Dry Filter Stock Air Box: .5 MPG

 

Factory 3.5" exhaust with Flowmaster Big Block 50 Series Muffler 3.5" X 3.5": .6 MPG

 

Nelson Performance Tune: 1.4 MPG

 

Total MPG gain measured cruising at 75 MPH on cruise control on a level highway: 2.5 MPG

 

Real Life MPG -10 MPG after all this money and work because I can't keep my big foot out of it.

 

Not Bad for a Geezer Hot Rod

 

Thirdcoast

I just bought the airaid tube and kept the stock filter. From another thread there was a test and it showed a gain of 9 hp. I'd be happy with just that and if can get .5 mpg just all the better.

 

But the real mpg gains is the mod to control your foot lol

 

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

[mtbadbob]

I'm eventually going to get a tuner & CAI for my '15, but I've only done a cat-back Gibson at this point & it made a noticeable difference in snap & is a bit throaty. I had an '07 HD 2500 Crew 4x4 w/6.0, I installed a Magna-Flow cat back, Edge Tuner, & an AFE intake system. I only gained 1-2 mpg, but the performance was up quite a bit, so more power & slightly better mileage was a win for $1200! I usually ran the Edge in Tow Mode as I towed a trailer frequently. I could lay a pair of 2' rubber strips when it would bang into 3rd, and I mean "bang", it shifted hard, but not dangerously hard. Bottom line is, most all mileage increase claims are bogus, but the power gain is the real benefit, along with a slight mpg boost.

[Blueballs]

I'm new to this forum, but i'm far from new to Chevy trucks or performance mods. I am a professionally trained mechanic and have worked on many different manufacturers as one and there is not now nor will there ever be a perfect way to measure gas mileage. The human factor is now and always will be the 1 factor that can't be made perfect. We all drive in different types of traffic, with different styles of driving, and different amounts of love for pure horsepower and speed. The distributor of the product has made it clear that there is a POSSIBILITY that you could see gains up to 3 MPG. Leave it at that and don't even bother arguing it because there very well could be the possibility of gaining that much from this intake.

 

What you will most likely notice is that your truck reacts faster to when you push the gas pedal. This is because the intake has streamlined the air to your throttle body and smoothed it out quite a bit over GM's original design. This design looks great and looks like it would perform quite well (this is said without owning one but having owned many other styles just like it). The only thing that i'm not happy about is the fact that it has a K&N OILED filter on it. I've had them for years and just recently started doing more and more research on them, and from the results that I have seen and found, I don't ever want another. Oil attracts dirt, dirt on the filter means less air is getting through to the engine. Less air in the engine means less horsepower. Less horsepower means that i'm going to be mad and extremely disappointed. K&N air filters will clog up faster and once they start to get dirty very quickly start performing worse than a dirty stock air filter. Soooo..(now that that rant is over and done with) my only wish on this design (other than not spending that much money) is that they would offer a dry air filter option with this intake. If you could offer me the option of a dry filter at a slightly reduced cost, I would really consider purchasing this product for my 2016 Silverado 1500.

[JaBone]

Been very happy with the aggressive sound this CAI makes. Bought on Amazon.

[evilstevie]

I have heard over and over about gaining 3mpg with some of these things and I have never seen 1mpg.

 

And you never will if you measure it accurately. No stock engine made in the last 30 years is limited in any way by the amount of available air. If they were, then the manufacturers would very very easily slap on a more porous air cleaner or some other forced air system and magically "gain 3 mpg" and "gain 10 hp" and "gain 10 ft/lbs", etc. CAI's are a proven crock, for the most part.