Cold Air Intake? Have thoughts and opinions changed?

[Andy Seibel]

Google the dyno results. They have been tested and proven. I have the MIT myself. Best Bach for the buck.

 

my google is broken. Are you able to provide a link to your proven results by someone who is not selling the part?

 

My point is, of course every manufacturer of intakes will tell you they add power. I've seen the charts from K&N too: http://www.knfilters.com/dynocharts/63-3082_dyno.pdf

 

Now I want to see an independent test that proves it.

[SILVER SLED]

OEMs cant afford to put performance intakes on their vehicles for numerous reasons. The top 2 being NVH with the customer (louder sucking noises, rushes of air, etc.) and epa and cafe requirements. People want quiet vehicles and vehicles with good mpgs.

So do you think manufacturers spend huge money on engine development, aerodynamic gains and weight loss to make a vehicle as efficient as possible and have it all wasted by putting an afterthought intake set up(not manifold) that renders all that money spent a waste? I'd bet there is money spent by the manufactures on the intake set up. Considering all the other technology that goes into a vehicle, making an intake set up that flows well enough for a given engine and is quiet is not out of the question. Do you think GM spent money on a 380hp motor and restricted with an intake causing power and fuel mileage loss?

[carbon419]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I just want to say, after speaking with Black Bear performance last night, I will be going with the aFe Monemtum GT Dry cold air intake. I trust Black Bear. They are the go-to for new Silverado tuning and performance needs. I will leave everyone with a quick quote from the email that I got from Black Bear. If anyone tries to tell you the Airaid MIT is 'just as good' as a full CAI system, they are dead wrong.

 

"For an intake, an MIT tube is good and recommended on vehicles up until 2013. Starting in 2014, the MIT tube is no longer recommended. With the way the engine is laid out, a full intake is much more benificial. The MIT tube will add little to no benefit unfortunately."

[LTZTom]

I put an Airaid on mine a couple of years ago. I don't know if the throttle response was better or all in my head. However, it sure sounds good when you put your foot in it .

[mikepol2]

On 4/4/2017 at 4:06 PM, Aldila said:

I recently added the afe momentum gt cai. Definitely a improvement in throttle response. I really prefer the cleaner look of a CAI versus cluttered looking stock intake setup. Mine is on the 5.3, but blackbears recent dyno of the afe on a 6.2 is impressive. I also added the borla s type and together, there is noticeable improvement in acceleration and almost 1 mpg better fuel economy.

I just installed a Momentum GT also on my 6.2L, and the engine noise is REALLY loud at full throttle.  Can't hear any air noises, it sounds like a performance exhaust.  Do you have the same noise?  The more throttle you give it, the louder it gets.

[2017SierraSLT]

My Volant is loud at mid to full throttle. The DUUUHHHHHH noise..

[mikepol2]

Hmm.  Wonder where the noise is coming from, if people wanted to quiet it down but keep the intake.  Seems to me that it's either resonance from the tube between the throttle body and intake box, or maybe just loud at the open end of the box at the fender well, like the open end of a trumpet.  Was thinking about wrapping the tube with heat tape or something to see if that helps, or come up with some kind of baffles or something in the fender.

[Penguin VII]

Ah, the good ole CAI convo. There is some good info on here but I'd like to address the key reasons, per my view anyway, of why OEMs don't use CAIs in new vehicles.

 

Noise

CAIs are louder than stock boxes. Some people buy a CAI just for this reason. That said the modder crowd is not the entire crowd of new vehicle purchasers. CAIs are not included except on performance vehicles mainly due to this I think.

 

Water in engine

If the box isn't sealed, as most CAIs aren't, then you run the risk, however small, of water getting into the intake and thus the engine. You always have to worry about some idiot spraying the engine bay at the car wash or driving through deep water (less an issue with our trucks). Why risk replacing an engine when you don't have to? (you'll notice that even the CAI GM offers is "sealed")

 

Emissions

I don't know how much this directly effects emissions but I'd guess that in general more air in and out means higher pollution numbers, which the government generally frowns on.

 

At the end of the day they aren't targeting the modder community as their base, they are targeting the largest group of buyers, which tend to be middle aged and less interested in these things. (obviously not everyone here, who is the exception, not the rule)

[Rukus]

2015 Silv 1500 I put 10K on it stock intake... Put a Harley Ultra in the bed at times and tow a 2 place enclosed with 2 Ultras as well... I swapped in a K&N intake and got great sound out of it... In my opinion sounded like a truck now... Then I noticed about 1.4 MPG better when towing only.   Not much difference when no load/empty though.   That was for the last 67K miles.   I now have a 2017... same set up... I feel the CAI helps gives a little more torque.   This is where the MPG gain comes from as you can move the load easier.   12K miles on the 17 now.   Throttle response is same/same as stock form what I can tell.   I 100% feel a tune will give much better results... but I have the 100K B2B warrantee I'd rather not mess with.   

As for the reply of "the manufacture puts all this R&D..."   They are also bound by the EPA.   They choke these engines.   A friend has the same 2015 I had...  He cut the Cat out... Borla exhaust... Tune... and intake... he got 6 MPG better than me with the same load towing.   I even swapped with him at a gas station to see if it was driving habits... NOPE.   His truck was also MUCH more peppy and significantly better throttle response... so... 

Those Cats actually kill the performance of the truck... over the long hall I feel they are worse for the environment as you use more gas, produce more heat, and oil the life of the engine and exhaust parts... 

 

[Grumpy Bear]

Engines are 'demand' devices. They put up whatever power is required to overcome the applied resistance UP TO their maximum.

 

That maximum can be raised and slightly altered with a cold air intake. That said; to have any effect on anything other than noise the motor would have to be asked to operate between the factory and new peak numbers. That is between the two before and after lines on the dyno. Does you motor spend allot of time with the pedal matted under full load? 

 

They can not improve part throttle nor transitional combustion efficiency anytime before the intake coke point which can be seen on the dyno as the difference between factory and modified full load numbers. (mpg) They can not shorten rise time, the amount of time between one rpm and another rpm. (throttle response). They can add some peak power and they will make some noise. They can, if properly installed, lower 'in town' low speed intake temperatures which means nothing useful in traffic. Everything past that is happening in your gray matter. 

 

They would/could be useful for drag racing. Pulling at WOT for sustained periods. Circle track. Impressing people that are impressed with noise. 

 

IMHO.

[KARNUT]

All vehicles come with Cold Air Intakes they have silencers for noise reduction. Opening them up for noise your allowing heat in which lowers performance. Allowing more air in requires letting more air out to increase performance.


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[2017SierraSLT]

3 minutes ago, KARNUT said:

All vehicles come with Cold Air Intakes they have silencers for noise reduction. Opening them up for noise your allowing heat in which lowers performance. Allowing more air in requires letting more air out to increase performance.


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The airbox inlet on these K2XX trucks are ridiculously small. Also, the ribbed hoses create turbulence. If done properly, you can increase the airflow, without allowing more heat in. The air is still getting drawn in via the innerfender, away from the heat. If the exhaust system was a major form of restriction, then opening the intake would net very small gains. On these trucks, 15-25 peak HP and similar torque gains is typical. That is significant for an easy bolt on. Tune the truck, and more is possible.

[KARNUT]

The airbox inlet on these K2XX trucks are ridiculously small. Also, the ribbed hoses create turbulence. If done properly, you can increase the airflow, without allowing more heat in. The air is still getting drawn in via the innerfender, away from the heat. If the exhaust system was a major form of restriction, then opening the intake would net very small gains. On these trucks, 15-25 peak HP and similar torque gains is typical. That is significant for an easy bolt on. Tune the truck, and more is possible.

I’ve done plenty of intake and exhaust mods among other mods (blowers) etc. In the last few years i don’t think their leaving much on the table as far as air flow in or out. One of the things that convinced me was the E-85 option on 5.3s. Simply adding E-85 gave 25HP, they didn’t need to do that. If GM came out with a big air box option paired with a more open exhaust option for a 25 HP increase I’d be convinced.


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[2017SierraSLT]

The reason running E85 makes the 25HP more peak power is when the truck senses the E85, the mixture is richened, and the timing is increased. E85 produced lower combustion temps versus gasoline.  However, fuel economy suffers dramatically. This is usually what the readily available tuners achieve with straight unleaded.

[KARNUT]

The reason running E85 makes the 25HP more peak power is when the truck senses the E85, the mixture is richened, and the timing is increased. E85 produced lower combustion temps versus gasoline.  However, fuel economy suffers dramatically. This is usually what the readily available tuners achieve with straight unleaded.

Without modifying exhaust or intake.



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