What cold air Intake Kit and why

Brenden Burnham · December 21, 2021

Seems it is really between Spectre and K&N. Is the price difference justified for the K&N kit over the Spectre? My concern is according to some of the reviews the Spectre plastic piece that holds the filter breaks off. Also does not hold well onto the tube due to very smooth surface and slips off no matter how tight the clamp is.

Experiences please and any "issues" you have with over the stock? Also do you need to reset the comp for the MAF?

Thanks ahead of time.

shakenfake · December 21, 2021

Neither. Both are just wastes of time. Your stock air intake is a cold air intake.

You can change the tube to the MIT Airraid but that is about it. Hell there is even a stock box mod you can do that will make it work even better but aftermarket intakes are trash.

S&B intakes look cool though.

Brenden Burnham · December 21, 2021

3 minutes ago, shakenfake said:

Neither. Both are just wastes of time. Your stock air intake is a cold air intake.

You can change the tube to the MIT Airraid but that is about it. Hell there is even a stock box mod you can do that will make it work even better but aftermarket intakes are trash.

S&B intakes look cool though.

Great info. Can you explain the stock box mod?

Brenden Burnham · December 21, 2021

11 minutes ago, shakenfake said:

Neither. Both are just wastes of time. Your stock air intake is a cold air intake.

You can change the tube to the MIT Airraid but that is about it. Hell there is even a stock box mod you can do that will make it work even better but aftermarket intakes are trash.

S&B intakes look cool though.

Just read this thread.

Thanks for the heads up of not only saving time but also $$.

Edited December 21, 2021 by Brenden Burnham

shakenfake · December 21, 2021

I haven't even done the mod I just know it exists. I am lazy.

I would switch the tube though. The Airraid MIT is very nice. Some people say CAI add noise but idk about that.

What I do know is that the MIT is great for not having that big honking elephant truck hanging off the side of it.

Truckboattruck · December 21, 2021

I don't believe you need to reset the MAF parameters, should be straight bolt on. That said, unless you see verified dyno comparisons it's really all about induction sound. Otherwise I wouldn't bother. I'm guessing you'd be very lucky to even see a 15hp gain through dyno comparisons with any aftermarket options, and whether you could just use a high flow filter with the stock CAI I wonder how that would stack up- probably more or less directly. Not a fan of high flow filters myself, but I do like induction noise. If the OEM CAI broke I'd probably go with the K&N, but since mine hasn't I feel no need.

Many platforms benefit in power from a CAI, usually not ones with OEM CAI already though. Bit of a bootless errand on these trucks I think, but I could be wrong. I am reasonably certain that if you want more power the money would be better spent elsewhere at any rate.

Supreme Pizza · December 21, 2021

I agree with these other guys. Your truck stock intake is already a cold air intake. After market intakes are usually not good to install on your vehicle. Some of the aftermarket filters can allow small particles of dust into your engine. The oil from a K&N filter can contaminate the mass airflow sensor. One of the main design features of the stock intake is to reduce induction noise, whereas after market intakes are designed to make it louder - it gives the impression that there is a HP increase even if there is not.

Edited December 21, 2021 by Supreme Pizza

dna9656 · December 22, 2021

The K & N kit was installed when I picked up my 06 Avalanche. The best thing I can say for it is it got a lot of crap out of the way, out of the way of working on ANYTHING under the monstrosity GM had there for an air intake. Now I have a 4" maybe 5" inch tube reaching over to the former location of the air filter box, this gives me room to carry a quart of oil to cover the oil used in normal operations.

There are many youtubes on the performance of so called cold air intakes, they all say the same thing, spend your money on something else (or IMHO) put it in the bank and forget about the money; you'll get way more from your money that way than spending it on this theory. Compared to internal temperature of an engine any outside air can easily be considered "cold". Now, cool HUMID air is appreciably thicker than cold air alone and (at least with carburetors) can make a difference in performance. Don't get a K & N intake setup thinking you're going to do any more good than GM's setup. All you'll do is save money on air filters.

Edited December 26, 2021 by dna9656

David89GMC · January 7, 2022

Most "cold air intake" setups put the filter on a short hose to the throttle body. This ain't good. Unless you isolate the filter from the engine bay, you're just installing a Hot Air Intake.

Supreme Pizza · January 7, 2022

Here are some "improvements" to the OEM cold air intake.

Supreme Pizza · January 7, 2022

3 hours ago, David89GMC said:

Most "cold air intake" setups put the filter on a short hose to the throttle body. This ain't good. Unless you isolate the filter from the engine bay, you're just installing a Hot Air Intake.

Well said. That is exactly right.

I suppose if you wanted a "cold air intake" that is not OEM, you would really need a snorkel, preferably with insulated ducting under the hood. Half of these so called "aftermarket cold air intake systems" put the cloth air filter near the radiator, which makes no sense at all.

swathdiver · January 10, 2022

Volant's CAI can include an air scoop under the bumper to grab cool air, that's the only reason I would get one. Banks also has one with a scoop as well for 2500-3500s.

Since our trucks go anywhere, they are not getting a scoop, not scooping up water into the motor!

TurboTruck · January 13, 2022

The only gains, if any at all, from a CAI are going to be...

1) Smooth inlet pipe, enhances airflow. (This does NOT mean increase in HP and TQ and is so marginal, I hardly feel 1-5HP is worth the cost)

2) You can now say you have "a modded truck", or your "truck isn't stock." (Doesn't hold up in a conversation with anyone who actually knows what they're talking about because.... well... it's just a CAI...)

3) My least favorite of all... It might make a new noise that some consider "cool" sounding. (I personally think it sounds like someone puckering their butt at the end of a fart but to each their own.)

Save the cash and buy us all beers!

TurboTruck · January 13, 2022

On 1/9/2022 at 6:21 PM, swathdiver said:

Volant's CAI can include an air scoop under the bumper to grab cool air, that's the only reason I would get one. Banks also has one with a scoop as well for 2500-3500s.

Since our trucks go anywhere, they are not getting a scoop, not scooping up water into the motor!

A relative of mine (married in) had one of these on his civic. Drove through a puddle and his engine was done. I laughed for days until I got a bird stuck in one on the vehicle I was driving.

If you want colder air, get a bigger and/or better intercooler.