Beware of Cold Air Intakes

Red6.2 · February 22, 2025

5 hours ago, KARNUT said:

I used to modify my trucks. There’s nothing I would do to my truck that wasn’t blessed by the dealer. Even changing the tire size. They’re so jammed up with sensors and technology it’s easy to mess them up. If you happened to get a problem truck or a recall you’re screwed. You can order or buy a truck with just about anything you desire. Spend the money on extended warranty. Leaving the mods to the manufacturer.

Completely accurate. Funny thing is my truck runs way better and feels like it has more power with my stock intake back in.

redwngr · February 22, 2025

15 minutes ago, Red6.2 said:

I don’t see how the s and b pulls air from the headlight. It’s completely sealed off.

I haven't looked at one (which is why I checked the video)

The headlight reference is from the S&B's video for about the 5.3 and 6.2 -- and from S&B's website.

Are you saying the headlight is sealed or the bottom of the filter box has no openings in that area?

Video doesn't show the area, so my guess was the filter box has an opening to the area behind, but not connected to, the headlight.

Red6.2 · February 23, 2025

18 hours ago, redwngr said:

I haven't looked at one (which is why I checked the video)

The headlight reference is from the S&B's video for about the 5.3 and 6.2 -- and from S&B's website.

Are you saying the headlight is sealed or the bottom of the filter box has no openings in that area?

Video doesn't show the area, so my guess was the filter box has an opening to the area behind, but not connected to, the headlight.

The bottom of the filter connects to the stock air intake location. Then there is no where for air to get to the top air scoop or box plug on the side. The washer fluid tank sits there. These truck are very well sealed off. You can try to shine a light through the whole front by the headlight and you can’t see it at all from the engine bay.

redwngr · February 23, 2025

48 minutes ago, Red6.2 said:

The bottom of the filter connects to the stock air intake location. Then there is no where for air to get to the top air scoop or box plug on the side. The washer fluid tank sits there. These truck are very well sealed off. You can try to shine a light through the whole front by the headlight and you can’t see it at all from the engine bay.

Sealed engine compartment?

Air coming thru the rad and coolers washes thru the engine compartment.

Since it want thru the coolers and rad, and then washes over engine components, it will be warmer than ambient.

Some of this air will enter the opening at the top of the s&b filter box.

The blended air must be warmer than the ambient air feed via the stock routing.

Imho, this is the reason you're seeing hotter intake air.

Gotta admit it seems odd the S&B video claims 3 sources of air to the filter box if there are only 2.

Silverado4x4 · February 23, 2025

Aftermarket cai are a huge waste of money, Stock cold air Intakes have baffles to not hear the intake under full throttle. People bolt these on and swear they have more HP, they don't. Company's say it gives you more HP do you really think there going to say does not give you more HP. If it does give you 1 more HP they can say that.

Red6.2 · February 23, 2025

50 minutes ago, redwngr said:

Sealed engine compartment?

Air coming thru the rad and coolers washes thru the engine compartment.

Since it want thru the coolers and rad, and then washes over engine components, it will be warmer than ambient.

Some of this air will enter the opening at the top of the s&b filter box.

The blended air must be warmer than the ambient air feed via the stock routing.

Imho, this is the reason you're seeing hotter intake air.

Gotta admit it seems odd the S&B video claims 3 sources of air to the filter box if there are only 2.

I’m referring to the headlight area/side fender area being sealed up pretty good by the washer fluid tank. So I didn’t see how it was pulling any cold air from that side. As they call it a “cold air scoop”.

rcslotcar · February 24, 2025

My 2020 1500 6.2l carbon pro was bought new with the GM cold air induction system and upgraded exhaust. I believe there is a small horse power increase with systems. The truck start up sound is awesome the tones down on warm up.

Transient · February 25, 2025

6 hours ago, rcslotcar said:

My 2020 1500 6.2l carbon pro was bought new with the GM cold air induction system and upgraded exhaust. I believe there is a small horse power increase with systems. The truck start up sound is awesome the tones down on warm up.

Agreed. Iirc, GM states both the CAI and exhaust add close to 15 bhp and 10 btq. That's because unlike aftermarket setups GM takes the truck into the shop and does a tune. I'm not exactly sure what it does. Some have said they adjust fuel trims to compensate for relocation of the MAF. I don't know. I'm not that smart.

Exhaust: https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/84964744.html

GM claims 13 bhp and 8 btq

CAI: https://dc-docs.dcatalog.com/RJ-Conl...41242210360446

GM's only claim is a 17% reduction is airway restriction for the 6.2 and 13% for the 5.3. It's on page 344.

Edited February 25, 2025 by Transient

Transient · February 25, 2025

On 2/22/2025 at 7:37 AM, redwngr said:

With the stock system, cold air coming thru the trucks front grill flows up thru the slotted area circled in green, the travels to the round area her hand is over and flows down to the connection to the filter and intake.

S&B takes air that way, but blends it with cold air drawn from under the hood at the slots circled in yellow at the filter box and air taken from near headlight.

Of course the under hood air has travelled thru the radiators....

Picture is from S&B video for 'cold air intake for 5.3 and 6.2'

https://sbfilters.com/products/silverado-sierra-1500-intake-75-5128

Stillen made a replacement for that plastic cover so air goes directly from the grill to the air inlet tube. I have the one that fits the active aero shutters. I don't know if there's a real result. I only know that I like it and it looks good.

https://stillen.com/products/2019-2020-chevy-silverado-trupower-by-stillen-cold-air-intake-scoop-tp403501?srsltid=AfmBOormSrS_3GcRXLYeA16WYuuCYdtDbGRXWSDWUWKHy9EA5lliw2Vs

Edited February 25, 2025 by Transient

Transient · February 25, 2025

On 2/23/2025 at 8:54 AM, Red6.2 said:

The bottom of the filter connects to the stock air intake location. Then there is no where for air to get to the top air scoop or box plug on the side. The washer fluid tank sits there. These truck are very well sealed off. You can try to shine a light through the whole front by the headlight and you can’t see it at all from the engine bay.

If you want to open airflow to the engine compartment the most obvious location is the bottom. Many Silverados and Sierras have a thin metal plate acting as protection for the front suspension. Pull the skid plate and/or replace it with the one from AEV for the Bison. It is considerably heavier, but it also has designed holes for air to flow through.

https://www.aev-conversions.com/product/aev-ifs-skid-plate-2019-chevrolet-silverado-1500-gmc-sierra-1500/

rcslotcar · February 25, 2025

Thanks for updated info. I'm very interested in to looking at that skid plate.

Edited February 25, 2025 by rcslotcar

66ss3964spd · February 25, 2025

"up to a +13 hp improvement at 5600 rpm and up to 8 additional pound feet of torque at 4100 rpm"

Key words "up to", and notice the RPM's where those potential max gains occur. What do the gains look like at between 1500 and 3500 where these engines spend most of their time?

CAI's and CAT back exhaust systems just aren't going to make a noticeable difference at lower engine speeds. The stock AI and dual exhaust systems are more than capable of flowing enough CFM probably up to 4-4.5K RPM, and the stock air intake is already pulling air from in front of the radiator, not from the engine compartment. If those aftermarket bits do add anything at lower RPM I'm hard pressed to believe one could actually feel it. You could have a 3 or 4 HP/TQ variation from day to day just due to atmospheric/barometric pressure changes.

KARNUT · February 25, 2025

4 minutes ago, Dan H 2023 HC said:

"up to a +13 hp improvement at 5600 rpm and up to 8 additional pound feet of torque at 4100 rpm"

Key words "up to", and notice the RPM's where those potential max gains occur. What do the gains look like at between 1500 and 3500 where these engines spend most of their time?

CAI's and CAT back exhaust systems just aren't going to make a noticeable difference at lower engine speeds. The stock AI and dual exhaust systems are more than capable of flowing enough CFM probably up to 4-4.5K RPM, and the stock air intake is already pulling air from in front of the radiator, not from the engine compartment. If those aftermarket bits do add anything at lower RPM I'm hard pressed to believe one could actually feel it. You could have a 3 or 4 HP/TQ variation from day to day just due to atmospheric/barometric pressure changes.

That’s true with any modification. I used to add all the mods with a tune. I drove around 50k miles a year. Mostly at 70 mph. Don’t need much HP for that. Every once in awhile merging or passing on a two lane. It was appreciated.

redwngr · February 25, 2025

53 minutes ago, Dan H 2023 HC said:

"up to a +13 hp improvement at 5600 rpm and up to 8 additional pound feet of torque at 4100 rpm"

Key words "up to", and notice the RPM's where those potential max gains occur. What do the gains look like at between 1500 and 3500 where these engines spend most of their time?

CAI's and CAT back exhaust systems just aren't going to make a noticeable difference at lower engine speeds. The stock AI and dual exhaust systems are more than capable of flowing enough CFM probably up to 4-4.5K RPM, and the stock air intake is already pulling air from in front of the radiator, not from the engine compartment. If those aftermarket bits do add anything at lower RPM I'm hard pressed to believe one could actually feel it. You could have a 3 or 4 HP/TQ variation from day to day just due to atmospheric/barometric pressure changes.