S&B Cold Air Intake 30k plus miles update

[Jettech1]

About a week ago I finally cleaned the air filter after 30k plus miles.  It had bugs, leaves, who knows what lodged in between the pleats.  I actually used a flat bladed screwdriver to get out a lot of stuff the water hose didn't get out.  That got me curious as to what had passed by it into my intake.  I can report truthfully, yes I wish S&B was paying me for this update but they are not, there was nothing in my intake tube.  I took a clean napkin and rubbed it inside of my intake tube, perfectly clean.  I then took the tube off my throttle body to see if any gunk had accumulated at my throttle valve....nothing...perfectly clean.  So after 30k plus miles, all is great with my S&B cold air intake.  I get a little bit of intake noise, which sounds great, but who knows if it gave me a boost in HP?  I didn't do a before and after dyno so who knows.  All I know is that it sounds great and it has kept my intake clean as a whistle.

[bruceb58]

Did you use a scanner to determine the difference in temperature between ambient and intake? The reason I ask is because most cold air intakes actually are bringing in hotter air! It's why I call them hot air intakes!

 

To me, they are a complete waste of money, especially on these trucks. The stock intake is designed very well and brings in pretty much straight outside air.

 

Edited October 5, 2025 by bruceb58

[Epsilon Plus]

S&B is not an exposed element design. It is just like the factory system albeit with a larger filter and ducting and the elimination of the Hemholtz resonator.

 

The increased flow potential and less overall material with the elimination of the resonator actually has the potential to decrease IATs over stock although I wouldn't hold my breath.

[AndrewF]

On 10/1/2025 at 11:59 PM, Jettech1 said:

About a week ago I finally cleaned the air filter after 30k plus miles.  It had bugs, leaves, who knows what lodged in between the pleats.  I actually used a flat bladed screwdriver to get out a lot of stuff the water hose didn't get out.  That got me curious as to what had passed by it into my intake.  I can report truthfully, yes I wish S&B was paying me for this update but they are not, there was nothing in my intake tube.  I took a clean napkin and rubbed it inside of my intake tube, perfectly clean.  I then took the tube off my throttle body to see if any gunk had accumulated at my throttle valve....nothing...perfectly clean.  So after 30k plus miles, all is great with my S&B cold air intake.  I get a little bit of intake noise, which sounds great, but who knows if it gave me a boost in HP?  I didn't do a before and after dyno so who knows.  All I know is that it sounds great and it has kept my intake clean as a whistle.

How is the drone? Probably an apples to oranges comparison but I had a CAI on an older 1500. Sounded cool but then went for a long roadtrip with my camper and it was awful. First thing I did when I got home was go back to stock.