Cold Air Intake

cowboy02 · April 12, 2006

OK I've put a pencil to some numbers on what it would take to get your investment back on a cold Air Intake system.

If Gas is $2.59 a gallon (Current Price in CO)

And you spend 250 bucks on a CAI

And you currently average 15 MPG

15MPG 21Gallon Tank 315 Miles

16MPG 21Gallon Tank 336 Miles $3.62 Savings 70 Fillups or 23k Miles

17MPG 21Gallon Tank 357 Miles $7.25 Savings 35 Fillups or 12k Miles

18MPG 21Gallon Tank 378 Miles $10.87 Savings 23 Fillups or 8k Miles

And If you are reall lucky

19MPG 21Gallon Tank 399 Miles $14.50 Savings 17 Fillulps 0r 6,800 Miles

If Gas would Spike to $3.00 a Gallon (Not that far fetched)

16MPG $4.2 Savings 60 Fillups or 20K Miles

17MPG $8.4 Savings 30 Fillups or 10K Miles

18MPG $12.6 Savings 20 Fillups or 7500 Miles

19MPG $16.8 Savings 15 Fillups or 5900 Miles

So you can see you get the best bang for buck increasing to 17MPG and above that your advantage isn't as great. So if you can find something that get's you to 17MPG for cheap you will save considerably.

So if you Chip your truck and CAI and that gets you to a worst case average of 19MPG and gas is 3.00 it would take 12k miles to get your money back (aprox 1 year on average driving) That would assume that gas stays at 3.00 for a year.

What is everyones opinion?

facn8me · April 13, 2006

Sounds about right. Wich is why I haven't invested in one. Too much time to see a return. Hope the free one I won gives me some improvements in MPG.

C & A s Dad · April 13, 2006

I added a True Flow CAI unit primarily for a little more grunt while towing my 02 Yukon XL. I can feel the difference beginning around 2600 RPM on up and after 2 tanks, my mileage is up a little bettern than 1 MPG. I realize two tanks is not enough to get a good read. Howver, the unit looks really good under the hood and makes a little "intake music" at WOT.

I would strongly suggest to anyone looking into a CAI to look seriously at the True Flow unit.

torx · April 13, 2006

OK I've put a pencil to some numbers on what it would take to get your investment back on a cold Air Intake system.

If Gas is $2.59 a gallon (Current Price in CO)

And you spend 250 bucks on a CAI

And you currently average 15 MPG

15MPG 21Gallon Tank 315 Miles

16MPG 21Gallon Tank 336 Miles $3.62 Savings 70 Fillups or 23k Miles

17MPG 21Gallon Tank 357 Miles $7.25 Savings 35 Fillups or 12k Miles

18MPG 21Gallon Tank 378 Miles $10.87 Savings 23 Fillups or 8k Miles

And If you are reall lucky

19MPG 21Gallon Tank 399 Miles $14.50 Savings 17 Fillulps 0r 6,800 Miles

If Gas would Spike to $3.00 a Gallon (Not that far fetched)

16MPG $4.2 Savings 60 Fillups or 20K Miles

17MPG $8.4 Savings 30 Fillups or 10K Miles

18MPG $12.6 Savings 20 Fillups or 7500 Miles

19MPG $16.8 Savings 15 Fillups or 5900 Miles

So you can see you get the best bang for buck increasing to 17MPG and above that your advantage isn't as great. So if you can find something that get's you to 17MPG for cheap you will save considerably.

So if you Chip your truck and CAI and that gets you to a worst case average of 19MPG and gas is 3.00 it would take 12k miles to get your money back (aprox 1 year on average driving) That would assume that gas stays at 3.00 for a year.

What is everyones opinion?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

With your numbers that's to break even with what it cost to purchase it. After that your saving money. It also depends on how you drive. With better throttle response it's a lot easier to jump on the throttle from a start after you've installed it to negate any mpg gains at highway speeds.

Wingnut · April 13, 2006

So you can see you get the best bang for buck increasing to 17MPG and above that your advantage isn't as great. So if you can find something that get's you to 17MPG for cheap you will save considerably.

So if you Chip your truck and CAI and that gets you to a worst case average of 19MPG and gas is 3.00 it would take 12k miles to get your money back (aprox 1 year on average driving) That would assume that gas stays at 3.00 for a year.

What is everyones opinion?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I disagree...The best "bang for the buck" would be keeping your foot out of it.

I got over 21 mpg in my '02 Z71 ex-cab...With the A/C on...By driving it at or below 65 mph on a road trip.

That's a great value because...Well...It's free.

The advice I just gave you however, is not.

That'll be $3 from everybody that reads this post please...My truck only gets 93 octane and I'm almost out of gas money because my right foot has swollen to 42 pounds of pedal pushing podiatry.

Oh...And I make this face a LOT.

cowboy02 · April 13, 2006

I added a True Flow CAI unit primarily for a little more grunt while towing my 02 Yukon XL. I can feel the difference beginning around 2600 RPM on up and after 2 tanks, my mileage is up a little bettern than 1 MPG. I realize two tanks is not enough to get a good read. Howver, the unit looks really good under the hood and makes a little "intake music" at WOT.

I would strongly suggest to anyone looking into a CAI to look seriously at the True Flow unit.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are you a sales rep for True Flow? Or just a happy true flow customer? I've seen in a couple of posts now about you raving how good true flow is. I like there products I know a lot of imports use Foam filters and a all metal tube is the best IMHO.

Anything has to be better then stock.

What is the reason for the design of the stock air tube?

pwall · April 13, 2006

I have an Air-Raid air-intake with a K&N cone air filter on my truck.

Can't say I noticed any difference in MPG.

Improvement in sound yes! ;)

diverlloyd · April 13, 2006