Need Help With Cold Air Intake On Chevy Tahoe Z71

darkman104 · September 25, 2007

I'm considering buying a cold air intake for my 03 Tahoe. I really couldn't care less about the "cool" loud noise people seem to brag that you get from it. I'm more interested in functionability. Is it really worth the money in the long run as far as power gain and gas milage. There are three major issues I'm looking for feedback on.

1. I've heard if your SUV has more than 75K miles or if you have 4X4 that it really won't make a big diffrence.

2. I've heard some say that adding a cold air intake is a waste of money unless I'm going to switch to a ram air hood and/or switch to an after market exhaust.

3. I've heard some say that some of the more pricey name brands are good and the generic (or lesser known) ones are no better than the factory air filter that comes in the truck. And likewise I've heard that all after market CA intakes are made the same way, with the same material, with the same concept, and in a sense are the same product. With the only diffrence being that you are paying a hefty price just for a well known name.

I'm looking for anyone who has purchased one and can give me direct feedback. Also, it would be cool if anyone could direct me to a goo online site that sales discounted or reasonably priced after market Chevy stuff. I've looked myself but there are houndreds of sites. I'm sure someone has run across a little known site or know of a company that has a website but may not be well advertised.

Sorry for the loong a$$ post but if you read it and answer back, thanks in advance

2004GMC1500CC · September 25, 2007

I'm considering buying a cold air intake for my 03 Tahoe. I really couldn't care less about the "cool" loud noise people seem to brag that you get from it. I'm more interested in functionability. Is it really worth the money in the long run as far as power gain and gas milage. There are three major issues I'm looking for feedback on.

1. I've heard if your SUV has more than 75K miles or if you have 4X4 that it really won't make a big diffrence.

2. I've heard some say that adding a cold air intake is a waste of money unless I'm going to switch to a ram air hood and/or switch to an after market exhaust.

3. I've heard some say that some of the more pricey name brands are good and the generic (or lesser known) ones are no better than the factory air filter that comes in the truck. And likewise I've heard that all after market CA intakes are made the same way, with the same material, with the same concept, and in a sense are the same product. With the only diffrence being that you are paying a hefty price just for a well known name.

I'm looking for anyone who has purchased one and can give me direct feedback. Also, it would be cool if anyone could direct me to a goo online site that sales discounted or reasonably priced after market Chevy stuff. I've looked myself but there are houndreds of sites. I'm sure someone has run across a little known site or know of a company that has a website but may not be well advertised.

Sorry for the loong a$$ post but if you read it and answer back, thanks in advance

At BEST a cold air intake will add a few ponies at the very upper rpm range. How often do you run your motor at 6000 rpms'?

cmoore74 · September 25, 2007

I have one (see signature), but I will agree that if your not looking for the look, sound, or a small improvement in performance then it is not worth it. Basically if your not interested in the "cool" factor I say don't do it (leave it stock).

IMO a more open intake has more of a benefit if you plan on doing other modifications. The reason I went with an intake is it cleans up the engine compartment, looks great under the hood, and gives a small improvement to throttle response. Also the intake with the exhaust and a custom tune is said to really wake the truck up. I just installed my exhaust and next is the tune. There was no change negative or positive in MPG after the install of the intake. This tells me that my daily driving is not high enough in RPM to realize any benefit for the intake. Even towing my boat I really didn't see any significant improvement in mileage for the intake (might have been a slight increase, but it was small and within typical variation, probably less than 1/2 MPG improvement).

By the way, this has been argued to death on this site (in case you haven't already noticed).

I can't really direct you to a particular site that has the best prices because it will vary. You just need to decide what you want and then do a search on google through thier shopping link and then sort by lowest price. Sometimes eBay has the best prices. I've also found Cabela's is sometimes quite competetive on certain products. I've had good luck with www.autopartswarehouse.com. They will match most any price you find if they carry that item. I sometimes get them to match when I find a realy good price on a web-site I just don't trust enough to order from.

I try to be as honest as possible about my experiences. I try not to give the opinion that something has to be the best and gave huge improvements just because I decided to buy it.

C & A s Dad · September 25, 2007

I would have to agree with what you have already read here. I have one and like it but if I were not towing a 6500 lb camper, I do not think I would have bought one. I feel the improvements when towing on a hill are significant but for everyday driving, they really contribute little in the way of MPG or power.

mikestreed21 · September 26, 2007

I just bought an intake for my truck. It was pricy, but i like it. I noticed that my truck doesn't downshift as soon/much on some of the hills on the highway. I do not like the K&N cone filters that sit under the hood and breath in 120 degree temperatures from under the hood. plus that location tends to be a magnet for dirt The concept is to allow denser air in(cooler), with a lower amount of air restriction, which is what the kit iI purchased is designed to do, in concept. it had a smoother intake tube and a higher flow filter, but maintains the natural outside air drawn from outside through the fender. I plan to get a less restrictive exhaust system because the more air you want in, the more that needs to go out. There are alot of people out there that have an adversion to foam filters, and I agree that they can be dangerous when you have to clean and maintain them. Wringing them out can tear them, and air will take the path of least resistance(i.e. through the tear). so if you go this route, adhere to the maintenance guidelines, or do like I will and just buy a new filter.

http://performancelifts.com/cgi-bin/cart/TRU10501.html

BTW - Synthetic oil is the easiest way to gain power. It will give you 1% to 3% hp gains through lower friction through out your rpm range. Hope it helps.

topdj · September 26, 2007

I agree with above, best gains are had with cold air intake, exhaust and a tune. really need all 3 to see obivous gains

silveradoHO · September 26, 2007

When I put duel exhaust on I seemed to loose a little low end. I gained it back with a cold air intake. From what most people say, they seem to work best together. But even with both there was not much gain over stock, not until I got a tune.

Misawan · September 26, 2007

I'm considering buying a cold air intake for my 03 Tahoe. I really couldn't care less about the "cool" loud noise people seem to brag that you get from it. I'm more interested in functionability. Is it really worth the money in the long run as far as power gain and gas milage. There are three major issues I'm looking for feedback on.

1. I've heard if your SUV has more than 75K miles or if you have 4X4 that it really won't make a big diffrence.

2. I've heard some say that adding a cold air intake is a waste of money unless I'm going to switch to a ram air hood and/or switch to an after market exhaust.

3. I've heard some say that some of the more pricey name brands are good and the generic (or lesser known) ones are no better than the factory air filter that comes in the truck. And likewise I've heard that all after market CA intakes are made the same way, with the same material, with the same concept, and in a sense are the same product. With the only diffrence being that you are paying a hefty price just for a well known name.

I'm looking for anyone who has purchased one and can give me direct feedback. Also, it would be cool if anyone could direct me to a goo online site that sales discounted or reasonably priced after market Chevy stuff. I've looked myself but there are houndreds of sites. I'm sure someone has run across a little known site or know of a company that has a website but may not be well advertised.

Sorry for the loong a$$ post but if you read it and answer back, thanks in advance

I first had a Trailblazer and when I added the K&N intake I noticed it right away. I had better acceleration and my mileage, according the computer, increased by 2mpg, average. I am not saying it was like someone put a turbo on it but it was noticeable. The first after market thing I bought for my Silverado was the same K&N intake. The increase in power wasn't as noticeable as my Trailblazer but I did see the same slight increase in my mpg. I put a ton of miles on my truck so any little bit helps and I am glad that I got it. Now I only have to decide which exhaust I am going to install.

cmoore74 · September 26, 2007

BTW - Synthetic oil is the easiest way to gain power. It will give you 1% to 3% hp gains through lower friction through out your rpm range. Hope it helps.

I didn't really see any noticable power or mileage gains with synthetic, but it does quiet the engine down and runs smoother. I'm not saying there wasn't, just that they weren't significant enough to notice. The synthetic also gives me piece of mind when going by the OLM (typically 5k-6k miles) instead of the old 3k mile oil change.

When I put duel exhaust on I seemed to loose a little low end. I gained it back with a cold air intake. From what most people say, they seem to work best together. But even with both there was not much gain over stock, not until I got a tune.

I just installed a Corsa rear side exit over the weekend and I did not see any loss in low end. In fact it feels just maybe a tad bit pepier. This might be due to already having the intake installed, but just a guess. The tune is next. Then maybe I'll be done buying toys for the truck... Well maybe not.

Ben · September 26, 2007

More than just boy racer stuff.

The density is higher with cooler air, vs engine bay heated air.

Ignition timing becomes an issue when the air is too hot and

the intake charge wants to pre-ignite (ping), so the ECU will

retard timing.

There is 'some' ram affect 'if' the intake scoop sees the air

flow in front of the vehicle while it's moving forward.

I've made my own for less than $20 bucks on an OOBS,

but the NBS can also be done similarly. It uses the stock

air filter box with the new hose modification to the bottom

of the box.

Here is the link to the article and pictures.

My ram, cold air intake HOW2

SierraLeone · September 29, 2007

More than just boy racer stuff.

The density is higher with cooler air, vs engine bay heated air.

Ignition timing becomes an issue when the air is too hot and

the intake charge wants to pre-ignite (ping), so the ECU will

retard timing.

There is 'some' ram affect 'if' the intake scoop sees the air

flow in front of the vehicle while it's moving forward.

I've made my own for less than $20 bucks on an OOBS,

but the NBS can also be done similarly. It uses the stock

air filter box with the new hose modification to the bottom

of the box.

I would be very nervous here in SET during one of our flooding storms. I have been through water at intersections that would get both sucked and rammed up through that hose.

A better design would put the scoop up higher.

Ben · September 29, 2007

I would be very nervous here in SET during one of our flooding storms. I have been through water at intersections that would get both sucked and rammed up through that hose.

A better design would put the scoop up higher.

Left the OEM system intact, so there are two intake systems and if ever get

my under bumper scoop underwater, it won't draw, as the OEM intake

is above just behind the passenger headlamp.

Know that my intake over takes the OEM at speed because there are

bits of paper, bugs, sand, etc, even rocks inside the filter box bottom.

svensk · September 29, 2007

I've got 134K miles and I just started modding my truck and she really woke up. I bought a wait4me tune, Outlaw intake (dyno proven to net 10hp at 3K+rpm), NGK TR-55 copper plugs+ new wires. I out ran a stock '07 V-max truck the other day. I pulled really hard off the line and into 2nd gear where he slowly crept up but couldn't close the gap. Of course once he gets a tune I'd be in trouble.

2004GMC1500CC · September 30, 2007