Is A Cold Air Intake Really Beneficial?

therapy · November 19, 2007

My truck has the High Capacity Air Filter option, and I'm wondering what type of gain there would be if any from a Air Intake. The GMPP, Outlaw, Volant, or AEM intakes are interesting to me but I'm not sure it'll be worth $300 for almost no gain.

What benefits would there be? I got the exhaust done and noticed no power difference, but I liked the sound better and the look better, and that's why I got it done. But with the air cleaner, is there any mileage/power increase that's noticeable?

BigJayDogg3 · November 19, 2007

I don't know much about CAIs but have heard from different sources that

1) If you get a tune, exhaust, and a CAI you get a bigger result than if you do one or a combo of just two.

2) CAIs gave a mild increase in power, but not much of one.

3) The butt dyno reports an increase though it is mainly just for sound. If you want one for power save your money and get something else.

4) CAIs are worthless. Don't bother with them unless you want sound.

Info on CAIs isn't really clear. It is almost a shot in the dark for me, but others will be able to give better info than I can.

EDIT: I have also seen where the stock intake box looks like a CAI setup, but maybe the insulation in and around the box is better for aftermarket CAIs and that is where the improvement is, that may also explain the wide differences you hear about with them.

dlstewart01 · November 19, 2007

High capacity does not mean it will flow better, just that it will hold more dirt.

Don

xsports33 · November 19, 2007

you'll only see the real benefits of a CAI at high RPMs where a higher intake flow is needed. Stock intakes flow just as much air as a CAI at low to moderate RPM's. If you look at the dyno's provided by most CAI manufacturers the gains are always seen at high RPMs. As stated above a combination of full exhaust (headers to catback) system, cold air intake (pulling air from below the engine bay or outside), and a tune will reap the most benefits.

Darkanion · November 19, 2007

My truck has the High Capacity Air Filter option, and I'm wondering what type of gain there would be if any from a Air Intake. The GMPP, Outlaw, Volant, or AEM intakes are interesting to me but I'm not sure it'll be worth $300 for almost no gain.

What benefits would there be? I got the exhaust done and noticed no power difference, but I liked the sound better and the look better, and that's why I got it done. But with the air cleaner, is there any mileage/power increase that's noticeable?

In the past week, I have had a custom set of duals put on my truck and added a Volant CAI. I also have a Predator tuner. Between stock and now, it feels a lot better and more peppy. I haven't had it dyno'd or put #'s to it yet, to see what the real improvements are, though. It sounds hella-nice, too!

So, based on what BJD3's reply, I'd have to say his first of four answers is the one that is correct for me. The Predator woke the truck up quite a bit. The duals helped some, too, and made her feel stronger. The CAI, in combination with the other two... She's feeling like a different truck and definitely sounds a lot more aggressive than she used to -- at least when you want her to sound more aggressive.

fireman32_14 · November 19, 2007

id say keep the k47 box as it draws cold air from the fender and get yourself an AEM or k&N drop in and go get an airaid modular intake tube to relieve the restrictions the stock tube has

crazymex88 · November 20, 2007

I also have the same question. I was thinking of dropping in a K&N or airaid.... but dont know if its worth it?

MS3DALE · November 20, 2007

High capacity does not mean it will flow better, just that it will hold more dirt.

Don

Exactly,The K47 "High Capacity" air-filter will trap/hold more dirt,It and the box its in has nothing to do with more air flow.

As a matter of fact the air box itself is the same weather you have K47 or not,Its just the filter element itself thats different,not the box.

So you guys that don't have K47 can go to the parts dept. and ask for the "High Capacity" air-filter,drop it in and then you would have K47!

BigRedTruck · November 20, 2007

You almost have to have the truck dyno'd or run the 1/4 mile times before and after to get the real answers your looking for.

My experience has shown me that a better sounding louder exhaust always makes the "Seat of the Pants Performance" feel much better.

Kind of mind over money spent. It's got to be better, Right!

Well, It sure can't hurt!!

theno1prince · November 20, 2007

CAI will give you more power, but no where near as much as the manufacturers would like you to think. When you look at the manufacturer's dyno results for that CAI you've been eyeballing, pay attention to the bottom of the chart. Chances are that the tests with the CAI have been done at a cooler air temp and/or with a different SAE correction number to inflate the results.

Also, someone already stated that if you notice a difference it will only be at high RPMs. This is absolutely 100% true as your truck is only going to pull in as much air as it requires, which at low RPMs the factory box is more than adequate. However, usually when I am looking for that extra bit of performance my foot is to the floor and the tach is flying towards the red line.

So, alone you probably aren't going to notice much of a difference. However, a CAI kit will indisputably be benificial to a total "power package" (ie, tune, exhaust, etc.)

fbachman · November 20, 2007

My truck has the High Capacity Air Filter option, and I'm wondering what type of gain there would be if any from a Air Intake. The GMPP, Outlaw, Volant, or AEM intakes are interesting to me but I'm not sure it'll be worth $300 for almost no gain.

What benefits would there be? I got the exhaust done and noticed no power difference, but I liked the sound better and the look better, and that's why I got it done. But with the air cleaner, is there any mileage/power increase that's noticeable?

In the past week, I have had a custom set of duals put on my truck and added a Volant CAI. I also have a Predator tuner. Between stock and now, it feels a lot better and more peppy. I haven't had it dyno'd or put #'s to it yet, to see what the real improvements are, though. It sounds hella-nice, too!

So, based on what BJD3's reply, I'd have to say his first of four answers is the one that is correct for me. The Predator woke the truck up quite a bit. The duals helped some, too, and made her feel stronger. The CAI, in combination with the other two... She's feeling like a different truck and definitely sounds a lot more aggressive than she used to -- at least when you want her to sound more aggressive.

Sweet looking exhaust set-up (!)

What are the particulars?

Is it LOUD, throaty, or both?

wlvrn1215 · November 20, 2007

true flow makes a great kit....high quality, high flow foam filter and keep the stock air box

Darkanion · November 20, 2007

Sweet looking exhaust set-up (!)

What are the particulars?

Is it LOUD, throaty, or both?

Thank you!

By particulars, I'm assuming you mean what'd we do to it... We cut off the original exhaust system from just behind the cats and replaced it with all new pipes. We took one pipe off of each cat and routed that through a Flo-Pro Big Oval muffler, out the back, to the tips you see.

Honestly, the first night, coming home from the muffler shop... I liked the way the truck felt stronger, but the exhaust note wasn't 'quite' as aggressive as I had hoped for. It sounded GOOD.. It sounded d@mn good! But, it wasn't quite as much as I had hoped for.

Originally, it had more of a deeper, throaty, rumbly (is that a word?) sound. After adding the CAI over the weekend, now it has the deeper, throaty sound at lower RPMs and she reeeeeally gets to talking to you, as you wind 'er up.

There's one car I have run the truck against a few times. I'm curious to see the outcome of the next time we get together. When I first got the truck, he could pull me a little, every single time. After doing the Predator Performance Tune, I could pull him a little (especially with the AC off, which wasn't fun in mid-August in Texas). I'm curious to see how much of a difference these last two upgrades made.

C & A s Dad · November 20, 2007

true flow makes a great kit....high quality, high flow foam filter and keep the stock air box

+1

There are several options out there and if I had to do it again, I would look seriously at the GMPP set up almost for the looks alone. However, I do like my TF set up and it is very high quality and fits like a glove.

The one thing about TF, they show 14 HP on my 5.3L in the MID RPM range (cannot remember exactly where) and they do all of their testing with the air box lid on and the hood closed. Some mfgs actually test with the hood open and high volume fans blowing on the airfilter.

I ran for awhile (6 months) with the OE paper filter back in and my MPG dropped about 1 MPG. I now have had the foam filter back in for about 6 fill ups and my avg MPG is back up to almost where it was before. Remember, this is my Wife's truck and she drives the same every day and did not know I had changed the filters. I am convinced the TF does offer between .75 and 1 MPG better fuel mileage and I really feel my truck pulls hills better when towing with the TF.

Just another opinion !