Aftermarket Cold Air Intake- worth it?

[Porpoise Hork]

Their still around?!?!

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[Kritas]

Their still around?!?!

Yep. If you need to get your doodad on:

JC Whitney - Auto Parts and Car Culture

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Man I remember the catalogs they'd mail out. Had everything under the sun for classic cars and trucks. Spent many an hour looking through them thinking if I REALLY wanted that third set of air horns for my 3/4 ton 77 Chevy pickup...

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Absolutely! Do you have access to a JC Whitney catalog?

Is that still a thing? Dad used to get those catalog/magazines

 

[Kritas]

Is that still a thing? Dad used to get those catalog/magazines

Before the internet, I think they were more of a thing. Now, we can get hooked up with much better equipment online.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Before the internet, I think they were more of a thing. Now, we can get hooked up with much better equipment online.

I bought a JCW set of aluminum diamond plate running boards for an 87 Ramcharger back in the day.

 

[sPHYNX_76]

Doing a CAI is like getting a nose job, looks better for a short while, no increase in airflow and is something to tell your buddies about.. That really is it.

 

[Ranger621]

I installed the Roush cold air intake on my 2022 5.0 and regardless of any performance or MPG gains or losses, you can't beat the sound of that 5.0 growling. I get a lot of good comments from passengers when they hear it. Plus its easy to clean.

 

[eegle]

So weird you ask this, I just watched this dude's video recently. Yes he's talking about diesel trucks because that's what he has, but same logic would apply to gasoline.


tl;dr you already have CAI from Ford, changing it is pointless, unless VERY specific racing needs, shortens engine life for marginal gains at best.
They look neat, and I had one back in my old ricer days. But today? I'm not racing and rebuilding the entire engine every weekend; so why? Meh...
Hey but you do you. If you like the idea, whatever, it's your truck, go for it!

GREAT GREAT VIDEO... Thanks, don

 

[Eighthtry]

Your concern should be about the disadvantages. They more that outweigh the advantages.

New airbox, piping, and oiled filter. Cool. You might have just added 5-10 hp. But at what expense?Oiled filters are designed to increase airflow. They do. That is great on NASCAR and death on production cars. Here's why. NASCAR only runs 500 miles in a race for instance. After the race the engine will be torn down, examined, and rebuilt. My F150 will not go 200 mph because it is not set up to do that. It is set up to run 200,000 miles with proper care, not 500 miles. To go 200,000 miles it must filter finer particles than the NASCAR engine. Air flow comes at the expense of filtration. The smaller the particles that are filtered the longer my engine lasts.

Plus one more thing. OIled filters, if done incorrectly, can affect the MAF. This can impact the amount of fuel delivered to the cylinders. It can have a negative effect on performance. The NASCAR guys know this and how to get around it. Again, they do not care about longevity. They want more air. More air means the computer gives it more fuel, which means that it generates more power.

So, if longevity is not important, definitely install a race filter. To those of us fortunate to own a 2018 Corvette Z06, a race air filter may buy me another 5-10 mph in top speed. Doesn't help. I have nowhere to go that I can run at those speeds anyway. Plus I do not want to cause premature wear on my engine by letting in larger particles.

Nor do I need more testosterone. It no longer gets me where I want to go.

Good luck. Start counting your testosterone, then make your decision.

So I advise to change to the plenum and properly oiled filter upon arrival at the track. Otherwise that extra testosterone begats a serious decline in engine life.

Now if personal testosterone levels are low, then definitely change from stock to custom air filters. Otherwise, leave it alone.

 

[jakearb]

If they are better delivering more HP and MPG why don’t Ford install them or something like them on new vehicles. They would love to give you more power and fuel efficiency.

You could argue this same point about tuning your truck as well. If a tune adds power and fuel efficiency, then why wouldn't Ford just sell the truck tuned that way?
I don't think a CAI is worth the $, but they do add a very small amount of power. Most of the websites show a 15hp gain. Might not be using the best filter for engine life though.

 

[fmdog44]

I read a couple years ago an article listing nonperformance filters that were more effective than the performance brands. Don't recall which ones.

 

[Dakar09]

Your concern should be about the disadvantages. They more that outweigh the advantages.

New airbox, piping, and oiled filter. Cool. You might have just added 5-10 hp. But at what expense?Oiled filters are designed to increase airflow. They do. That is great on NASCAR and death on production cars. Here's why. NASCAR only runs 500 miles in a race for instance. After the race the engine will be torn down, examined, and rebuilt. My F150 will not go 200 mph because it is not set up to do that. It is set up to run 200,000 miles with proper care, not 500 miles. To go 200,000 miles it must filter finer particles than the NASCAR engine. Air flow comes at the expense of filtration. The smaller the particles that are filtered the longer my engine lasts.

Plus one more thing. OIled filters, if done incorrectly, can affect the MAF. This can impact the amount of fuel delivered to the cylinders. It can have a negative effect on performance. The NASCAR guys know this and how to get around it. Again, they do not care about longevity. They want more air. More air means the computer gives it more fuel, which means that it generates more power.

So, if longevity is not important, definitely install a race filter. To those of us fortunate to own a 2018 Corvette Z06, a race air filter may buy me another 5-10 mph in top speed. Doesn't help. I have nowhere to go that I can run at those speeds anyway. Plus I do not want to cause premature wear on my engine by letting in larger particles.

Nor do I need more testosterone. It no longer gets me where I want to go.

Good luck. Start counting your testosterone, then make your decision.

So I advise to change to the plenum and properly oiled filter upon arrival at the track. Otherwise that extra testosterone begats a serious decline in engine life.

Now if personal testosterone levels are low, then definitely change from stock to custom air filters. Otherwise, leave it alone.

This might be the most hypocritical post on here so far. You're simultaneously giving people grief over adding a "performance mod" (arguable, I know...I read the whole thread) and not needing more "testosterone" (that comes from your body, not your car or truck)....and bragging about owning a 2018 Z06 Vette . I'm sorry you lack the seeds to take your uber-special Vette up to it's top speed (try a drag strip or a track day), but what does that have to do with someone adding something to their truck? I bet you brag away on the Vette forums, though, like all insufferable Vette owners do. No offense meant, honestly.

Also, you guys harping on oiled filters screwing up engines? Get one with a dry filter. Period.

 

[Captain Dirty Beard]

If they are better delivering more HP and MPG why don’t Ford install them or something like them on new vehicles. They would love to give you more power and fuel efficiency.

They do. Look at the RAM RHO for example. Mustang Mach1/GT350, Raptor R, to name a few.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Also, you guys harping on oiled filters screwing up engines? Get one with a dry filter. Period.

Or simply stick with the factory setup, motorcraft filter and save the money for good scotch

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