Cold Air Intakes Mythbusted

[Wilson]

A filter is a filter as long as its of good quality. The CAI as stated above is more than just the filter.

 

[NickPic83]

I still want to see dyno results with ONLY a CAI on a raptor. No tune, no exhaust, no nothing, aside form a CAI.

90% of CAI kits ive seen are open, as in, they let warm engine air in. nothing "cold" about that.

only poorly designed CAI will allow in heat. sure if its a tube with an open cone filter on it, ur gonna suck in some heat. if its enclosed or has a lid etc. it will block out almost all engine heat. my SCT livewire displays air intake temps and only if i sit idling for a while under acceleration will my CAI suck in engine bay air and it only jumps in temp a small amount for a few feet then fresh air makes it way to the intake.

 

[HoldenTX]

I still want to see dyno results with ONLY a CAI on a raptor. No tune, no exhaust, no nothing, aside form a CAI.

90% of CAI kits ive seen are open, as in, they let warm engine air in. nothing "cold" about that.

in my eyes, it depends on what the air intake from factory is like, as to how beneficial an aftermarket intake will be.

90% of cars will benefit from a high flow filter, but the $300+ you spend on that CAI wont gain you anything over simply swapping the filter.

I may get crucified for this, but oh well.

CAI's are snake oil. just swap your filter. same shit, but cheaper.

as for the sound, sure, it might sound louder, but that doesnt mean its faster, or has more power.

I'd like to see the same thing....because when combined with the other changes it is hard to say what is really doing what.

I really want to believe that a CAI helps, but my left-brain keeps questioning why Ford and SVT, who seemingly have good engineers, high-end computers and $'s to spend would put something in their "high-end" SVT vehicle that is outperformed by something a small shop can figure out. I can get why they'd do it in an Edge or Explorer...but their flagship Raptor? Not getting it.

 

[Wrong Way]

See the new Shelby GT500 intake? carbon fiber drive shaft etc.. Ford wanted a 200 mph mustang and got it by following the aftermarket world. Granted, most claims are a little "fluffed" in the aftermarket world but there is a rime to the reason. If something makes you happy just by seeing it or hearing it, then its worth it regardless of the hype, negative or positive.

 

[6.2]

only poorly designed CAI will allow in heat. sure if its a tube with an open cone filter on it, ur gonna suck in some heat. if its enclosed or has a lid etc. it will block out almost all engine heat. my SCT livewire displays air intake temps and only if i sit idling for a while under acceleration will my CAI suck in engine bay air and it only jumps in temp a small amount for a few feet then fresh air makes it way to the intake.

so.... leave it stock aside from a drop in high flow air filter.... lmao.

thats what gets me, people spend so much money on a "cai" when in reality, they could simply change the filter out and get the exact same effect.

its snake oil imo. no gains from the CAI kits that you cant get from a simply filter change. waste of money.


but to each their own. you guys have raps. so you got money to burn lol.

 

[MotuMute]

I'd like to see the same thing....because when combined with the other changes it is hard to say what is really doing what.

I really want to believe that a CAI helps, but my left-brain keeps questioning why Ford and SVT, who seemingly have good engineers, high-end computers and $'s to spend would put something in their "high-end" SVT vehicle that is outperformed by something a small shop can figure out. I can get why they'd do it in an Edge or Explorer...but their flagship Raptor? Not getting it.

Ask Trey

 

[Wilson]

It's not the filter its the tube and placement that makes the difference.

 

[Blind1]

I'm with 6.2 on this, show me the before & after results with only changing out the CAI, nothing else, no tune, header, etc.... And then do it with changing the filter to a high flow one in the stock filter housing. It seems like majority of the people that add a CAI will also add a tune, so of course the results will be better.

 

[Wilson]

I think high flow filter is silly. What makes it high flow is the lack of restriction with the cone not needing support like the flat filters. How ever the air restriction of the stock intake has to be considered also. The faster air an get in and out the better hp.

 

[whiskeybent]

I tend to agree with the CAI as mostly ineffective by itself. With a chip, sure it gives more, but what are you at now? $600+ for 5-10HP??? I come from the diesel world where adding a chip only can add well over 300HP to the truck. That being said I've been at dyno days and most of these guys (with daily drivers) ran stock filter housings with drop in replacements. You want those turbos CLEAN and to flow well when that boost climbs. I never sucked in my filter minder on my 6.4 PSD with a drop in and I had over 500HP and 1100ft-lbs AT THE WHEELS pushing 60+ psi of boost.

Just my opinion....