CAI: Are they worth it?

absolutbackus · 09-26-2004, 09:54 AM

I have a question for honest people out there with cold air intakes. I recently bought a K&N drop in air filter and am man enough to say, I wasted my money. I saw no improvement in power or gas mileage. My question is, is it worth dumping the 250 dollars and getting a cold air intake, or is it one of those mental issues where you just "think" your truck is faster and has more power. If you think they are worth it, which brand should I buy?

skyhammer · 09-26-2004, 10:11 AM

I have posted previous that I thought the drop in filter was a waste of money. The only advantage is that you will never have to buy another filter. I have The K&N air charger on the Titan, F350 and a jeep Rubicon. I also had one on my Tundra. I think that they are definitely Worth the money. I have no data to prove that I have more power. But I can sure tell the difference IMO. Do a search on steveo4se posts. He has dyno results. He shows a 20 HP gain with the air charger and an exhaust. For what its worth I highly recommend this mod.

rawze · 09-26-2004, 11:20 AM

i did the factory box mod with a kn drop in and think it has more power than my cai

Choc-Thunder · 09-26-2004, 03:35 PM

I am no expert, but I believe that the K&N will give you better performance only with a better exhaust. An engine has been described as an air pump. The more air you can get into it the more HP you should be able to make, but you also have to get the air out on the engine.

absolutbackus · 09-27-2004, 04:55 PM

I have a flowmaster exhaust.

Truck41 · 09-27-2004, 05:39 PM

counsel yourself, do the mod first.

awgriffey · 10-02-2004, 09:37 AM

I gained about 1 MPG, and have a noticeable increase in power from just the K&N drop in. I drove a stock titan about 3 months after addind the drop in to mine, and there is a noticeable difference. I added a K&N to my wife's Explodition, and it was like getting a tune-up. No, her stock air filter was not ready to be replaced. Good luck with whatever you end up adding, just don't make it a Ford!

ScrewedBullitt · 10-04-2004, 01:04 AM

Whats important to realize, is that an engine can use (only needs) so much air. Anything more than what the engine is able to utilize is a waste. Now a way to get the engine to "need" more air is to do a free flowing exhaust system. So in my opinion the way to get the most out of an intake system is to match it with an exhaust system.

I have seen cai intakes alone (on Mustang Bullitts, I have the dyno charts) make upward of 8-10hp, which considering what most say, makes it well worth the cost IMO.

~Colby