Are CAI's really beneficial for low mod 5.0's?

[Bmr4life]

I'm thinking about getting a K&N drop in filter with a set of Bama tunes. I've been doing some reading that CAI's don't do much for 5.0's that don't have substantial mods on them and that money can be better spent on an off road H or X pipe.

I'm definitely against getting a Boss intake since all of the gains are up high. I'm looking for stuff that helps the whole range or least just down low.

 

[sleepy88]

Im curious on this too. I noticed a big difference with just a bbr tune, then I did o/r x and jlt at same time. Hard to tell which gave more gain.

 

[Bad Intention]

My car ran 11.97 @115 with just a tune and DR's. I added JLT cai but changed gears and added 3600 stall converter. So i couldnt say how much if any i gained. You could just get K&N drop in and prob gain 5hp.

 

[GrabberBooGT]

If you look around, you'll see that the CAI gains really are minimal. A tune with an aftermarket CAI (Steeda, JLT, etc) produces only about 5-8 HP over the tune with the factory CAI.

I've heard some folks say that K&N drop-in actually produce no real gain (maybe 2-3 HP), with or without a tune.

Other modifications become variables in that, of course.

 

[Bmr4life]

If you look around, you'll see that the CAI gains really are minimal. A tune with an aftermarket CAI (Steeda, JLT, etc) produces only about 5-8 HP over the tune with the factory CAI.

I've heard some folks say that K&N drop-in actually produce no real gain (maybe 2-3 HP), with or without a tune.

Other modifications become variables in that, of course.

I'm not expecting the drop in by itself to do anything. I just like washable filters.

 

[darkstar november]

stock i made 375whp
tune 380whp(big under curve gains)
tune+h pipe 387whp
tune+hpipe+jlt cai 411rwhp

this is on a mustang dyno btw

 

[Bmr4life]

thanks Dark, where all the tunes done by the same place?

 

[darkstar november]

yes. i work for torq speedlab, it was all done in house

 

[ZLLJ]

Brenspeed did tests to show the difference between Stock panel filter, K&N filter, and CAI.

Since they do their own tunes it was a nice comparison.

CAI gained 10ish rwhp, K&N gained nothing. I think the stock box is probably the restriction, since even the basic Roush CAI has seen gains of 5ish + by the testing of 2 people on various posts.

Brendspeed Comparing Filters and CAI

Steeda has done tests comparing the most popular CAIs, all are similar in performance.

Steeda Comparing CAIs

 

[vakane]

the CAI makes an awesome difference...

specially if u get an off/road pipe

 

[wbt]

the CAI makes an awesome difference...

specially if u get an off/road pipe

Based on what? Track results show .1 gain over the stock CAI.

Save that money and invest in suspension/tires. For canned tune, I would go with Jon Lund.

 

[Bmr4life]

I would have liked Brenspeed to do the test on an other wise stock car.

 

[12Kona]

im in the same boat as you. im seriously leaning towards the drop in filter/tune. there was an article that was posted in the thread talking about the brenspeed test that said they only gained 2hp over the stock CAI w/ K&N with the mods you listed. seems like a waste of 300 bucks just for 2hp. but i digress that i like the sound CAIs add. my wife thinks im retarded lol.

 

[Bmr4life]

I'm trying not to make the same mistakes I did with my last car. I want to spend my money more wisely this time. Knowing FI is a strong possibilty, I won't get a CAI unless its 2nd had for cheap. Also won't be getting cams since all the power is up high, same for the Boss intake. Off-road pipe helps NA & FI along the whole curve so it gets the nod. Also, I like my MPG so gears is on the maybe, but low priority list.

 

[12Kona]

im worried about an off road mid pipe because my 03 GT ran pig rich without the cats. (then again we pounded the cats out and didnt retune dumb 20 year old then lol) so im not sure what kind of gains can be had with an o/r X vice sticking with the stock cats on the car. my 03 cobra had a catted X on it and it ran great.

 

[RSKtakR]

My car put down 380whp stock, put a Airaid CAI and tune it layed down 392whp..decided to pull the Airaid off and run a K&N drop in.. car feels the same.. .but I dont think your going to feel a 12whp difference really.

 

[uncle phil]

I ran stock air box with sct tune and on same day installed a steeda cold air with sct tune and then with steeda tune. Quickest run was 12.14 with sct tune and stock air box. Cold air and sct tune and steeda tune was 12.159 and 12.160 all were over 115 mph. Car is a6 on stock tires no other mods. So if anyone is interested in a steeda cold air for 225 plus shipping let me know.

 

[Digital_Synapse]

I wish someone would do same day, same dyno comparisons.

Mine is sitting about 423/368 with tune and axle backs, lol. Cant justify getting a CAI. Every car/tune is different though, and Im not sure why. A friend of mine loaded his 2011 with 3.73s like mine on the dyno right after mine ran...and his car has full Borla catback, tune and cai...put down 407/385, same day, same dyno, different cars. So two identical cars could possibly put down different hp/tq with the same mods and tunes, not sure why.

 

[Bmr4life]

I wish someone would do same day, same dyno comparisons.

Mine is sitting about 423/366 with tune and axle backs, lol. Cant justify getting a CAI. Every car/tune is different though, and Im not sure why. A friend of mine loaded his 2011 with 3.73s like mine on the dyno right after mine ran...and his car has full Borla catback, tune and cai...put down 407/385, same day, same dyno, different cars. So two identical cars could possibly put down different hp/tq with the same mods and tunes, not sure why.

Wait what? You're saying your car is making damn near 500HP at the crank off just a tune and axle backs? Either I missed your list of other mods or that dyno run was f'd up.

 

[Digital_Synapse]

Wait what? You're saying your car is making damn near 500HP at the crank off just a tune and axle backs? Either I missed your list of other mods or that dyno run was f'd up.

Not really. I think dyno numbers should be taken with a rather large grain of salt.

What does matter is that the comparisons were done with my car and my friends car same day same dyno so the difference between mods can be seen, no so much the actual levels of power, but the difference in levels.

So lets say mine is really pushing some hypothetical number, irrelevant, but the other cars also irrelevant number is X-lower, and the X is what IS relevant.

From what I understand, dyno runs are good for tuning and before/after comparisons but done only same day, same car, same everything...to show changes in said power. This dyno is calibrated to Evolution's dyno so Lund can do remote tuning. I'm pretty sure it's accurate.

There's a video on my youtube page. Actually, two videos, both runs back to back, difference was like 1hp, lol

http://www.youtube.com/user/D1G1TALSYNAPS3

two runs back to back no cool down time 422/366 and 423/368. IDK