Cold Air Intake?
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 115
Likes: 1
Cold Air Intake?
I just added 35" tires to my truck and I'm looking to make up the 1-1.5 mpg I lost with the tire upsize. Apparently, adding a cold air intake can add 1-2 mpg pretty reliably. Looking through some threads, I've seen mention that adding them to these new diesels, it throws a code and causes the check engine light to come on. Anyone have experience with this, and whether that's true or not? If so, is there a fix, and does the cold air intake definitely add mpg's?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 906
Likes: 107
From: Seattle area
No way. If there was a way to get an additional 2mpg, the OEM would do it, not purposely restrict the airflow. Unless you have significantly more need for air than stock (exhaust and hot tuning, bigger turbo and injectors), the engine can get all the air it needs through the stock filter. The only thing you really get (from stock) is more intake noise.
That said, lots of guys run a CAI and do not have a CEL.
That said, lots of guys run a CAI and do not have a CEL.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 115
Likes: 1
So, all in all, you're saying the cold air intake is useless, except for sound, unless I have performance upgrades to my engine? If that's true, I don't want to waste the money, as my engine is stock, with no added turbos, tuners, etc.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,422
Likes: 20
Agree. Cold air intake won’t do anything but make you hear the turbo spool a little more. Cold air intake with an emissions delete might be worth it. Factory air intakes do a pretty good job these days. I drop a K&N reusable air filter in for fall to spring but put the OEM filter in for the dusty summers we have.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 313
Likes: 100
From: Western NY
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,938
Likes: 1,355
From: NY/Canada border
Only in the seller's advertisements.
Trending Topics
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 515
From: WNY
I wouldn’t run a K&N in my lawnmower. The only time they offer a semblance of filtration is when they are totally full of dirt.
Diesel engines rely on ultra clean air to keep their tight tolerances intact. Point a K&N towards the sun and look through it. The amount of sunshine pouring through will show why they are dangerous for the engine and highlights the direct path for raw dirt.
Todays OEM filters flow more air that what the engine needs, and zero MPG gains are made.
Diesel engines rely on ultra clean air to keep their tight tolerances intact. Point a K&N towards the sun and look through it. The amount of sunshine pouring through will show why they are dangerous for the engine and highlights the direct path for raw dirt.
Todays OEM filters flow more air that what the engine needs, and zero MPG gains are made.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Sick 'n Tired
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,969
Likes: 47
From: League City, TX
CAI's work. I got 5mpg increase and 2 inches taller after installing one. I also got a big promotion at work and my wife looks like a 25 year old gymnast after I installed one. Not to mention the lottery winnings. You really can't go wrong with a CAI.
/sarcasm
/sarcasm
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,563
Likes: 533
From: DFW
No way. If there was a way to get an additional 2mpg, the OEM would do it, not purposely restrict the airflow. Unless you have significantly more need for air than stock (exhaust and hot tuning, bigger turbo and injectors), the engine can get all the air it needs through the stock filter. The only thing you really get (from stock) is more intake noise.
That said, lots of guys run a CAI and do not have a CEL.
That said, lots of guys run a CAI and do not have a CEL.
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 44
Likes: 2
I've found it very surprising that there is no increase with the newer engines. I can't speak for the diesel but I put.one on my old 5.4 F150 and gained 10% immediately on my fuel mileage. I did a bunch of mods on that truck to increase the mileage. I did them all one at a time so I could measure if there was a fuel mileage increase with each one. Some did nothing or were too small to measure and others had a big impact. The biggest was the CAI. That being said I have no plans to do it to my 6.2 as it basically has a CAI stock. Just has a silencer instead of a straight pipe. The intake air is drawn into the airbox from just behind the front of the hood where there is no heat, fresh air and high pressure. Don't know about the diesel but the gas has a pretty awesome intake design already. Unless I was running at WOT regularly I don't see a benefit.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3,674
Likes: 51
From: SoCal
They have made huge strides in motor efficiency. CAIs just don't do what they used to. I remember putting one on my 96 5.7L Tahoe and it was amazing the difference....you get nothing now but some more turbo whine. Which is awesome if that's what you're after, but there's zero ROI in it.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 515
From: WNY
Modern OEM intakes are supporting an engine making tremendous power. They are not compromising on flow, otherwise those numbers along with maintaining good EGT would not be possible for John Q Public.
Aftermarket products are accessories, nothing more. A CAI is a perfect example of an accessory, and not a performance breakthrough..
Half of an accessory companies job is to make you think you need them, supported by fear of losing out on power. It’s marketing BS.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
OEMs also need to meet standards for cost, reliability, emissions, regulations, etc. that no aftermarket company does. Their definition of what is "best" for the truck can be very different from yours or mine.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,938
Likes: 1,355
From: NY/Canada border
I can't speak for the diesel but I put.one on my old 5.4 F150 and gained 10% immediately on my fuel mileage. I did a bunch of mods on that truck to increase the mileage. I did them all one at a time so I could measure if there was a fuel mileage increase with each one. Some did nothing or were too small to measure and others had a big impact. The biggest was the CAI.