cold air intake
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 41
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From: louisiana
cold air intake
hey everyone im asking this question for a friend of mine. he has an f-150 with the 4.6L v8 and he wants to know what the best cold air intake is that he can buy. he wants the most horsepower gain. what brand to go with? mac, airraid, k and n?
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 41
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From: louisiana
he also told me to add this question for the k and n intake. "ask if theres any difference between one that says its for fuel injected trucks and one that doesnt say it" so there you go guys any help we owuld be appreciated. he basically wants to know what brand tgo go with to get the most horsepower increase
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 84
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From: Moore, Oklahoma
I have the K&N intake. By looking at the set-up. They all seem to have the same purpose and results, but of course different prices. I think any brand would do the trick. You wanna make sure you get a chip or programmer though, your stock computer wont allow the engine to understand where all this added air is coming from therefore wont let the intake do its job properly.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 23,165
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From: Enjoying the real world.
There appears to be some misunderstanding here about chips/programmers/reflashing.
There is no need to get a chip or programmer because you've added an intake. Ford's use mass airflow and O2 sensors. The mass airflow sensor measures the intake airflow and the computer, the stock computer, can adjust automatically to airflow changes caused by changing out the intake. The O2 sensors allows its to adjust as well. Only when you do something that disrupts the MAF or O2 sensors do you need a chip/tuner programmed specifically for your changes (putting in a performance tune for a stock vehicle won't).
Examples are long tube headers (shorties generally don't cause O2 sensor problems), aftermarket MAFs and some throttle bodies. If you're vehicle is supercharged changing out the boost pullies requires custom programming as well.
I've handled thousands of chips and programmers, and love selling them, but won't tell someone they need one when they don't.
If you want a chip or programmer for the power go for it, but its not required so the computer can work with the intake kit.
The only exceptions are some of the early intake kits for the 2004 F-150. The reason is their design changed the angle of the air flow going into the MAF sensor and threw off the readings enough to cause a check engine light. In this case changing out the intake is the solution, not programming it.
There is no need to get a chip or programmer because you've added an intake. Ford's use mass airflow and O2 sensors. The mass airflow sensor measures the intake airflow and the computer, the stock computer, can adjust automatically to airflow changes caused by changing out the intake. The O2 sensors allows its to adjust as well. Only when you do something that disrupts the MAF or O2 sensors do you need a chip/tuner programmed specifically for your changes (putting in a performance tune for a stock vehicle won't).
Examples are long tube headers (shorties generally don't cause O2 sensor problems), aftermarket MAFs and some throttle bodies. If you're vehicle is supercharged changing out the boost pullies requires custom programming as well.
I've handled thousands of chips and programmers, and love selling them, but won't tell someone they need one when they don't.
If you want a chip or programmer for the power go for it, but its not required so the computer can work with the intake kit.The only exceptions are some of the early intake kits for the 2004 F-150. The reason is their design changed the angle of the air flow going into the MAF sensor and threw off the readings enough to cause a check engine light. In this case changing out the intake is the solution, not programming it.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 84
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From: Moore, Oklahoma
well thats weird, I must be getting bumm gouges from my local speed shops. After installing my intake and spacer, i didnt notice an increase in performance, all i noticed was a loud swooshing sound from the air going into the intake. A friend gave me a chip and the sound went down and i had a noticable increase. I figured that the engine just wasnt reading the increase in air input. Thanks webmaster, you seem to know your business. Sorry to mislead you 4.2 beast.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 22,436
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From: Louisville,Ky.
On a stock engine, you will gain little to no power from the air intakes. The look better and are louder, but the engine can only use so much air and the stock set-up will deliver enough air. Your power input came from the chip. I added a Diablosport Predator tuner program to my truck and it made a very noticable increase in power and drivability.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: on a ROCK
Originally Posted by LxMan1
the engine can only use so much air .
I put a blower on my STOCK 302 and added 10lbs of boost (air) and I sure as hell got a noticable power gain.
You will 100% of the time gain power from a Cold Air Kit, Free flowing Filter, Ram Air kit etc etc.The problem is 3-5 and sometimes even 10 hp is very hard to notice in the seat of your pants.(thats why we have dyno's)
the stock set-up will deliver enough air
Absolutley! but you can always make an engine more efficient by adding more air! HP increase or not, an engine is a air pump. the more you put in the more efficient it is any day of the week and twice on sunday.
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Moderator
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Louisville,Ky.
I agree Boatcop, A normally aspirated engine will only draw in so much air. Compression, cam sizing, Cubic Inches, are all a factor. The stock set-up is fine for a stock engine, now when supercharged or turbocharged, that's a whole new ballgame
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