Stock air intake vs K&N CAI
05-13-2017, 08:37 AM
#1
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
Stock air intake vs K&N CAI
I had a K&N CAI from my 2015 Silverado that I never sold and I wanted to see what actual gains you got from it on the 5.3 We did a data log of my truck 1/4 tank of e85 tuned 4wd launch, manual shifted to 6300 rpm with a 150lbs passenger and temp of 57 degrees DA was 650. Data log showed 390hp 405tq and 5.85 0-60. Installed the K&N and only change to the tune was for the MAF to read right with the CAI. Made a pass same exact spot temp 56 degrees DA was 625. Data log showed 400hp and 419tq 6.10 0-60. Truck felt great and it showed a power increase but was slower. we did 3 more passes and all the passes were the same 6.10 0-60. I took the truck to the track last night and it showed very similar results. With the stock intake temp of 58 degrees DA of 1025 truck ran a 14.12 @ 96.86(1/4) 9.05 @ 77.13(1/8) 2.03(60ft) on May 3rd. Last night I got lucky and my final pass temp got down to 58 degrees and DA of 985 and with similar air quality the truck with the K&N went 14.37 @ 95.40(1/4) 9.21 @ 75.58(1/8) 2.08(60ft). If you do the math in the 1/4 just like my 0-60 times truck went .25 slower stock intake vs CAI. Glad I could do this test to show how well the stock air intake flows vs an open box K&N CAI. As they advertise increased HP and TQ, better throttle response, and a little better MPG but over all slower. This is just my own personal test. My opinion I love how the truck feels, sounds with the intake, and how the intake looks in the engine bay but for 230-265 dollars you will run slower in the end with an open box CAI it looks like 
Last edited by Gorske; 05-13-2017 at 08:44 AM.
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Boost-freak (05-23-2017)
05-13-2017, 08:52 AM
#3
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
05-13-2017, 11:27 AM
#4
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
Going down the road while logging on the stock air intake the IATs were 64 degrees with the air temp of 58 degrees. The CAI showed IATs of 78 degrees with an air temp of 58 degrees. 14 degrees is pretty big. While sitting at a stop light the stock intake IATs went up to 90 degrees. The CAI stopped at a stop light went up to 120 degrees. That means even if you have your hood up till the last second at the track just prestaging your IATs are going to be very high when you launch the vehicle. I wish my buddy was there so we could log the IATs at the track but he was stuck at work.
05-13-2017, 01:29 PM
#5
Your stock intake is really restricted at the fenderwell on these trucks.... it's almost as closed off as the GMT800 trucks were. GM sandwiches a plastic plate between the box and fender and it blocks off the lower opening of the airbox which I am sure you saw when you removed it. I cut the fender side of my air box wide open as well as matched the inner the fender on my 2015 as well as ran an Airaid MIT tube. All the flow in the world and still breathing air that is not sourced from under the hood.... Sound wise cutting the stock box and the inner fender made a noticeable sound change over the stock box and the MIT tube... so I wouldn't doubt it sounds quite similar to your K and N. My 6.2 layed down and died on the dyno at anything over 5000 RPM... it peaked at under 5100 rpm and started losing power.... Although I never redynoed afterwards, cutting the air box and adding the Corvette cam timing tables seemed to alleviate that.
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Mark Johnson (09-08-2018)
stock air intake vs banks air system
05-22-2017, 02:35 PM
#7
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Your stock intake is really restricted at the fenderwell on these trucks.... it's almost as closed off as the GMT800 trucks were. GM sandwiches a plastic plate between the box and fender and it blocks off the lower opening of the airbox which I am sure you saw when you removed it. I cut the fender side of my air box wide open as well as matched the inner the fender on my 2015 as well as ran an Airaid MIT tube. All the flow in the world and still breathing air that is not sourced from under the hood.... Sound wise cutting the stock box and the inner fender made a noticeable sound change over the stock box and the MIT tube... so I wouldn't doubt it sounds quite similar to your K and N. My 6.2 layed down and died on the dyno at anything over 5000 RPM... it peaked at under 5100 rpm and started losing power.... Although I never redynoed afterwards, cutting the air box and adding the Corvette cam timing tables seemed to alleviate that.
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10-16-2017, 01:44 PM
#10
TECH Enthusiast
Your stock intake is really restricted at the fenderwell on these trucks.... it's almost as closed off as the GMT800 trucks were. GM sandwiches a plastic plate between the box and fender and it blocks off the lower opening of the airbox which I am sure you saw when you removed it. I cut the fender side of my air box wide open as well as matched the inner the fender on my 2015 as well as ran an Airaid MIT tube. All the flow in the world and still breathing air that is not sourced from under the hood.... Sound wise cutting the stock box and the inner fender made a noticeable sound change over the stock box and the MIT tube... so I wouldn't doubt it sounds quite similar to your K and N. My 6.2 layed down and died on the dyno at anything over 5000 RPM... it peaked at under 5100 rpm and started losing power.... Although I never redynoed afterwards, cutting the air box and adding the Corvette cam timing tables seemed to alleviate that.
For the most part I believe K&N low restriction replacement filters provide marginal but measureable gains but not so much a fan of aftermarket intake tubes that add low frequency drone. I can see the K&N filter and adding a snorkel to oem airbox in my future.