Air Intake Systems

[DC8Captain]

I'm looking at air intake systems. I live in Denver and most camping sites we visit require a drive over the divide at about 11,000'. I just got a SuperChips engine tuner to tune my Suburban for heavy tow but am looking for every advantage I can get.

Here's an example of what I'm looking at. This isn't necessarily the one I would get, just an example.

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Performance-Parts/MagnumFORCE-Stage-2-PRO-5R-Intake-System.aspx?t_c=74&t_s=6&t_pt=4555&t_pn=AFE51-10092

Thanks,

Dale

[Community Alumni]

I've put one on my current and last truck. I enjoy the growl and sound you get from the intake. Does it actually increase performance? It's hard to tell if the intake does on its own. Every time I've added one I've swapped out the factory exhaust for a free flowing exhaust at the same time. All I know is that the throttle becomes a lot more responsive, snappy, and the truck pulls more while in WOT. Also the truck becomes more fun lol.

Temperature is not a problem. If I'm stopped for a several minutes then I'll see the temperature rise about 25 degrees over outside temps on an average day. As soon as you start moving the temp returns to normal. While going down the highway, the temperature difference is between 0-10 degrees, even when towing.

What I did was go to Ebay and buy the cheapest kit that will fit just for the piping (normally like $30 or $40). I then put a 9" dry Amsoil cone filter on it. A few times a year I'll wash it out with a water hose and give it a good inspection. My current filter has been installed for 5 years and still looks brand new. No signs of dirt entering the system.

[Wishin]

I wish we lived closer, I'd trade you the K&N cold air intake from my 8.1L Suburban for your OEM version. Mine had it when I bought it, I wish for a quieter intake. When it downshifts going up larger hills it seems louder than it should be, but I never had the OEM set-up to compare. I put in an Amsoil dry cone filter on it and got rid of the oiled cone from K&N, I don't trust those.

[Sinbadman5024]

That would be a waste of money, in my opinion. You are already going to have an issue with the altitude. That is a big deficit. Most of the newer vehicles with the air cleaner assemblies are good up to around 400 hp, stock. Your options are limited, either a power adder (i.e. turbo, supercharger) for your current vehicle or you look for a diesel. A lot of good diesel trucks out there for sale. You just have to go outside of Colorado to find good prices, as everything here is overpriced.

[seaeagle2]

One thing to keep in mind. Back in the day before computers flipping the air cleaner did do some good remember it was pulling through a little snorkel with the cold air damper. Now a days the manufacturers have done a lot better job of designing air intakes and exhaust and the computer controls help a bunch there's a horsepower race these days so a lot of speed stuff that got you big gains in the old days doesn't get the big gains it used to.....

[DC8Captain]

Lynnmor wrote:

timmac wrote:


Never know when you might need that extra 5 hp.. 😛

Yes, if you find that you operate at wide open throttle a lot, then you can go a wee bit faster with a few more horsepower. If you don't operate at wide open, then what does anyone expect to gain with modifications?

I don't know anyone that tows with their foot flat on the floor.

At 11,000', going up a hill, I do.

[Lynnmor]

timmac wrote:


Never know when you might need that extra 5 hp.. 😛

Yes, if you find that you operate at wide open throttle a lot, then you can go a wee bit faster with a few more horsepower. If you don't operate at wide open, then what does anyone expect to gain with modifications?

I don't know anyone that tows with their foot flat on the floor.

[timmac]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

timmac wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
It's your money but you will pick up next to nothing. Kind of like flipping the air cleaner lid over in the old days. The only way to deal with those altitudes is supercharging.

Well if you set it up right from the start with headers to go with the cold air intake you can see gains in HP.

Check out this video with just the cold air intake, they were to prove it would do nothing but by surprise it gained some HP.

https://youtu.be/xwNtjKT_1cA

To compare a high performance, high RPM Honda engine to a tow vehicle engine is to compare apples and hippopotamuses.

Like I said. You will pick up next to nothing. Let me do the math and define what I consider next to nothing.

You take a Hemi that puts out 400 HP at sea level and you put it at 11,000 ft like the OP was talking about and that same Hemi that put out 400 HP at sea level will now put out around 270 HP. A loss of around 130 HP.

Lets say you at a cold air system and it give you 5 more HP. Big woop, you made 5 HP of the 130 you lost in the first place. That is my definition of next to nothing.

Never know when you might need that extra 5 hp.. 😛

[DC8Captain]

dodge guy wrote:
To the OP, you may want to consider a custom tune from Black Bear tuning. they are THE tuner for GM trucks!

What gearing does your Burb have? if 3.73 a swap to 4.30 or so will be a good choice for mountains!

I'll take a look at Black Bear. I have the 3.73 gears. Unfortunately they don't make Chevy 4.30 gears for 4 wheel drive trucks, only for the 2 wheel variety.

Thanks,

Dale

[dodge_guy]

To the OP, you may want to consider a custom tune from Black Bear tuning. they are THE tuner for GM trucks!

What gearing does your Burb have? if 3.73 a swap to 4.30 or so will be a good choice for mountains!

[dodge_guy]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Like I posted on other site.......COLD air in and need to increase Exhaust out

That filter set up sucks HOT air from under hood. Not an improvement.

That setup, like my K&N CAI seals up against the hood and pulls in cool air through the stock opening and from behind the headlamp. I`ve had mine in since the X had 20k miles. no problems. I love how the people that never have used one are the first to say they don`t work and are bad for the motor.

[Crabbypatty]

I both tuned with a maxx tuner and added the k & n air take. I grabbed a couple of miles per gallon and more hp which was very useful pulling up long grades. Just sold my 2500 suburban with an 8.1 and ur new to us f250 with a 6.2l, will,also be tuned and a k & n air system added. I keep mys stuff on average of 10'years so it more than pays for itself.

Happy trails

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

timmac wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
It's your money but you will pick up next to nothing. Kind of like flipping the air cleaner lid over in the old days. The only way to deal with those altitudes is supercharging.

Well if you set it up right from the start with headers to go with the cold air intake you can see gains in HP.

Check out this video with just the cold air intake, they were to prove it would do nothing but by surprise it gained some HP.

https://youtu.be/xwNtjKT_1cA

To compare a high performance, high RPM Honda engine to a tow vehicle engine is to compare apples and hippopotamuses.

Like I said. You will pick up next to nothing. Let me do the math and define what I consider next to nothing.

You take a Hemi that puts out 400 HP at sea level and you put it at 11,000 ft like the OP was talking about and that same Hemi that put out 400 HP at sea level will now put out around 270 HP. A loss of around 130 HP.

Lets say you at a cold air system and it give you 5 more HP. Big woop, you made 5 HP of the 130 you lost in the first place. That is my definition of next to nothing.

[timmac]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
It's your money but you will pick up next to nothing. Kind of like flipping the air cleaner lid over in the old days. The only way to deal with those altitudes is supercharging.

Well if you set it up right from the start with headers to go with the cold air intake you can see gains in HP.

Check out this video with just the cold air intake, they were to prove it would do nothing but by surprise it gained some HP.

https://youtu.be/xwNtjKT_1cA

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

It's your money but you will pick up next to nothing. Kind of like flipping the air cleaner lid over in the old days. The only way to deal with those altitudes is supercharging.