Cold Air Intake .

[Power Hungry]

My personal opinion... there's little advantage to running a CAI unless you are a rather aggressive driver. The average person would infrequently be in the RPM range where a CAI would actually make a difference. We've seen dyno numbers both with and without a CAI and they are often identical until you hit about 3500 RPM and then they separate to a final difference of about 8 HP.

You're probably better off just getting a good tune and if you really want to improve airflow, remove the snorkel from the fender to the flex coupling on the intake. That'll give you the same benefit without worrying about lean conditions or water-fouling your filter.

Take care.

[Cajun]

Thanks for the info Bill, I'm thinking that may be the way I go for now. I'd like to improve my truck's response and shifting, but would like to be able to go back to the dealer for service without any issues. I managed to get them to throw in all my regular service as part of the purchase deal as well as the 100,000 mile warranty and don't particularly want to get "the stink eye" from the dealer when I show up with a bunch of bolt on mods.

[kokopellimotorsports]

I have removed the snorkel on my '05 and it has seemed to help. I also do not need to worry about drone and lean conditions.

[Cajun]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's the way I'm gonna go too. I think I'm gonna do the Gotts mod, then yank the new nose off when I go to the dealer and play dumb. My snorkel is missing? Really?!?!?

[SinCityFX4]

Originally Posted by Cajun

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's the way I'm gonna go too. I think I'm gonna do the Gotts mod, then yank the new nose off when I go to the dealer and play dumb. My snorkel is missing? Really?!?!?

Dang snorkel gremlins

[SinCityFX4]

All you would get is a :lookaround1: while they though about it for a sec. The look alone would be worth it.

[average-joe]

Removed flex coupling added a K&N replacement filter.

[lumpyf150]

Originally Posted by Power Hungry

My personal opinion... there's little advantage to running a CAI unless you are a rather aggressive driver. The average person would infrequently be in the RPM range where a CAI would actually make a difference. We've seen dyno numbers both with and without a CAI and they are often identical until you hit about 3500 RPM and then they separate to a final difference of about 8 HP.

You're probably better off just getting a good tune and if you really want to improve airflow, remove the snorkel from the fender to the flex coupling on the intake. That'll give you the same benefit without worrying about lean conditions or water-fouling your filter.

Take care.

Bill, I hope this isn't a dumb question but does the same (stock provides enough airflow) hold true for cat-back exhausts? Thanks.

[Power Hungry]

From what I've seen on the dyno, yes. Now, if going to a full dual exhaust with high flow cats, the air demands may change enough to make CAI worthwhile but it's something that we'd need to confirm on a dyno.

[kd4crs]

I'll contribute my personal experience with CAIs on the 04 and 06 F150 with the 5.4L engine. I had the 3in. AF1 on my 04 and it caused horrible drone as well as never ending check engine lights. The AF1 had to go. Next I tried the Outlaw Power intake on my 06 F150 for a couple of months and about 1,000 miles. I had no problems with it other than the intake resonance noise that it produces at certain RPMs. Unfortunately, it makes that noise constantly when towing our travel trailer so it had to go. Nice throttle response and I picked up about 1 MPG. Just couldn't put up with the noise. Some people like the noise, I didn't. Your mileage/results may vary. My personal conclusion is that after market CAIs on the NBS F150 are more trouble than they are worth. The stock intake IS a CAI and it is butt ugly but looks fine with the hood closed. The best modification I have found for it is the DWV intake mod I put together for my 04. It replaces the snorkel tip with a 3.5" piece of black ABS going into the stock fender hole for less restriction. I think Bill and I came up with this idea at about the same time so I can't claim I am the first person to think of it. It does work well and Bill has actually dynoed it and it has a gain of 7 or 8 ponies while still keeping the intake drone quiet. That and an AEM Dryflow replacement filter is what I roll with now.

Man, what a first post! I need a nap.