Tune/stock airbox vs tune/CAI
8/3/12, 01:54 PM
#1
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Tune/stock airbox vs tune/CAI
'08 GT, 93 tune and an axle back. Stock airbox.
Has anyone here compared a tune/stock airbox car with a tune/cai car?
I have heard that most of the gain from a tune/cai is from the tune itself, so would love to hear if people have direct experience going to cai after they already had a tune on the car. Debating whether it's worth it to upgrade.
Has anyone here compared a tune/stock airbox car with a tune/cai car?
I have heard that most of the gain from a tune/cai is from the tune itself, so would love to hear if people have direct experience going to cai after they already had a tune on the car. Debating whether it's worth it to upgrade.
8/3/12, 02:01 PM
#2
Ahh the age old question!!
We did this more recently with our 2011 Mustang GT. This same principle will apply with earlier model Mustangs.
On this test the car was loaded with a basic tune with no cam timing changes just so we could have a higher rev limiter that way we could rev the engine to the same RPM with both intakes without running into a limiter. Ignition timing was the same for both tunes.
The results show a “peak” gain of only 5 horsepower, but there is a lot more there if you read the dyno sheet. Gains started at about 4,500, with gains of 6 to 9 horsepower between 4,500 and 5,000. Between 5,300 and 6,100 gains were 7 to 10 horsepower. And between 6,700 and 7,200 the gains were an impressive 12 to 15 horsepower. So you can see measureable gains from a cold air intake.
With this power increase in a car weighing 3700 to 3800 pounds with the driver you would be lucky to measure a 10th of a second. This is because the driver alone could loose a 10th of a second just from pass to pass so relying on seeing that 10th of a second is a shot in the dark at best. These are not the days of the Fox body Mustang where a 3100lb car including the driver would see a tenth of a second from just 5 or 6 horsepower. These are heavier cars and that makes a huge difference.
What you can go on is ¼ mile trap speed. With a cold air intake trap speed should go up slightly with the increase in power assuming no gears are missed and the shift points take advantage of the extra upper RPM power. That is how you will see the results of a cold air intake at the drag strip.
We did this more recently with our 2011 Mustang GT. This same principle will apply with earlier model Mustangs.
On this test the car was loaded with a basic tune with no cam timing changes just so we could have a higher rev limiter that way we could rev the engine to the same RPM with both intakes without running into a limiter. Ignition timing was the same for both tunes.
The results show a “peak” gain of only 5 horsepower, but there is a lot more there if you read the dyno sheet. Gains started at about 4,500, with gains of 6 to 9 horsepower between 4,500 and 5,000. Between 5,300 and 6,100 gains were 7 to 10 horsepower. And between 6,700 and 7,200 the gains were an impressive 12 to 15 horsepower. So you can see measureable gains from a cold air intake.
With this power increase in a car weighing 3700 to 3800 pounds with the driver you would be lucky to measure a 10th of a second. This is because the driver alone could loose a 10th of a second just from pass to pass so relying on seeing that 10th of a second is a shot in the dark at best. These are not the days of the Fox body Mustang where a 3100lb car including the driver would see a tenth of a second from just 5 or 6 horsepower. These are heavier cars and that makes a huge difference.
What you can go on is ¼ mile trap speed. With a cold air intake trap speed should go up slightly with the increase in power assuming no gears are missed and the shift points take advantage of the extra upper RPM power. That is how you will see the results of a cold air intake at the drag strip.
Last edited by tj@steeda; 8/6/12 at 11:32 AM.
8/4/12, 09:31 AM
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A CAI comparison test in Mustang 5.0 magazine a few years ago showed a 10 hp gain after installing a 91 octane tune in a bone stock S197 GT, and hp gains from the high teens to the high 20's with the same 91 tune and CAI's from different suppliers.
8/6/12, 07:30 PM
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So its still worth getting a cai then. Right now I'm running 87 bama tune, axle back, and stock air box. Is it still worth getting a cai if I'm "most likely" still going to run an 87 octane tune? I'm finishing up college as a commuter and with rising gas prices, paying the higher price is hard to swallow. What do you guys think? What if I just bumped to a 91 or 93 tune with stock air box. Would that produce anymore noticeable gains? How much would it vary between 91 or 93? Is getting a cai to just run a 87 tune worth it? Thanks guys.
8/7/12, 11:35 AM
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An 87 tune with the stock air intake is worth only a few hp due to a leaner A/F ratio at WOT.
A 91/93 tune will add a few more hp due to more advanced timing.
An 87 tune with a CAI will deliver hp in the mid-teens due to a leaner A/F ratio and a higher air/fuel delivery rate at WOT.
You cannot notice the 1st, you may notice the 2nd, you will notice the 3rd.
Only you and your budget can determine if a CAI is worth the $.
A 91/93 tune will add a few more hp due to more advanced timing.
An 87 tune with a CAI will deliver hp in the mid-teens due to a leaner A/F ratio and a higher air/fuel delivery rate at WOT.
You cannot notice the 1st, you may notice the 2nd, you will notice the 3rd.
Only you and your budget can determine if a CAI is worth the $.
Last edited by ski; 8/7/12 at 11:38 AM.
8/7/12, 03:27 PM
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An 87 tune with the stock air intake is worth only a few hp due to a leaner A/F ratio at WOT.
A 91/93 tune will add a few more hp due to more advanced timing.
An 87 tune with a CAI will deliver hp in the mid-teens due to a leaner A/F ratio and a higher air/fuel delivery rate at WOT.
You cannot notice the 1st, you may notice the 2nd, you will notice the 3rd.
Only you and your budget can determine if a CAI is worth the $.
A 91/93 tune will add a few more hp due to more advanced timing.
An 87 tune with a CAI will deliver hp in the mid-teens due to a leaner A/F ratio and a higher air/fuel delivery rate at WOT.
You cannot notice the 1st, you may notice the 2nd, you will notice the 3rd.
Only you and your budget can determine if a CAI is worth the $.
Though, I do notice a different on my stang with just the tune. Nothing major but I do notice a difference.
8/14/12, 06:46 PM
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Well, I did add the Ford Motorsports CAI and I think I notice a difference between tune/stock airbox and tune/CAI. I can at least say that at full throttle onto the highway I got more rubber on the 2-3 shift than the car ever got before. Hardly scientific evidence but it did feel good!
Also, it sounds a little nicer at full throttle.
Also, it sounds a little nicer at full throttle.
4/19/13, 10:57 AM
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My 2012 5.0 A6 results are: C & L CAI + custom dyno tune resulted in 364.14 rwhp and 370.82 torque. Canned tunes are hit-and-miss. Go to a real tuner and put your car on the dyno to get real, repeatable, and SAFE results.
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