[Frankiemetal]

Hey was have being doing some research on cold air intakes and I'm thinking about getting a new one for my 2013 jeep wrangler unlimited. Some claim to be able to improve mpg up to 3-4 miles per gallon. Does anyone have any knowledge of this. Would like to know if it's worth getting one. Thanks

 

[boon4376]

Hey was have being doing some research on cold air intakes and I'm thinking about getting a new one for my 2013 jeep wrangler unlimited. Some claim to be able to improve mpg up to 3-4 miles per gallon. Does anyone have any knowledge of this. Would like to know if it's worth getting one. Thanks

Anyone with that type of claim is not testing using the scientific method. If you could gain 20% MPG with a different air intake - it would be factory spec due to the governments increase pressure to improve MPG on manufacturers.

Plus, in my experience, cold air intakes, when installed typically just take in hot air from the engine bay and avoid the cool air ducts designed by the vehicle's engineers.

If you're thinking of something like a K&N - in various other car forums, people have had issues with the oil they are covered with fouling the air intake sensors (not sure about jeep though).

I guess what I am trying to say is, if you're expecting to notice a difference, it's probably placebo or denial.

 

[ESP]

CAIs are useless.

 

[ohioviper]

Save your money and buy something else for your Jeep your engine will thank you later.

 

[MattK]

All of the above. Spend your money elsewhere.

 

[ElectricJay]

all my research points to these answers ^^^^^^

 

[thinkxingu]

If you check out my "My 2010 Islander is Wicked Fast" thread, you'll see that I put a CAI on and gained 2 MPG and at least 10% horsepower. Once I did that, I was keeping up with Camaros and 'Stangs. Can't hang with European cars yet- I need to cut my springs and tighten the rest of the suspension to hammer into corners. But I'm working on it.

 

[dtm4228]

What have you guys heard abou the AIRAID MXP Cold Air Dam Intake? It seems really nice and looks like it would keep the dirt out unlike a lot of other CAIs? It's 300 on Quadratec, Think it's worth a try? I wanted a superchip but I've got a 2011.....

AIRAID 310-276 - AIRAID® MXP Cold Air Dam Intake for 07-11 Jeep® Wrangler & Wrangler Unlimited JK with 3.8L - Quadratec

 

[Scott2373]

Don't waste your money. I ran one on my Liberty for about 2 years. When I took it off, my mileage went up 2mpg. They do little to nothing on a fuel injected engine with computer controlled air/fuel ratios. Think about it: If the computer senses more air in the MAF sensor, it will compensate with more fuel = worse mileage.

 

[overblown]

If you check out my "My 2010 Islander is Wicked Fast" thread, you'll see that I put a CAI on and gained 2 MPG and at least 10% horsepower. Once I did that, I was keeping up with Camaros and 'Stangs. Can't hang with European cars yet- I need to cut my springs and tighten the rest of the suspension to hammer into corners. But I'm working on it.

Are you related to Old Dogger by any chance? :banghead:

 

[Labrat0116]

CAIs are useless.

Not for ALL cars they are not useless. Not by any means. I really all depends on a particular engine's airbox setup and just how restrictive the stock airbox is.

I've owned modded probably close to 100 different cars/trucks/bikes in my life is this is experience talking.

I just traded (3 days ago) in a 12 Mustang 3.7 V6 (305HP version). I slapped a CAI setup on it and I shocked the snot out of me! Woke that car up BIG TIME ! In fact, there are many dynosheets posted on Stang forums that PROVE a CAI on that particular setup Netted in the neighborhood of 12-14HP !!

So the answer is NO. Not ALL CAIs are useless!

I've yet to see any dynosheet proof of a CAI on a 3.6 Jeep yet but I'm still looking for one for PROOF.

Anyone have a dynosheet that proves the effectiveness OR ineffectiveness of a CAI on a 3.6 Pentastar engined Jeep ?

Post it up if you do!

 

[Tweak]

if 3-4 mpg was even remotely possible we would all have them

 

[BleedsGreen]

Most CAI increase airflow by making the openings in the filter larger than the stock filter element. That allows larger particulates to get past the filter, I've seen several posts about people doing some dusty off-roading and taking off the CAI filter only to find a coating of powdery dust on the inside of the intake. I don't know what kind of driving you're trying to do but I would be wary of that, no point in scouring your cylinder walls for a couple extra HP.

 

[ESP]

Not for ALL cars they are not useless. Not by any means. I really all depends on a particular engine's airbox setup and just how restrictive the stock airbox is.

I've owned modded probably close to 100 different cars/trucks/bikes in my life is this is experience talking.

I just traded (3 days ago) in a 12 Mustang 3.7 V6 (305HP version). I slapped a CAI setup on it and I shocked the snot out of me! Woke that car up BIG TIME ! In fact, there are many dynosheets posted on Stang forums that PROVE a CAI on that particular setup Netted in the neighborhood of 12-14HP !!

So the answer is NO. Not ALL CAIs are useless!

I've yet to see any dynosheet proof of a CAI on a 3.6 Jeep yet but I'm still looking for one for PROOF.

Anyone have a dynosheet that proves the effectiveness OR ineffectiveness of a CAI on a 3.6 Pentastar engined Jeep ?

Post it up if you do!

CAIs are useless on Jeeps.

 

[bcsnave]

ROFLMAO..betcha can't keep up with my SRT8 Challenger

If you check out my "My 2010 Islander is Wicked Fast" thread, you'll see that I put a CAI on and gained 2 MPG and at least 10% horsepower. Once I did that, I was keeping up with Camaros and 'Stangs. Can't hang with European cars yet- I need to cut my springs and tighten the rest of the suspension to hammer into corners. But I'm working on it.

Betcha can't keep up with me....:rofl:

 

[Dragonscape]

Question: if they are useless why do all modified show jeeps have them. Even the future concept Moab Easter jeeps had them installed. Most of the Jeeps at Sema had CAI's

 

[Scott2373]

If aftermarket intakes were so effective in this modern day of EPA regulations and minimum mileage requirements, why aren't the auto manufacturers going to K&N, or Airaid or Volant and saying, "Please design an intake for our automobile, because our engineers are incompetent fools and have no clue how air flow works in relation to engine performance"? The bottom line is, the vehicles designed so that every component and system works together in fluidity and harmony. When you change out one sytem, it affects the others. If you modify one system, you must modify the others in that train to affect a change in performance. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

"Question: if they are useless why do all modified show jeeps have them. Even the future concept Moab Easter jeeps had them installed. Most of the Jeeps at Sema had CAI's"

Answer: Because SEMA is to show off manufacturer products. Those vehicles rarely if ever see a production floor. It's a showcase event. OEM intakes are ugly. Aftermarket ones are shiny and have smooth lines and convey a sense of performance, when no real performance is necessary in these vehicles because, again, they are for SHOW.

 

[Frankiemetal]

OK sounds like a waste of money thanks for the replies.

 

[gsn]

Question: if they are useless why do all modified show jeeps have them. Even the future concept Moab Easter jeeps had them installed. Most of the Jeeps at Sema had CAI's

You just said the word, "show". Look at all the setups quadratec has at least. All of them retain the airbox in the same place. If anything, the only advantage that comes from them is the larger surface of the filter that allows to go longer intervals without changing, or probably have better filtering with oil and whatnot. But the size is still not that considerable when letting air in.

If anything, a snorkel setup is more favorable, as its truly getting a nice amount of cool air into the engine, unless you put a hole in the hood right where the airbox is like the aev hood.

 

[DJL2]

There are CAI dyno results posted on this very forum...trying the search function. Already told you who to search in one other tread tonight ,p.

That being said, people continually misunderstand how engines work it would seem. Unless you significantly increase the efficiency of combustion, you cannot increase mpg. Why? Because you're balancing an equation where on one side you have the energy required to send your Jeep down the road at a given speed and on the other side you have the amount of fuel burned to do it. Fuel has a certain energy density and unless you burn that fuel more efficiently, you will need the same amount to make the same amount of power before and after. Flowing more air, if you do manage to accomplish that, allows you to burn more fuel and make more power. More power does not by default equal more efficiency.

You are more likely to see an efficiency improvement with a different "tune" that can use the extra air flow. If you are running "rich", flowing some more air will let you stop wasting fuel by burning it more efficiently and producing more power for a given amount of fuel consumed. However, you need to ensure you electronically controlled engine doesn't just continue to run more fuel to stay "rich" after you adjust air flow. Alternatively, you could just use a "tune" to reduce the amount of fuel and make the same power on less gas.

You need to look at the entire system as well - take a look at your air flow from intake to exhaust and you can identify those areas that need attention soonest.