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CAI vs. K&N Cold Air Intakes – Which Is Better?

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Our cold air intake kits offer enhanced performance, improved fuel economy, and a great sound. Our customers tend to agree:

“Why manufacturers don’t install this [intake] from the get-go is beyond me.” – Lonestar Hawaiian Garage

Lonestar Hawaiian Garage installed a CAI kit on their 2020 Chevy Silverado Trail Boss and was so impressed they decided to do the same to their 2007 Silverado, too.

Check out their video of the install and test drive. And read on to find out more about why our CAI cold air intakes are ahead of the competition.

The 2020 Silverado Cold Air Inductions Kit

Lonestar Hawaiian installed one of our CAI kits on their 2020 Silverado Trail Boss and loved the results. Aside from the impressive quality and fit and finish, the truck was also more efficient. Delivering 21mpg compared to 19.5mpg with the stock system.

Stock induction kits are made from ABS plastic. The main aim is to deaden the intake sound, which also restricts airflow. Plastic also can’t shield the intake tract from heat in the engine bay. All good reasons to eliminate the stock system as soon as possible.

Seeing the improvements on the 2020 truck, they decided it was time to get a kit for their 2007 Silverado as well. This vehicle was already fitted with a K&N system, but it was time for an upgrade. So out it came.

K&N Vs. Cold Air Inductions Kit

K&N intake

Comparing the two systems, it was clear that the CAI kit was better built, and more attention had been paid to the materials used and heat insulation. Notable benefits of Cold Air Inductions Kit vs K&N include:

  • Thermal-coated intake tube and air box
  • Plexiglass viewing port
  • Better quality components
  • Way larger air filter – better filtration and air volume

The K&N system had worked well over the years, but fuel economy was actually a bit worse compared to the stock system. Once the two kits were laid out on the table, the biggest differences were in the air box, intake tube, and filament filter.

“Build quality of the Cold Air Inductions intake is super strong and super sturdy.”  – Lonestar Hawaiian Garage

Lonestar Hawaiian used his “finger science” method to compare the two intake boxes. Not exactly scientific, but the differences in quality were obvious.

  • The CAI box is clearly better insulated with thicker material. And it has a fitted, stitched-on, pre-molded edge for precise fitment. The K&N system has a simple weather strip-like rubber seal, thinner metal, and no insulation at all.  
  • K&N uses a plastic intake tube for its design. The CAI system uses a thermal-coated metal intake tube. That means lower intake temperatures and more power.
  • And finally, the most obvious difference was CAI’s HUGE filament filter. This allows more air to be sucked into the engine and enhances the intake sound.

The installation itself took a little longer than intended. Mostly due to a bracket he wanted to retain for a future project. But the results were well worth it. And like all our systems, no changes were made to the harnesses, and OEM sensors were retained.

Immediate Driving Impressions

The results from the CAI intake install were immediate – most notably:

  • Better intake sound
  • Much lower intake temps

Out on the road, the first noticeable difference was the enhanced intake sound. That’s because the freer-flowing CAI system allows more air to be sucked into the engine. The superior design also showed up in the temperature difference under the hood. He recorded between 121 and 180 degrees in the engine bay, yet the intake box was at a far lower 93 degrees.

That is thanks to our state-of-the-art testing equipment, CAD engineering, and airflow analysis that each CAI kit goes through. While he didn’t get to compare fuel economy figures, judging by the performance of the CAI kit in the 2020 Silverado, it should also show an improvement

Time To Give Your Truck The CAI Upgrade

Cold Air Inductions has been a leading manufacturer of sealed air box intakes since 2004. Our products are built to last and come with a lifetime warranty.

Each kit is designed and tested to fit a specific vehicle. We use real-world dyno testing procedures to deliver real-world benefits. Check out some of the kits available for Chevy Silverados and Sierras here.

Get in touch with our team to order your CAI cold air induction kit today.

Do Cold Air Intakes Really Work? Before And After Dyno Test

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Performance claims are one thing. Backing those claims up is quite another. At CAI, we believe in real power testing. And only ever make real power claims.

But real-world testing by our customers is the only way to back up these claims. In this blog, we cover the installation of one of our cold air intakes into a brand new Z71 Chevy Silverado by Street Speed 717.

Check out the video below.

The Plan: More Power

Almost as soon as they had bought it, Street Speed 717 decided to treat their brand-new Chevy Silverado truck to one of our cold air intake kits. With just 433 miles on the clock, they headed out to DiabloFormula Racing to do some pre-install dyno runs.

Standard Spec Dyno Runs

The 2017 Chevy Silverado was bone stock with no modifications and still factory-fresh when it was strapped to the dyno. Factory figures of 355hp and 385lb-ft of torque are claimed. As with all manufacturers, those are measured at the crank, so a dyno run will always show lower numbers.

That said, the 5.3-liter V8 produced consistent figures over three runs with a best of 297hp and 334lb-ft at the wheels. Impressive results, but they were keen to see just what kind of improvements our CAI cold air intake could make. To restate, the original “before” test setup was:

  • Three consistent runs
  • Truck was totally unmodified
  • Best result of 297hp and 334lb-ft at the wheels

The Install

cai intake

Within minutes, Andy from DiabloFormula Racing had removed the stock intake. Our kits provide everything you need to fit the intake straight out of the box. Every sealed intake kit we sell has the following features:

  • OEM- spec fasteners and connectors
  • Original sensors are retained
  • Inspection window to check reusable air filters
  • Powder-coated aluminum parts to reduce intake temps
  • No tuning needed

The CAI intake was soon fitted, and the Silverado was ready for the next set of dyno runs.

Cold Air Intake Dyno Runs

dyno test

The benefits of installing a cold air intake include lower fuel consumption and improved intake sound. But the reason most people use our kits is for the increase in power.

“Final word is you can say that this intake will net you about 15 to 20 horsepower and same thing for torque. We are confirming REAL gains on a dyno here.”  – Mike, Streetspeed717

The first run immediately showed an improvement of 15hp and 9 lb-ft over the best figures achieved with the stock intake. After a short break, they reran the dyno, and this time they got 24hp and 17lb-ft above the stock numbers.

  • Three consistent runs
  • No reprogramming or modifications – just a CAI intake
  • Best result of 321hp and 351lb-ft to the wheels
  • Improvements of 7.5% in power and 5% in torque
  • Torque curve was smoother

No tuning, no modifications, and the exact same weather conditions. The added benefits of improved throttle response and a meatier intake sound are just icing on the cake. But not every cold air intake will deliver these kinds of results. It takes years of development and testing, which CAI does on all their cold air intakes.

Get The Best Cold Air Intake In The Market For Your Truck

Truck intake dyno

“Honestly was expecting 10 to 15 – at the wheel especially – we got 20 [at the wheel] and 25 torque. Especially [impressive for] a truck because unlike a car it’s running through a transfer case which cuts down on the power and it has a much longer drive shaft, bigger wheels, bigger tires, and a bigger differential. So, to make that much horsepower in a truck – compared to like a Camaro SS – is amazing.”  – Andy, DiabloFormula Racing

Cold Air Inductions has been a leading manufacturer of sealed air box intake systems since 2004. We offer a lifetime warranty. And we use real-world dyno testing procedures to deliver real-world benefits. Check out our range of high-quality intakes here. Then contact our team to order the cold air induction kit that delivers on its promises.

How To Install A CAI Cold Air Intake On A Chevy Silverado Trail Boss

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One of the first things you probably did when you bought your new Silverado was to find a little open road and rev it up to hear that engine roar. If you love to hear that sound and feel your truck respond with lots of horsepower, you should consider a cold air intake. When you install a cold air intake on a Chevy Silverado, you can immediately hear and feel the difference it makes, plus you’ll notice additional benefits as you drive it longer. In this article, we’re featuring YouTuber Chase at LMFSCREW and hearing what he thinks of the Cold Air Inductions cold air intake he installed on his 2021 Chevy Silverado Z71 Trail Boss (with a 6.2L engine). Check out the video below:

CAI Cold Air Intake Install: Step-By-Step

As you can see in the video, replacing a factory air filter with a cold air intake system is relatively simple. Here’s a quick breakdown of how to install a cold air intake on a Chevy Silverado:

silverado cold air intake
  1. Disconnect the negative terminal of your battery – for safety’s sake.
  2. Disconnect and remove the factory PCV hose and snip all connecting zip ties.
  3. Disconnect your mass airflow (MAF) sensor.
  4. Pull the top/lid of the factory air box (the bottom is retained in place) out, as well as the factory air filter.
  5. Remove the MAF sensor from your existing air tube, being careful not to damage it. Install it in the new air tube.
  6. Install the inlet elbow onto the throttle body and attach the PCV hose.
  7. Insert the air filter into the top of the filter box housing, after removing the protective sticker from the plexiglass window.
  8. Install the intake tube onto the filter and loosely tighten the hose clamp.
  9. Install the top of the air box and tube and tighten bolts, hose clamps, etc.
  10. Connect your MAF sensor and snug all bolts throughout.
  11. Reconnect the negative terminal of the battery.

Why Replace The Chevy Silverado Factory Filter?

silverado cold air intake

As Chase mentions in the video above, the factory filter is not the worst out there – so why should you replace your factory air filter and install a cold air intake on your Chevy Silverado? It’s not like it’s an ugly factory unit to begin with…and it technically does work fine. So why bother?

First, a cold air intake increases the volume of air entering your engine and ensures it is cooler air, both of which increase your engine’s power. Whether your truck is a few years old or brand new, it’s nice to get a little more power out of your engine when you can. Using our 6.2L cold air intake kit, you can expect gains of 12-14 horsepower. This kit can also be used on 2019, 2020, or 2021 Silverados or GMC Sierras, in addition to several popular 2021 SUVs.

If you drive a truck, your top priority probably isn’t gas mileage (or you’d be driving a Prius instead). But if you can improve it with a simple tweak, why wouldn’t you?

“We all know about horsepower and torque…you get used to it…[but] you always want a little bit more. This thing is going to be absolutely sick!”  – Chase, LMFSCREW

Swapping out a stock air filter with a cold air intake system can increase your fuel efficiency by a few miles per gallon, which is always a plus when you regularly drive a larger truck, like the Trail Boss. Or, if you’ve modded your truck similarly to what Chase explains in the video. When you upgrade wheels and tires, you usually add some weigh. An intake can help with the extra work the engine will need to do as a result of those few extra pounds.

“Overall, it’s just a solid intake…I mean, it looks really good I don’t think we’re gonna see any negatives from it – only positives.”

Find Your Intake Online At Cold Air Inductions

silverado cold air intake

It’s very simple to install a CAI cold air intake on a Chevy Silverado. If you want to optimize your truck’s power and fuel efficiency, you’re probably already more than capable of installing a cold air intake within 30 minutes. Don’t just take our word for it – you can check out this and several other install videos on the CAI YouTube channel, and as Chase suggests:

“Maximize performance and style, cool [the] air, [get] more horsepower, more torque and better fuel economy…slap this baby on there and see what kind of gains you get!”  – Chase, LMFSCREW

CAI has been manufacturing cold-air intakes since 2004. We offer intakes made from the highest quality materials and crafted right here in the USA, delivering real power and great quality. Shop Cold Air Inductions online or contact us today!

How To Increase Chevy Silverado Fuel Efficiency

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You’re not alone if you’re wondering how to improve a truck’s gas mileage. After all, that’s one of the biggest downfalls of owning a truck. Most of them aren’t super friendly on your bank account when it comes time to fill the tank. In a way, that’s the unfortunate price of admission. If you want the benefits of a big truck (e.g., towing, ground clearance, power), you have to deal with less-than-optimal gas mileage.

While modern fuel-efficient trucks are getting better in this area, there are some ways to increase Chevy Silverado fuel efficiency, even in an older model.

5 Easy Ways To Increase Chevy Silverado Fuel Efficiency

There are several ways to tackle the fuel efficiency problem that most trucks experience. None of them will be miraculous – they won’t double your Silverado’s MPG – but if you combine them, you can achieve a noticeable difference for your Chevy. If you use your truck daily, you know it’s all about the small gains that, when combined, create long-term results.

1. Basic Maintenance

silverado oil change

Image Credit: PaulsTravelPictures

One of the easiest things you can do to increase Chevy Silverado fuel efficiency is just to maintain your truck well. When you keep up with basic maintenance (i.e., changing the fluids regularly, keeping your tires properly inflated, keeping air filters clean, etc.), your truck can perform more efficiently.

2. Install A Cold Air Intake

Swapping out your stock air filter with a cold air intake system will definitely make a noticeable difference in your truck’s gas mileage. (Check out CAI’s Silverado 1500 cold air intake kits here.) This system pumps a higher volume of cooler air into your engine, which increases the oxygen content and produces a cleaner, more efficient combustion cycle. In the video below by YouTuber Lonestar Hawaiian, you can see how he intends to tackle the MPG problem with his 2007 Chevy Silverado – by upgrading to a Cold Air Inductions intake system. Check it out:

In the video above, you saw that Lonestar Hawaiian was installing a cold air intake on his 2007 Chevy Silverado, aiming to increase miles per gallon. With his 2020 Trail Boss (which he already updated with a CAI cold air intake), he noticed a significant increase in fuel efficiency (16.5 to 21 mpg).

“When I installed the Cold Air Inductions intake on the 2020 trail boss I was really impressed with the quality of product, the fit and finish, and actually the performance that came out of it.”  – Lonestar Hawaiian

And remember Item 1 above – “Basic Maintenance?” With a CAI intake system, you get a clear, plexiglass window to monitor how dirty the air filter is and see when it needs to be recharged with a CAI Cleaner and Recharge Kit. It’s a win-win.

3. Reduce Drag

Most people don’t realize how much drag an average pickup truck creates when it moves down the road. This friction with the air makes the engine work harder. Installing a tonneau cover over your truck bed is one way you can reduce the drag on your truck. It will help you be a little more efficient. Plus, it keeps your gear or cargo secure and dry.

4. Use An Engine Programmer/Tuner

You can use an engine tuner or programmer on many modern vehicles, including the 5.3 or 6.2L Chevy Silverado. Keep in mind that when you purchase a vehicle from a dealer, the engine is programmed to perform at a level that will appeal to a broad audience. Mainly providing:

  • Soft, smooth shift points. Most drivers prefer this over quick shifts, even if faster shifts improve performance.
  • Fuel systems that are optimized to maximize fuel economy and minimize emissions, even if such settings lessen performance.
  • Shift points and fuel maps are both tuned for stock air intake and exhaust systems.

This little plug-in computer can help you dial in how you want your engine to run to increase fuel efficiency or power – especially if you’ve made modifications.

5. Slow Down

Yeah, it’s obvious and probably a little annoying to hear, but it’s true. When you hit the gas to hear that beautiful engine roar (especially after installing a cold air intake or aftermarket exhaust system), you’re consuming much more gas than if you reasonably accelerate. If you want to see a boost to your fuel efficiency, take it easy on the gas pedal – you’re probably not on a race track. If you are, well…then let her rip.

If you’re ready to install a superior cold air intake on your truck, trust Cold Air Inductions for the highest quality intakes. CAI is a Tier 1 OEM supplier manufacturing cold air intakes since 2004. CAI intakes are made from the highest quality materials and crafted right here in the USA, delivering real power and great quality. Shop Cold Air Inductions online or contact us today!

Will Installing A Cold Air Inductions Intake Void My Warranty?

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Cold air intakes are one of the best upgrades you can do to your vehicle. Choose a high-quality induction kit, and you can enhance your vehicle’s performance in minutes. Cold Air Inductions (CAI) intakes are precision engineered to lower intake airflow temperatures. This increases horsepower and improves fuel economy. The enhanced intake sound is a bonus.

But does a CAI cold air induction kit void your car warranty? The short answer is no. But there are a few things to be aware of before you order a cold air induction kit.

Why Install A CAI Intake Kit?

intake install

You may think a factory air box and intake would be optimized for your vehicle. In fact, OEM intakes are often built to hit a cost target, and are designed to fit a range of different engines. This can restrict airflow and lower performance.

Installing a CAI intake kit will improve your engine’s airflow. And it takes just a few minutes. The process is completely reversible. And that’s partly why your vehicle’s warranty won’t be affected. Benefits of a CAI intake include:

  • Increase horsepower
  • Lower fuel consumption
  • Improve engine sound

CAI horsepower claims are based on real power tests. Not generic power gains across a range of different vehicles. On average, we get between 12-14 more horsepower from our intakes. That is a real-world gain you can feel every time you put your foot down.

The cooler air entering the engine also benefits fuel economy. Auto manufacturers spend a lot of effort to eliminate intake noise. We spend a lot of effort to ensure that the intake sound you hear is perfectly suited to your vehicle.

The CAI Intake Difference

blue silverado intake

CAI intakes are not your average intake system. Our kits are made from the highest quality materials and are crafted right here in the USA and feature:

  • Reusable air filters
  • Handy air filter inspection window
  • OEM-spec fasteners and connectors
  • Powder-coated aluminum components
  • Insulated air box
  • No changes to OEM sensors
  • Precision-engineered for specific vehicles

The air box and tube are made from aluminum and powder coated. Every kit fits perfectly and requires no cutting or grinding. Our kits include OEM-spec fasteners in stainless steel and rubber. Every TIG weld is done by hand for added precision.

Our intakes last a long time. And our interwoven cotton air filters are cleanable and reusable. A removable air-box lid makes it extremely simple to access the air filter.

So What About My Warranty?

An auto manufacturer’s warranty allows you to have your vehicle repaired at no cost if it breaks due to a manufacturing fault. You can void your manufacturer warranty in a few ways, including:

  • Misusing your vehicle
  • Not maintaining it properly
  • Installing aftermarket modifications

Let’s focus on that last point. A manufacturer can only void your warranty if the aftermarket modification was the cause of the warranty claim. Such as a damaged head gasket due to increasing turbo boost pressure above stock. This forms part of the 1975 Magnuson-Moss Act.

“The fear is that if I were to take my truck in for service, I would need to remove my intake system so that they didn’t know that I swapped it out and so that they would honor my warranty – and that’s just NOT the case.” – Leaman Griffin

To avoid this scenario, you should only install high-quality aftermarket parts from reputable companies with proven products. Use installers with a proven track record. And make sure that the part you want to install doesn’t detrimentally affect your vehicle’s performance. Just in case you’re still wondering, CAI Cold Air Intakes won’t void your warranty. They can’t damage your engine or anything else on your vehicle.

CAI Cold Air Intakes Are The Real Deal

Cold Air Inductions is a leading manufacturer of sealed air box intake systems. We have been making high-quality cold-air intakes since 2004. We believe in our products, so we offer a lifetime warranty.

Every kit is specifically designed for your vehicle. And uses OEM-spec fasteners and quality components. We use real-world dyno testing procedures to deliver real-world benefits. Don’t take our word for it; see what our customers have to say.

Get in touch with our team to order your CAI cold air induction kit today. You won’t be disappointed.

How To Increase Chevy Silverado Fuel Efficiency

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If you’re wondering how to improve a truck’s gas mileage, you’re not alone. After all, that’s one of the biggest downfalls of owning a truck – most of them aren’t super friendly on your bank account when it comes time to fill it up. In a way, that’s unfortunately kind of the price of admission. If you want the benefits of a big truck (e.g., towing, clearance, power), you need to live with bad truck gas mileage. While modern fuel-efficient trucks are getting better in this area, there are some ways to increase Chevy Silverado fuel efficiency, even in an older model. These would apply to most other truck brands and cars as well. In the video below by Lonestar Hawaiian, you can see how he tackles this problem with his 2007 Chevy Silverado. Check it out below.

How You Can Easily Increase Chevy Silverado Fuel Efficiency

There are a few ways you can tackle this problem. None of them will be miraculous and double your truck’s miles per gallon or anything, but if you use them in combination, you can get a noticeable difference for your Chevy. And when you use a truck on a daily basis, it’s all about the small gains here and there so you can make a long-term difference.

  • Basic Maintenance – one of the easiest things you can do to increase Chevy Silverado fuel efficiency is to just maintain your truck well. When you keep up with basic maintenance (i.e., changing the fluids on a regular basis, keeping your tires properly inflated, keeping air filters clean, etc.), your truck is able to perform more efficiently.
  • Cold Air Intake – swapping out your stock air filter with a Silverado cold air intake system will definitely make a noticeable difference to your truck’s gas mileage. This system pumps a higher volume of cooler air into your engine, which increases the oxygen content and produces a cleaner, more efficient combustion cycle. In the video above, you saw that Lonestar Hawaiian was installing a cold air intake on his 2007 Chevy Silverado, with the primary goal of increasing miles per gallon. With his 2020 Trail Boss, which he already updated with a cold air intake, he noticed a pretty significant increase in fuel efficiency (16.5 to 21 mpg). One of the benefits of our intake system is that you get a clear, plexiglass window to monitor how dirty the air filter is and see when it needs to be changed.

  • Reduce Drag – most people don’t realize how much drag an average pickup truck creates when it moves down the road. This friction with the air slows the truck down and makes it work harder. By simply installing a tonneau cover over your truck bed, you can really reduce the drag on your truck, which will help you eke out some more miles per gallon. Plus, it keeps your gear secure and dry, so why wouldn’t you want one anyway?
  • Engine Programmer/Tuner – you can use an engine tuner or programmer on many modern vehicles, including 5.3 or 6.2L Chevy Silverado’s. Essentially, this little plug-in machine can help you dial in how you want your engine to run to increase Chevy Silverado fuel efficiency or power.
  • Slow Down – yeah, it’s obvious and probably a little annoying to hear, but it’s true. When you hit the gas to hear that beautiful engine roar (especially after a cold air intake or aftermarket exhaust system), you’re consuming a lot more gas than if you just reasonably accelerate. If you want to see a boost to your fuel efficiency, then take it easy – you’re probably not on a race track. If you are, well…then let her rip.