Seriously, explain this to me like I know nothing about what a CAI does, 'cause that's basically true.

I seem to recall someone saying that a CAI without a tune will cause you to run lean. Is that really the case? I would have assumed that there's a sensor that would detect that the engine is breathing easier and adjust the mixture accordingly. Am I completely wrong?

Also, what's all this about cleaning and "recharging" the filter?

Oh, and another question... uh, well, why is it better than the box?

I guess what I'm looking for is CAI 101 lessons here.

 

1- I'm new to Mustangs but from what I read it is a good idea to have a tune. Apparently without one your engine will gain some nice windows in it. All my other cars I have had some form of ram-air or cold-air intake in them and prolly put on 50k+ miles with no problems. I myself am prolly going to just get the K&N kit alone.

2- the recharging filters, some filters are oiled I belive, and you can clean them and reuse over and over.

3- Your computer in your car should adjust a little to the new intake/filter if you reset it properly but not nearly as well if you buy a tune or have someone tune it.

4- The tune tells your computer how to adjust the air/fuel mixture upon compresion in the engine, prolly why tuned cars preform so much better. Not so much the new filter setup but more for the tune.

5- its better than the box because the air flows alot better and is sometimes cooler.

I might be wrong on some of this but thats just my 2cents lol

 

CAI 101
get a CAI and a tune.
basically CAI gets more air in.
your computer can adjust to some CAI, the ones that dont need a tune, but you wont get that much hp, and some will still throw a CEL.
and you just clean the air filter on the CAI instead of replacing it like the stock one
it is better than the box bc you'll get about 15-25 more hp/tq
CAI and tune is the easiest bang for the buck mod
i think CAI/tune and exhaust should be the 1st performance mods for any Mustang
i really like the JLT, it is cheap, installs in 20 minutes, and gets as much hp/tq as the other top CAI/tune combos.
do it. you WILL notice the difference.

 

Basically any CAI will supply all the air a N/A (stock cammed) engine needs. Without tuning, the possibility of running lean is a great possibility, (depending on air density variables). CAI's add only a sight amount of performance by themselves, the tuning is what makes the performance difference. The CAI is a component optimized by the tune.

 

Just getting in line.
EDIT to come later....

 

If the OEM MAF sensor is reused in the CAI and the cross section
of the inlet tube is OEM diameter where the MAF mounts, then the
CAI will flow no more CFM than the stock AirBox.
(AirAid makes a CAI that has a bigger cross section where the
MAF mounts and requires a tune, but it also includes a plug that
chokes the inlet tube down to OEM cross section size for non-tune
use.)

Its called a Cold Air Intake because it brings in colder air than
the OEM AirBox. Some CAIs have stock OEM inlet tube where the
MAF mounts that dont require a tune and some CAIs are monster
big where the MAF mounts and require a tune to ALTER the OEM
fuel and timing tables out of OEM specs. OEM Ford locks the amounts
the PCM can compensate for the increased airflow of a monster CAI.
So the PCM reaches the end of its fuel adjustment and you start running
lean and throwing lean codes.
The filter is a cotton fiber and it is oiled like dirt bike filters.
To recharge it after 20,000 or so miles, its cleaned with speacial
cleaner and re-oiled or 'recharged' to bring it back to like new
performance. (a pair of pantyhose makes a real nice bug and debris
pre-filter for a new or freshly recharged filter)
It brings in cold air and sounds cool. And you cant run a quality tune
on an OEM airbox. Pointless. Thats why it is better (if it requires a tune).
Non requiring tune CAIs are a waste of $$.
Anymore questions?

 

That is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.

 

I have a friend with a 07 Mustang GT that is an engineer. He put a temp probe at the air inlet before and after the CAI install and there was absolutely no temp change from the stock intake. Have no clue why they call them CAIs. There are some exceptions like the Bullet Mustang and others where the air filter is enclosed and the tubing is extended to the edge of the hood opening.

 

I have an MSD DashHawk that shows AmbientAirTemp and InletAirTemp.
I see a big improvement over the stock airbox.
My IAT runs about 5 degrees cooler than the AAT
at cruising speed. At a stop light, it all goes out the
window so to speak.
Stock AirBox on a super hot day pulls in air thats 20
to 30 degrees over AAT at cruising speed.

I am sensing what the PCM sees as temps,
not some engineer placed probes that dont communicate
with the PCM so are not valid forms of measurment in this situation....

 

I'm still mulling over the idea about the panty hose...