K&N AIRCHARGER QUESTION******
12-29-2006, 01:48 AM
#1
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 89
K&N AIRCHARGER QUESTION******
ok, im goin to get a cold air intake, but i dnt want one that requires buying a flash tuner like a slp or diablosport.so my question is, if i buy the aircharger from k&n and run it without a tune, will there be NO PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE COMPUTER OR NOT?and , once again, sorry if this has been discussed a billion times-
12-29-2006, 01:50 AM
#2
poptart tits
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,886
RE: K&N AIRCHARGER QUESTION******
No, the aircharger is a tuneless CAI, it adds about 10 RWHP without the tuner...
If you want more performacne gains from a tuneless cai get a Granatelli Motor Sports CAI, it adds about 25 RWHP!
If you want more performacne gains from a tuneless cai get a Granatelli Motor Sports CAI, it adds about 25 RWHP!
12-29-2006, 05:43 AM
#4
poptart tits
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,886
RE: K&N AIRCHARGER QUESTION******
ORIGINAL: DAVE06GT
25?dang-and it's also a tuneless intake?well, how much will a granatelli run me and where is the place to buy one from?
25?dang-and it's also a tuneless intake?well, how much will a granatelli run me and where is the place to buy one from?
Most of our sponsors have 'em... Lethal, dagostino, etc.
12-30-2006, 11:33 AM
#5
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ohioland, Ohio
Posts: 1,324
RE: K&N AIRCHARGER QUESTION******
Thats ok, it a good question. Its a question that is constantly in debate. Before I purchased my CAI, I did alot of research. I read too many articles that said if anything was added or modified on our cars that made any noticeable power gain, there should be some sort of tuning involved. From what I read, just adding a free flowing airfilter can lean the car out a bit too much. My advice would be to do a bit more research before you decide, but not on here. Go to Mustang Magazine websites and find articles that include information from top tuners in the country. There you will find more facts. Dont get me wrong, this a great website, but all too often, youll just find opinions.......of course, you'll find a handful of mine as well. LOL
Good luck and let us know what you decide.
Good luck and let us know what you decide.
12-30-2006, 01:32 PM
#6
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location:
Posts: 2,544
RE: K&N AIRCHARGER QUESTION******
In the world of tuneless intakes there are two different kinds:
There's the K&N type, which are simply some tubing and the filter. These are worth a pretty small HP gain. Keep in mind that the whole reason why a CAI adds HP is becasue of fueling. The CAI allows extra air into the engine...but the air itself does nothing. The air allows you to burn a little more gas. And THAT is where the HP comes from. A tune-less CAI like this can't add extra gas, so the performance is limited, and there is always the danger of running lean.
The other kind, like the Granatelli, include a different MAF sensor, which has a non-standard calibration. This feature tricks the engine into adding the extra fuel,similar to what would happen if you have a tune. I think 25 HP is a bit much for a Granatelli, but I have seen 18 on the Dnyo. In any case, these are definatley better than the K&N type.
Of course, a CAI + a tuner is the best option. This is becasuea CAI+Tuner will make more HP thaneither type of CAI that I described above--AND a tuner can work with many other adjustments on the car. Atuner can not only change fueling, but it can also alter ignition and the drive-by-wire throttle settings which are things that a CAI can never do--even a "fancy" one like the Granatelli. Also, a tuner can adjust your shift points if you have an automatic transmission, whichamajor performance upgrade. And finally, if you are planning on doing other mods down the road, a tuner is a must-have. Tuners can be used not just for their primary function, but also to read and clear diagnostic codes, to correct your speeometer if you change gears or tires, to alter your idle speed settings, when your fans turn on and off, and of course a tuner is needed for many popular mods.
My advice: If you are planning on doing only very light mods and price is a major concern, then get the Granatelli CAI.
On the other hand, if you are planning on doing more mods down the road, or if price is not that big of a concern, make your first mod a Tuner + CAI combo. Get the kit from one of the big tuner shops like Brenspeed, Evolution, ,or B amachips. These guys are experts that will set you up with a custom tune for your needs (not a generic one-size-fits-all tune). You will be making more HP than any othe other options, and you will have a very solid foundation for future work.
There's the K&N type, which are simply some tubing and the filter. These are worth a pretty small HP gain. Keep in mind that the whole reason why a CAI adds HP is becasue of fueling. The CAI allows extra air into the engine...but the air itself does nothing. The air allows you to burn a little more gas. And THAT is where the HP comes from. A tune-less CAI like this can't add extra gas, so the performance is limited, and there is always the danger of running lean.
The other kind, like the Granatelli, include a different MAF sensor, which has a non-standard calibration. This feature tricks the engine into adding the extra fuel,similar to what would happen if you have a tune. I think 25 HP is a bit much for a Granatelli, but I have seen 18 on the Dnyo. In any case, these are definatley better than the K&N type.
Of course, a CAI + a tuner is the best option. This is becasuea CAI+Tuner will make more HP thaneither type of CAI that I described above--AND a tuner can work with many other adjustments on the car. Atuner can not only change fueling, but it can also alter ignition and the drive-by-wire throttle settings which are things that a CAI can never do--even a "fancy" one like the Granatelli. Also, a tuner can adjust your shift points if you have an automatic transmission, whichamajor performance upgrade. And finally, if you are planning on doing other mods down the road, a tuner is a must-have. Tuners can be used not just for their primary function, but also to read and clear diagnostic codes, to correct your speeometer if you change gears or tires, to alter your idle speed settings, when your fans turn on and off, and of course a tuner is needed for many popular mods.
My advice: If you are planning on doing only very light mods and price is a major concern, then get the Granatelli CAI.
On the other hand, if you are planning on doing more mods down the road, or if price is not that big of a concern, make your first mod a Tuner + CAI combo. Get the kit from one of the big tuner shops like Brenspeed, Evolution, ,or B amachips. These guys are experts that will set you up with a custom tune for your needs (not a generic one-size-fits-all tune). You will be making more HP than any othe other options, and you will have a very solid foundation for future work.
12-30-2006, 09:02 PM
#9
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: On your six, 1.2nm... and I have tone!
Posts: 455
RE: K&N AIRCHARGER QUESTION******
Yup, gained a mile or two per gallon when I put a CAI and tune on my Marauder as well. Of course I gave that MPG improvement up when I put the 4.10 gears in it. 
I'm hoping to see some MPG improvement on my Mustang when I get my C&L intake and XCal2 tune next week.
I'm hoping to see some MPG improvement on my Mustang when I get my C&L intake and XCal2 tune next week.
12-31-2006, 02:32 PM
#10
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 2,398
RE: K&N AIRCHARGER QUESTION******
It would be a waste of money to just have a CAI. We all want a little more power, these cars feel slow very quickly once you get used to them. A handheld tuner (sct) is a must-have if you have one of these cars. CrazyAl more or less covered the bases already so there is no point in continuing this.
A little food for thought is that if you buy a $300-400 Intake, later down the road you are going to want either more power, or more mods, and realize that you need a tuner. Now you're looking at another $300-500 with a tuner + tunes. Where as you could have been saving a lot of money by spending $600-675 on an Intake tuner combo.
Your money, your car, you decide.
A little food for thought is that if you buy a $300-400 Intake, later down the road you are going to want either more power, or more mods, and realize that you need a tuner. Now you're looking at another $300-500 with a tuner + tunes. Where as you could have been saving a lot of money by spending $600-675 on an Intake tuner combo.
Your money, your car, you decide.