Which CAI is for me?
08-09-2010, 02:04 AM
#21
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: AL
Posts: 342
I looked into adding a BBK CAI to my car but after researching it I decided against it. A lot of reviews and posts from guys that added it stated the car throws a "lean" code even though they had the battery unhooked during the install. Most of them just said something to the effect of "Oh well, I unhooked the battery and it went away, problem solved." No problem not solved, there's a reason that your OBD threw that code and that reason is the car is running lean. Lean engines run faster and that's why you notice a difference just by adding the BBK without a tune. Anything that gives you 20 hp and 20 foot pounds torque without using a tuner is suspect to me. I personally think that BBK setup leans the car and yes that will make it run faster but it's also why so many guys get the lean code and I would be worried that in the long run it's doing damage to the engine. That's just where I come out on it and I'm not telling anyone not to buy it. I just personally look at the overall and saw CAI with no tune + 20 more hp + lean code = lean running engine. I just wouldn't take that chance.
08-09-2010, 06:23 AM
#22
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 12,260
I looked into adding a BBK CAI to my car but after researching it I decided against it. A lot of reviews and posts from guys that added it stated the car throws a "lean" code even though they had the battery unhooked during the install. Most of them just said something to the effect of "Oh well, I unhooked the battery and it went away, problem solved." No problem not solved, there's a reason that your OBD threw that code and that reason is the car is running lean. Lean engines run faster and that's why you notice a difference just by adding the BBK without a tune. Anything that gives you 20 hp and 20 foot pounds torque without using a tuner is suspect to me. I personally think that BBK setup leans the car and yes that will make it run faster but it's also why so many guys get the lean code and I would be worried that in the long run it's doing damage to the engine. That's just where I come out on it and I'm not telling anyone not to buy it. I just personally look at the overall and saw CAI with no tune + 20 more hp + lean code = lean running engine. I just wouldn't take that chance.
08-09-2010, 10:01 AM
#24
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: over yonder
Posts: 1,185
I looked into adding a BBK CAI to my car but after researching it I decided against it. A lot of reviews and posts from guys that added it stated the car throws a "lean" code even though they had the battery unhooked during the install. Most of them just said something to the effect of "Oh well, I unhooked the battery and it went away, problem solved." No problem not solved, there's a reason that your OBD threw that code and that reason is the car is running lean. Lean engines run faster and that's why you notice a difference just by adding the BBK without a tune. Anything that gives you 20 hp and 20 foot pounds torque without using a tuner is suspect to me. I personally think that BBK setup leans the car and yes that will make it run faster but it's also why so many guys get the lean code and I would be worried that in the long run it's doing damage to the engine. That's just where I come out on it and I'm not telling anyone not to buy it. I just personally look at the overall and saw CAI with no tune + 20 more hp + lean code = lean running engine. I just wouldn't take that chance.
If you don't do that, yes it throws a code just like it's supposed to... Thats not the cai, thats someone installing wrong.
08-09-2010, 06:05 PM
#25
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: AL
Posts: 342
Woe take it easy guys. Yes the 20 hp gain is claimed by both advertisers and plenty of the guys who wrote reviews after installing the thing. Take it up with them. I'm just passing on their claims. Who knows if it's true or not. All I'm saying is that given how closely the ECM controls the engine in these S197 cars you are probably asking for trouble by adding a CAI that doesn't require a tune.
08-09-2010, 06:16 PM
#26
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: AL
Posts: 342
If they simply unhooked the battery and reconnected it after only a few minutes of installing, yes it's going to throw codes. The battery needs to be disconnected long enough to send the pcm into adaptive learning (I believe a good 15-20 min is the general consensus).
If you don't do that, yes it throws a code just like it's supposed to... Thats not the cai, thats someone installing wrong.
If you don't do that, yes it throws a code just like it's supposed to... Thats not the cai, thats someone installing wrong.
08-09-2010, 07:17 PM
#27
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 12,260
Woe take it easy guys. Yes the 20 hp gain is claimed by both advertisers and plenty of the guys who wrote reviews after installing the thing. Take it up with them. I'm just passing on their claims. Who knows if it's true or not. All I'm saying is that given how closely the ECM controls the engine in these S197 cars you are probably asking for trouble by adding a CAI that doesn't require a tune.
08-09-2010, 09:18 PM
#28
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 3,666
No stand alone CAI will get you a 20 HP increase. With a tune, that is more likely!
Trust me, I drove around with the Airaid CAI for many months before I installed the custom tune and didn't feel much of a performance gain.
Trust me, I drove around with the Airaid CAI for many months before I installed the custom tune and didn't feel much of a performance gain.
Last edited by kevinmalec; 08-09-2010 at 09:21 PM.
08-09-2010, 09:25 PM
#29
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: AL
Posts: 342
Also I just want to point something out and this isn't directed at any posters here.
1. Never believe and advertiser when they claim you can get 20 hp just by adding a CAI without a tune.
2. It's ok to believe the same advertiser when they claim you can add a CAI without a tune and it will be ok.
1. Never believe and advertiser when they claim you can get 20 hp just by adding a CAI without a tune.
2. It's ok to believe the same advertiser when they claim you can add a CAI without a tune and it will be ok.
Last edited by Whitehorse10; 08-09-2010 at 11:13 PM.
08-24-2010, 09:58 PM
#30
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 219
I put on the Ford Racing CAI today, part of the combo pack that AM is selling now. I decided on the Ford CAI because the housing seems to do a better job of pulling the cold air from the front of the car. A lot of housings only support the filter, and aren't as efficient. They pull a lot of hot air from around the engine. If you look at the insulation under the Mustang hood, you'll see that it is designed for the Ford CAI. It almost totally seals off the engine heat. Using my Mustang Forum discount, I think the combo was only $512. Comparing retail prices, this saved about $125. I thought about doing the BBK or no tune route, but finally figured if it was worth doing, it was worth doing right. Besides, the Ford Racing logo, on the intake really looks cool. The only negative, I found out after installing that the Ford filter, is not considered cleanable, or rechargeable. It's supposed to be replaced. Oh, well, I still really like it.......