Ford F150 - Cold Air Intake Research?

I've seen alot about cold air intake systems on here but would like to find out more of the good and bad. I have read some from a guy on here that says they don't do much to the air but allow more (less filtered)air to go through, which allows some garbage to go through the engine. If it allows crap to go through the engine but gains little horse power, why do so many people put them on?

I am curious too. My stock '99 takes air from the wheel well. I don't know how much colder you can get than that!

its not just about cooler air its also about more air.

My understanding is that the stock system will provide as much air as the engine can use, unless the engine has been modified.

True?

well alot of these CAI's have a 3" to 4" air pipe on them. plus the filters are less restricting and still filter just as well as stock. the stock pipe is smaller and the filters are paper which might filter well but also restrict air flow. you might also want to install a larger therotle body with the CAI.

Don't mean to press the point, but is it not true that the stock one will provide more air than a stock engine can use?

I have a basic understanding of Air temp/density to fuel mixture. I'm not as knowledgeable to how, what or if ford trucks modify the fuel/air mixture internally. I know a chip would help the stock air filter get more out of the air/fuel mixture. Just curious-if a CAI allows more air through would a Chip make the CAI work more efficiently?(I'm trying not to get to far off the the main ?)

no, more air means a more efficiant burn in the combustion chamber. making more power and better fuel economy. when you combine the CAI with exhaust and a tuner like the predator, you can tell a huge difference.

Have you installed these mods, and can you tell if it has affected your trucks engine in a negative way? How long have you had the mods intalled? What kind of HP gains did you get out of it?

i agree with deckedout... more air = better combustion which inturn = better mpg more hp and a nice little grunty sound when you step on it...

Alex

i ahve had all three of these mods on several trucks i have had. the only reason i do not have one on my truck right now is because i plan on using a supercharger. from my expireances i have to say it affected my truck in a positive way, the trucks i have had them on i have kept for a couple years, as far as the HP gains i have not had it on a dyno to know exactly but you can tell a huge difference with all of that on there.

yeah i love my K&N and my edge.... i think they work together awsome!!! i can run 9.54 second 0-60 times running level 2 with 87 octane gas... i guess ill just mod my truck out till i have to break down and buy a supercharger to be 100% satisfied....

Alex

Well you both are kind of right but the real story is that more air is not always better. You have to have the air to fuel mix at the static level of perfect burn. Too much fuel & you go rich too much air & you go lean & lean = loss of power or lean misfire. Now find out the perfect mix at full load max horsepower and adjust fuel or air as needed. The computer adjusts the mix as needed because your engine never runs at 100% so the air to fuel has to be adjusted. Unless you have a supercharger stock is well thought out & will do all that the stock engine will ever need. Add more fuel by injectors or a chip but the chip is limited to what the injectors will flow. I am a Cat certifed mechanic plus Idustrial engine mechanic that deals with air to fuel ratios daily to make max horsepower at 100% load which is 3550 hp on a 3612 Cat w/ twin turbos, AFR, running on natrual gas

the mixture is read at the cats,(or at the oxegen sensors). if they show rich mix they tell the computer to lean out so the injectors ad less fuel. If they show lean they ad more fuel. And the faster the intake puts it in (aftermarket), the faster it has to get out (exhaust). and all a chip does is fool the sensors to think its not doing some thing and compensates by changing parameters.
(hope not to confuse anyone )lol

the read at the dats is the effectivness of the cat. there is an 02 sensor before the cat that reads the mixture.