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Performance Air Filter Vs Cold Air Intake – There has been a lot of chatter on the internet lately about whether a cold air intake (CAI) is worth the money and work to install. Some of these arguments are based on a performance proposition, and the cost is easy to justify if you’re only concerned with increasing capacity. But what about the daily driver? Do you need to install a cold air intake on your daily?
Before answering this, we need to identify the claims made by the manufacturers. What exactly does a cold air intake do? Second, we need to figure out what makes a good cold air intake. Of course, what to avoid when buying a cold air intake should also be discussed. Finally, we need to dive into what the experts are saying and put this discussion under a simple cost-benefit analysis. We contacted Banks Power and Strictly Diesel to achieve this.
Performance Air Filter Vs Cold Air Intake
Let’s quantify some facts. To begin with, the size of each cylinder in your engine is fixed, we cannot make it larger. To produce more energy, we need to burn more fuel. To burn more fuel efficiently, we need more oxygen. Cold air is denser than warm air and takes up less volume.
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A good cold air intake draws air from outside the engine compartment. The system on the left is an S&B filter from Strictly Diesels and the one on the right is from Gale Banks.
In its most basic form, the cold air intake is similar to the OE air filter system – it collects air so the engine can breathe. However, CAI is designed to create a smoother path for that air. Some collect air from under the hood, while others collect air from the outside to feed the engine. Because cool air is denser, it delivers more oxygen within the same volume. If you feed the engine with hot air, it takes up more volume and reduces the amount of oxygen available for combustion. This means you burn less fuel, which reduces power.
It’s all about airflow and air temperature. With the right intake, you can increase both power and efficiency. – Gary Maschner, Strictly Diesel
Jay Tilles, Banks Power Brand Manager, summed it up this way: “It’s not just about power. Fuel economy increases as the amount of fuel required to operate the engine decreases. Also, if you reduce the turbo work to increase air density, you will see overall efficiency gains.
Engine Cold Air Intake Performance Kit
Strictly Diesel General Manager Gary Maschner echoes Jay’s sentiments: “It’s all about airflow and air temperature. With the right intake, you can increase both power output and efficiency.
In talking with both Jay and Gary, we asked about what makes a good cold air intake and what makes a bad intake. It’s no secret that a good intake increases airflow and lowers intake air temperature, that goes without saying. However, what draws air in from under the hood often reduces the amount of air flowing due to the ducting. Jay calls these configurations “stick filters”.
Gary agrees that there are actually several products on the market that reduce vehicle performance. He states, “People often buy a kit without doing their research, and unfortunately there are products on the market that are actually worse than the stock configuration.”
Both Jay and Gary refer to a short video clip by Gale Banks discussing this issue. In this short clip, Gale discusses the problems associated with using a so-called filter stick.
K&n 57 1538 Performance Air Intake System
Doing research online can be difficult – there is a lot of misinformation out there. While articles testing different dynos are good entertainment, these tests do not mimic real-world conditions. They are often made with the hood open and sometimes with the filter removed.
Before you start your research, you need to ask yourself, are you looking for consumption that will help you generate the most energy possible? Manufacturers can make an effective intake that maximizes power, but most of the time these are only suitable for high performance situations and are not effective for everyday use. This is easy to solve for one variable. However, for use in our work trucks and daily drivers, there are more variables to consider.
We do real tests. We want to increase power and efficiency while reducing emissions. – Jay Tilles, Banks Power
Most people drive their diesel truck every day and occasionally tow. In this common situation, the driver needs to add equipment to make the truck more efficient. We are all looking for improved power, better fuel economy and lower emissions. If you get more power, better MPG, and are 50 state compatible, it’s a win.
R Ep Performance Air Filter Fit For Mercedes Benz C218 W212 S212 W221 C216 Amg Cold Air Intake Washable Reusable Filter 1pcs
If you are looking for a CAI that improves all aspects of performance and is suitable for everyday use, these parameters may increase the cost of the device and cause more installation, but the return on investment will make it worth it over time. Between the fuel savings and the reduced workload for the same job, quality consumption should pay off in the end.
Intake filters come in all shapes and sizes. The most common are flat, curved and conical filters. You want to choose a filter that allows the most airflow while trapping as much debris as possible in the intake. A couple of factors are worth keeping in mind. First is the shape of the filter. Flat, cone, and arc filters are common in aftermarket intakes, and flat filters are most commonly found in stock configurations. Cone filters, however, generally flow the most air, primarily because of the larger surface area of the filter. Cone filters have the additional advantage of directing velocity more evenly into the intake pipe.
Another major debate about filters is whether to use a dry unit or an oil-soaked unit. Dry filters use a thicker medium to clean engine air. Oiled filters use a thinner medium and rely on oil to trap dirt. There are pros and cons to both filters, and in day-to-day use it comes down to your specific usage needs – almost.
Oiled filters are perfect for very dirty environments. Dusty workplaces, field work, gravel roads, etc. But the trade-off is that you have to maintain/clean an oiled filter, while a dry filter is usually discarded and replaced. Both filters work well, but you need to properly maintain your filter to keep it working at peak performance.
K&n 30 3082 Performance Air Intake System
Whether you use a dry air filter or an oiled air filter, maintenance is necessary to keep it flowing efficiently.
One common problem with oiled filters is fouling of the MAP sensor. Both Gary and Jay say this is a common problem caused by over-oiling the filter. If you’re the type of driver who frequently maintains your equipment, a properly oiled filter is probably your best bet. For the rest, get a dry filter.
Also go to any diesel forum and ask about using an oiled air filter on your turbodiesel and you will get a lot of different opinions. Some say this is good, while others say the oil from the oiled filter is being sucked into the turbo. According to Maschner, “if you take care of the filter, they can be good and improve airflow. Again, the danger is if the filters are over-oiled after cleaning. Some of the oil can be drawn through the filter and cause a film on the air mass flow sensor. This can cause a check engine light, increase exhaust output and other driving problems.
During our interviews with both Jay and Gary, they mentioned that the new Duramax factory setup is extremely efficient. Both said that with this application, most aftermarket systems on the market haven’t improved much over the stock configuration for daily driving. But Jay teased about the new product Banks is testing to make sure it improves all aspects of performance.
Do Performance Air Filters, Cold Air Intakes And Induction Kits Work?
Jay described the testing process at Banks Power. They use an AVL dyno in the shop to measure power differences. Additionally, Jay says they use a full suite of sensors to test their consumption. With the Portable Emissions Measurement System (PEMS), they can test the system both off the dyno and in the real world. All Banks tests are done to replicate real-world use as much as possible.
“The goal is to increase the air density of the manifold,” says Jay. “We’re looking for higher flow, lower intake air temperature and lower humidity.” Jay continues, “We do real-world testing. We want to increase power and efficiency while reducing emissions.
“The new Banks Ram-Air ships with the new Banks Air Mass Control Module. This electronic device is connected to your stock MAF sensor. This sends a corrected calculation to the truck’s ECM, thus allowing us to flow out of stock without setting the warning light. Many modern trucks have MAF calibrations so tight that any deviation will cause a warning on your dashboard.
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