Dropped $1200 on a cold air intake and didn't feel a thing

I put a big name CAI kit on my 2018 5.0 last spring, figured I'd get at least 15-20 horsepower. Got it all installed in the driveway, took it for a spin, and honestly it felt exactly the same. Maybe I was expecting too much without a tune to back it up. Sound is a little throatier at wide open throttle I guess, but for the money I probably should have just done an exhaust cutout instead. Has anyone else thrown money at bolt-ons and regretted it, or did I just pick the wrong brand?

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jamie_white3mo ago

Read a article from some engine builder saying most factory intakes are already good for 500+ horsepower, so you're basically paying for sound and looks with these aftermarket kits. The real gains come from tuning and long tubes, not swapping a plastic tube for a metal one. I'd say save your money for a dyno tune next time, that'll actually wake the thing up.

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julia5573mo ago

Right? Makes you wonder if half these parts do anything real.

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jamie_white3mo ago

Yeah, I feel you on the "didn't feel a thing" part. I put a "cold air intake" on my old Mustang GT once and it was basically the same story. Except my check engine light came on after a week and I spent another $300 trying to figure out why. Ended up it was just a loose sensor clip but it still got me wondering if it was even worth the hassle. For what it's worth, I saw a bigger difference just putting on a set of sticky tires and a strut tower brace than any intake ever gave me.

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