Spectre CAI Review

[brad6603]

Has anyone else noticed a decrease in performance from the Spectre CAI for a 5.3L Tahoe? I have done two 250 mile trips. One with 16.2 MPG and the other with 15.5 MPG. It just feels a little weaker in my opinion. You can definitely hear it sucking air though. Could the polished tube get too hot and actually causing hot air to enter the tb? Is plastic hot to touch like my polished CAI tube is? Anyone else noticed this?

 

[boostedgsxr1k]

I have the same kit. I have nothing but good things to say.. Saw a boost in fuel economy, and well the power increase.. All in all a great kit.. If your seeing a decrease, try doing a tune-up. Since you are adding more air now, you could be starving for fuel.. Try new plugs a new fuel filter.. Just my 2 cents

 

[brad6603]

I have new AC delco iridium plugs, new fuel pump, new fuel filter, new fuel pressure regulator all installed within 15,000 miles ago. Also have cleaned the carbon on the throttle body blade and seafoamed recently as well. Truck idles great and drives fine. But hey 15-16 MPG on a 10 year old Tahoe is not bad i guess. Running 265/75/16 tires.

 

[DESIGN]

my kit is pretty much the same as the Spectre kit and the real problem is when it's hot outside. I get some severe heat soak in the engine bay. Even though the filter is some cooler air it is really getting mostly hot air. This greatly affects gas mileage.

As of just a couple of weeks ago we had constant days over 105 with 85-95 percent humidity. Because of the nature of these kits they not only have the air temp outside to contend with they are also fighting the temps in the engine bay. This all adds to create really bad gas mileage.

I really want to get a sealed kit with plastic or ceramic coated tubes to reduce this problem. I am about to start a new job with a long commute so for the first time my Tahoe needs to get better mileage.

 

[ThorsChariot]

The loss is do to many factors that you can not control, Weather humidity and such, When you installed it did you remove the old airbox tray so you get fresh air from below? But if it really bothers you the cheap solution would be just to wrap the pipe in some sort of insulation to prevent heat soak.HTH

 

[DESIGN]

airbox tray is removed in mine. I also wrapped the tube with Header wrap. I will be upgrading to a volant sealed intake before long.

 

[brad6603]

Yes my airbox is removed. I may try and wrap mine as well. But it probably wont make that much of a difference.

 

[andrew383]

In a stock tune when IAT's get high the ecm pulls timing thus removing HP causing it to work harder...

If you had it tuned you prob wouldnt have noticed any power loss...