Got a C6 2012 Grandsport convertible. I am still a newbie with this great car. Thinking of putting in a Vararam or a K&N low restriction air intake. I would appreciate any advice from the forum on such a move. Is it worth the money. (I am always looking to make things better.) Will it void my warranty? Thanks in advance. Tom

 

I would leave it alone. You have a good intake. It's basically the same one that feeds the Z06 and the ZR1.
No it will not hurt your warranty.
The Vararam does actually get cold air to the intake, which helps in the reduction of your timing. Kinda hard to install, tho. The K&N is just a different filter.
Without a tune a few more goodies....you will only go faster because your wallet in lighter.

 

Many thanks Lebvette. What you are saying, if I read you correctly, is the mod is not really worth it. I might just put a plain vanilla K&N filter in that bad boy and be done with it. tom

 

I have a 2011 GS with A6 and it's all stock except for the Airaid 250-230 CAI they make. My builder said that it would be about as good as the others with the "total mods" planned for my car. The mods are "planned" to be nothing more then a good tune, drag radials for racing & the Airaid CAI. I have not been able to get good drag strip data on it yet, but it appears it got me .3 ET and about 1.5 MPH without anything else changed. I plan to cut a small section of the lower fan shroud and drop it down similar to a scoop to direct some air into the compartment were the air filter is actually at. I don't get to test my car much so it takes me quite some time to analyze the actual changes. The nice thing about the Airaid is you don't have any concern about water ingestion like the "bottom feeders" (Vararam and the like).

 

The plain vanilla K&N would be a waste of your money. The stock filter element flows more than enough air and has superior filtering to the K&N.

Since K&N doesn't make a CAI for a C6 you are better off staying stock.

 

Many thanks. I will keep my wallet in my pocket. Incidentally, do you have an idea how often to change the stock airfilter? Thanks. tom

 

'08 manual says to inspect at Maint 2 intervals and replace at 50,000 mile intervals.

 

 

Actually K & N does make a CAI for the C6. I should know I put one on, as has several GS owners that I know. Whether or not you believe the Dyno Chart is up to you but it does show a 17 HP increase over the factory intake.

 

K&N does NOT make a CAI for the C6.

They make filters and filter enclosures but they do not make a CAI.

Some of the companies selling K&N advertize them as CAI's but they are not. K&N doesn't advertize them as CAI's.

CAI stands for COLD AIR INTAKE, it means the filter has access to fresh (cold) air and no K&N has fresh air access.

Dyno's from K&N should be taken with a BLOCK of salt. I don't doubt that they could manipulate dyno readings to get anything they want.

 

I have all the data on my 2008 you could want .The fact !on my car with the stock air cleaner,My car with the front proped open with 2 bolts went 12.17 at 118 mph with the same da the viraram went 12.24 at 117 mph $500.00 lighter on the pocket and no gains just a loser.
This is with the tune also!

 

all I can say is wow.......and of course I have a Real CAI and I doubt I got an extra 17 HP.

 

In my opinion, only get a CAI when you get headers also.

 

I tried the K&N filter alone on my 11 GS, hated it, liked how the car performed and sounded with the stock filter, put it back in and sold the K&N. KN has the best flow but the worst filtering, the stock one is pretty close to KN and the best filtering. Also I believe the OEM somehow smooths out the airflow for a better performance, definitely does something to it and it is all good.

 

i have the one and only CAI VARARAM and picked up 5/10 5 mph documented within a 10 ft DA

 

If you did some back-to-back dyno testing with air fuel ratio monitored I think you'd find that the aftermarket air inlet systems manage to lean out the air fuel ratio by manipulating the size of the MAF read area (in effect, 'tricking' the engine computer).

Most any time you lean out the air fuel ratio on a stock engine you'll pick up some HP because the factory tends to run them a bit rich to promote cooling @ max power output and lessen the risk of detonation.

You could likely pick up about 95% of whatever gain provided by an aftermarket air inlet tube by simply having a tuner reprogram your engine control module to lean out the air fuel ratio slightly (but personally I would consider that somewhat risky).

 

I suppose it could depend on your definition of CAI or Cold Air Intake (No Kidding!) but here is a cut and paste from the K & N website. Not a reseller website.


K&N 63-3073 63 Series Aircharger Kits > Performance Intake Kit


List Price: $862.92

Your Price: $499.99



63-3073
In Stock & Ready to Ship! Free Ground Shipping!


The K&N AirCharger 63-3073 air intake system replaces the restrictive factory air filter and air intake housing in some Chevrolet Corvette models. K&N intakes are designed to dramatically reduce intake restriction as they smooth and straighten air flow. This allows your Corvette’s engine to inhale a larger amount of air than the factory air filter assembly. More air means more usable power and acceleration throughout the engine’s RPM range. The 63-3073 air intake comes with a K&N carbon fiber top and flanged high-flow air filter that directs air into the custom molded intake for a guaranteed power gain. The oversized air filter can be used for up to 100,000 miles before servicing is needed depending on driving conditions. This air intake is relatively easy to install requiring only a screwdriver and several wrenches. This air intake cannot be sold in California. It is not legal for use in California or other states adopting California emission standards.

 

Since you have a 2012, it came with the ZR1/LS9 air filter. Definitely no reason to change unless you're going to do something that blocks out engine heat (true CAI). Even then, you probably won't see a dyno gain, it's more for lowering IATs.

 

Exactly like I said. There is NO mention of CAI or Cold Air Intake in the K&N description above.

You have an Aircharger, Performance Intake Kit

NOT a CAI by any description. Unless you think the stock intake is a CAI?

 

he has a very expensive fancy filter.