Cold air intake questions on ZO6
06-21-2019, 05:06 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Cold air intake questions on ZO6
Ok, so I swore I would not go mod crazy on this 2017 ZO6, but I'm thinking CAI.
1. Is replacing the CAI on my 2017 ZO6 worth it? What can I expect without a tune?
2. Is the Varam CAI the best choice?
3. Is the Chevy CAI even close to other manufacturers?
4. Doe's the Chevy CAI come with a tune if you do it at the dealership?
5. I assume the Chevy CAI does not void the warranty. Is this true?
6. Would any other CAI void the warranty?
7. Which CAI is best?
Opinions welcome!!
Thanks
Gonzo
1. Is replacing the CAI on my 2017 ZO6 worth it? What can I expect without a tune?
2. Is the Varam CAI the best choice?
3. Is the Chevy CAI even close to other manufacturers?
4. Doe's the Chevy CAI come with a tune if you do it at the dealership?
5. I assume the Chevy CAI does not void the warranty. Is this true?
6. Would any other CAI void the warranty?
7. Which CAI is best?
Opinions welcome!!
Thanks
Gonzo
06-21-2019, 07:24 PM
#3
Save your money and get a BMS filter. It’s under $90 and will be within 5-10hp of a CAI.
06-21-2019, 08:43 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
OP. You might take the time to read this thread, there are some answers here.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rket-data.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rket-data.html
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Gonzo (06-22-2019)
06-22-2019, 10:25 AM
#7
Le Mans Master
I have a VARARAM on my LT1 and my IAT are lower (intake air temps ) which allows the ECM to not pull as much timing .
That's the object of a CAI , they don't add HP per say but the allow the engine to make as much HP as possible because of lower IAT temps .
Any intake that is designed to pull air from the stock factory location is just going to bring in the same air temps as the factory unit . A Vararam is designed to pull in outside air from the area between the hood and the fender which for me has resulted in lower IAT's
Now it is well known that the ZO6 air filter is restrictive for the amount of air that it needs , that's why you get a HP gain with a BMS filter as it flows way better than the factory air filter
No tune is needed with either ,
Dave
That's the object of a CAI , they don't add HP per say but the allow the engine to make as much HP as possible because of lower IAT temps .
Any intake that is designed to pull air from the stock factory location is just going to bring in the same air temps as the factory unit . A Vararam is designed to pull in outside air from the area between the hood and the fender which for me has resulted in lower IAT's
Now it is well known that the ZO6 air filter is restrictive for the amount of air that it needs , that's why you get a HP gain with a BMS filter as it flows way better than the factory air filter
No tune is needed with either ,
Dave
Last edited by Dcasole; 06-22-2019 at 10:26 AM.
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Gonzo (06-22-2019)
06-22-2019, 03:54 PM
#8
I have a VARARAM on my LT1 and my IAT are lower (intake air temps ) which allows the ECM to not pull as much timing .
That's the object of a CAI , they don't add HP per say but the allow the engine to make as much HP as possible because of lower IAT temps .
Any intake that is designed to pull air from the stock factory location is just going to bring in the same air temps as the factory unit . A Vararam is designed to pull in outside air from the area between the hood and the fender which for me has resulted in lower IAT's
Now it is well known that the ZO6 air filter is restrictive for the amount of air that it needs , that's why you get a HP gain with a BMS filter as it flows way better than the factory air filter
No tune is needed with either ,
Dave
That's the object of a CAI , they don't add HP per say but the allow the engine to make as much HP as possible because of lower IAT temps .
Any intake that is designed to pull air from the stock factory location is just going to bring in the same air temps as the factory unit . A Vararam is designed to pull in outside air from the area between the hood and the fender which for me has resulted in lower IAT's
Now it is well known that the ZO6 air filter is restrictive for the amount of air that it needs , that's why you get a HP gain with a BMS filter as it flows way better than the factory air filter
No tune is needed with either ,
Dave
Just change the filter and pull the trim off. Or go all out and get a halltech and tune. Then you'll get 50 hp over stock.
Now that I have an oil cooler inside that fender I will be enlarging that hole to increase fresh air intake.
Last edited by BrunoTheMellow; 06-22-2019 at 03:55 PM.
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Gonzo (06-23-2019)
06-22-2019, 04:30 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
Or you know. The free fresh air mod.... just pull the plastic trim off and reveal large holes where fresh air can enter. By the way. Air inside the fender cavity is ambient temp. I tested this with a thermometer probe so don't buy the snake oil vararam is selling
Just change the filter and pull the trim off. Or go all out and get a halltech and tune. Then you'll get 50 hp over stock.
.
Just change the filter and pull the trim off. Or go all out and get a halltech and tune. Then you'll get 50 hp over stock.
.
Dave
06-22-2019, 05:01 PM
#10
The intake piping and filter restriction are real. The "colder air" is snake oil.
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Gonzo (06-23-2019)
06-22-2019, 05:25 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
So if the temps are the same , why did you pull the trim off ?
I agree , the filter restriction is real on blown cars ....
Dave
I agree , the filter restriction is real on blown cars ....
Dave
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Gonzo (06-23-2019)
06-22-2019, 05:26 PM
#12
Back when I had the Procharger "race inlet" I took these readings.
T1 at front bumper.
T2 inside fender hole where filter sits.
T3 infront of the open filter,
t4 behind.
You can see the ziptie where I had the thermocouples attached. As you went up I RPM , T4 would increase, the rest were pretty steady.
I could run a test on my new car to verify if the hole makes any difference.
But now I really need to have that hole on my Z06 as I have the LG kit exhausting hot air into the bumper where the stock air intake is. I'll likely enlarge the hole to triple the size.
Last edited by BrunoTheMellow; 06-22-2019 at 05:32 PM.
06-23-2019, 09:04 AM
#13
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Thank you all very much. I am going to get a BMS filter and pull the trim piece. I am not going to do a tune as I dont want to mess up my warranty.
I really do appreciate the simple straight forward opinions. I'm no expert and hot lost eithball thr info, I also prefer the best bang for the buck approach as well as not risking to much on the drivability and engine life.
Gonzo
I really do appreciate the simple straight forward opinions. I'm no expert and hot lost eithball thr info, I also prefer the best bang for the buck approach as well as not risking to much on the drivability and engine life.
Gonzo
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Dcasole (06-23-2019)
06-23-2019, 09:31 AM
#14
Le Mans Master
Bruno , the T4 reading is very interesting, a 15 degree rise over ambient temps and you stated it would go up as u increased RPM ? How hot did it go?
Where was the coupler mounted , was it right behind the filter or was it farther down the tube towards the throttle body ?
With your blower are you still able to run the radiator to hood vent ?
With that much rise do you think there is any benefit to insulating the tube ?
I only used one thermo couple , in the tube by the throttle body , this how I saw the difference in temps between the Vararam and the stock system , I to saw a small rise in temps with RPM but it did level off .
I wonder if the Vararam is not conducting as much heat thru the tube?
Dave
Where was the coupler mounted , was it right behind the filter or was it farther down the tube towards the throttle body ?
With your blower are you still able to run the radiator to hood vent ?
With that much rise do you think there is any benefit to insulating the tube ?
I only used one thermo couple , in the tube by the throttle body , this how I saw the difference in temps between the Vararam and the stock system , I to saw a small rise in temps with RPM but it did level off .
I wonder if the Vararam is not conducting as much heat thru the tube?
Dave
06-23-2019, 11:41 AM
#15
Bruno , the T4 reading is very interesting, a 15 degree rise over ambient temps and you stated it would go up as u increased RPM ? How hot did it go?
i don't remember honestly. But it kept increasing, an open-to-engine filter is a terrible idea.
Where was the coupler mounted , was it right behind the filter or was it farther down the tube towards the throttle body ?
coupler? You mean the thermometer probes? They were mounted on the face of the filter.
With your blower are you still able to run the radiator to hood vent ?
yes but I didn't run it. I don't have on my Z06 either. It traps a lot of heat in at low speeds. In my track testing I didn't find difference between on and off in how fast I overheated. But I only tested 1 sessions each.
With that much rise do you think there is any benefit to insulating the tube ?
probably. It's a pretty hot tube. Air won't spend much time in it but maybe worth 1-2 degrees?
I only used one thermo couple , in the tube by the throttle body , this how I saw the difference in temps between the Vararam and the stock system , I to saw a small rise in temps with RPM but it did level off .
The stock tube is fairly turbulent. It may be that getting air from the hood seam by either method is worth some sort of colder air. But the fender was ambient from my low throttle testing.
I wonder if the Vararam is not conducting as much heat thru the tube?
Dave
i don't remember honestly. But it kept increasing, an open-to-engine filter is a terrible idea.
Where was the coupler mounted , was it right behind the filter or was it farther down the tube towards the throttle body ?
coupler? You mean the thermometer probes? They were mounted on the face of the filter.
With your blower are you still able to run the radiator to hood vent ?
yes but I didn't run it. I don't have on my Z06 either. It traps a lot of heat in at low speeds. In my track testing I didn't find difference between on and off in how fast I overheated. But I only tested 1 sessions each.
With that much rise do you think there is any benefit to insulating the tube ?
probably. It's a pretty hot tube. Air won't spend much time in it but maybe worth 1-2 degrees?
I only used one thermo couple , in the tube by the throttle body , this how I saw the difference in temps between the Vararam and the stock system , I to saw a small rise in temps with RPM but it did level off .
The stock tube is fairly turbulent. It may be that getting air from the hood seam by either method is worth some sort of colder air. But the fender was ambient from my low throttle testing.
I wonder if the Vararam is not conducting as much heat thru the tube?
Dave
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Dcasole (06-23-2019)