SRT8 CAI HP Gains - Fact or Fiction?

[Double]

Originally Posted by Rambit

That's the only way they would do it as it's SOP for a dyno run. What the difference is it's not real world HP gains. In other words you wouldn't be running at the track with your hood open and a big fan in front of you.

Rambit

But it is the same conditions for the Car, I would say that you can deduce that the HP gains are the same percentage wise with the hood up or down.

[Rambit]

Originally Posted by Double

But it is the same conditions for the Car, I would say that you can deduce that the HP gains are the same percentage wise with the hood up or down.

I suppose the difference being is that you've eliminated the cold air factor. It's no longer sucking up cold air. It's also the same as what the engineers said in the post I linked to in post #1... "We have found transient dynos to be somewhat innacurate. All of our testing is done at Steady State and corrected to standard conditions."

Rambit

[Tork Monster]

Originally Posted by Double

But it is the same conditions for the Car, I would say that you can deduce that the HP gains are the same percentage wise with the hood up or down.

Testing a stock intake against a K&N intake with the hood up will bias the test towards the K&N. This would allow the K&N to draw cold air from the open hood, while the stock intake will still have to draw from the more restrictive pathway from down below.

I was suggesting that possibly K&N's testing could have been set up to purposely give a great advantage to their intake. I can't otherwise understand how they could get such high HP gains.

Maybe they positioned a high-speed fan over the intake during the test. This could slightly force-feed the K&N but would not affect the stock intake as it is closed on top. The test could also have been made with a heat-soaked engine on the stock intake and with a cool engine with the K&N (the dyno chart shows a teat time of 8:30 AM for the stock intake and 9:52 for the K&N. The test car could have been running open headers for all we can tell.

These are a bit far-fetched, I realize, but how else can you explain how they got such great gains? 21.09 HP? I can't believe they forged the dyno chart.

[caligezzer]

Having built a number of turbo cars I’d say if you engine needs extra air then give it that air. It should how ever be in conjunction with an improved exhaust.

However on the stock SRT8 with no turbo or supercharger I go no further than an improved air filter. I ran a stock filter and a K&N filter back to back on the dyno and got about 9bhp across the band but no increase at top end. This to me is an excellent gain for 40 bucks. I have seen 20 – 30bhp gains but at what price.

All I ever hear is top end and as you car only spends micro seconds at that point in the power band it probably make little difference, especially if it’s at the deficit of the over all band.

One system I would consider is the GSM system. Anyone got some numbers on that one?

Originally Posted by Rambit

After the latest SRT Engineers Chat Session, I'm left with some doubt if any of the CAI's really do as they claim.

Basically what they're saying, in answer to ResumeSpeed's question, is that many of these are not really CAI's at all as they suck hot air in from behind the radiator along with dirt.

They also say the stock SRT8 airbox is better in that the pressure drop is the lowest at WOT they've ever tested. Add to that, they say 22 RWHP gains are not realistic.

Comments???

Dodge Charger Forums - View Single Post - Srt Q & A Session: 01-17-07

Rambit

[Tork Monster]

Here is why I am so interested in the K&N claims-
I just installed the K&N Air Charger on my 6.1

This is Will's old intake. He just installed an Air Hammer on his and made me a great deal on his old K&N because it was damaged.
Evidently it had worked loose at some time and rubbed against the pulley below it. That wore a large hole in the intake tube.

I cut it and sectioned it with a new section of ABS tube. The bands seen are the connecting couplings. The inside is smooth.

I haven't test driven it yet, as I want to install my Jet chip too, if weather holds out.

I bet this will be temporary until I step up to a Hammer.

[Hemi57]

I have the Mopar CAI.

I am comfortable with the Mopar CAI as it is the same brand as my car and I therefore consider it to be engineered to a high quality with the car's durability and performance taken into the equation.

On the box Mopar claim an 8 - 10 HP gain.

I believe that with the right maintenance the Filter will protect my engine from drawing in contaminants which are harmful.

It looks good.

It sounds fabulous.

But does it give me improved performance? I don't really care.

[Tork Monster]

Well, I just did a short test drive with the new K&N Air CHarger and the Jet Stage II performance chip installed.



Have these two mods added anything?

All I can say is I am severely traction-limited in first now.

[Double]

Does all air entering that engine bay while driving come from the drivers side Air inlet under the headlight?

[roadwing1]

After reading that response from the SRT guys, I have become less and less a lover of some of the mods I have put on my baby. I have been planning on pulling my CAI off tonight and putting back the stock unit. I am also tired of CELs going off from the hi-flow cats.

As it was stated earlier, all the mods come at a trade-off. Maybe more sound, maybe more speed, but now I have drone and noise and diagnostic errors.

I am beginning to think that i may just put the whole car back to the way it was. After all, that was the one I fell in love with.

Honestly, my car felt quicker back with all the stock stuff.

[Hemi57]

Originally Posted by roadwing1

After reading that response from the SRT guys, I have become less and less a lover of some of the mods I have put on my baby. I have been planning on pulling my CAI off tonight and putting back the stock unit. I am also tired of CELs going off from the hi-flow cats.

As it was stated earlier, all the mods come at a trade-off. Maybe more sound, maybe more speed, but now I have drone and noise and diagnostic errors.

I am beginning to think that i may just put the whole car back to the way it was. After all, that was the one I fell in love with.

Honestly, my car felt quicker back with all the stock stuff.

roadwing1, I applaud you for your stating your frank experiences. I am somewhat conservative myself with the performance mods I have done or would consider doing.

The owner of a new SRT8 up in Queensland was referred to call me as he was suffering power loss and error codes on his brand new car which had the Mopar CAI and cat back exhaust (I think the exhaust was Mopar ) fitted by the Chrysler dealer before he picked it up. He rang me to ask if I had heard of anyone else who had suffered problems and what the cause was, but I could not help him other to suggest what the dealer was already trying. The dealer was progressively returning the original items onto the SRT8 and trying to determine what the cause of the problem was by a process of elimination. I have had no contact with the guy since so don't know the final outcome.