2015 mustang Cold air test, Open air element vs a stock CAI.

[@DroppinGearz]

It’s ALL in the DATA! No marketing stunts. We approve👍🏽👍🏽

[@Jimmyxsx]

The Mustang chief engineer said it a while ago in an interview with Jay leno when the Boss 302 was released. Jay Leno asked him if the aftermarket cold air intakes really made more power than stock units and the Mustang engineer said that they used to way back in the day but thats no longer the case. He said stock units were CAD designed and tested for flow and IAT and that aftermarkets units were no better.

[@michaelharris748]

Maybe not on a bone stockish car but once you do some mods like cj intake and cams when the motor is gonna want alot more air than what the stock one can give so youd see benefits for going aftermarket with a large cone filter, same with a blower you need a big intake and large cone filter. Ideally something like the steeda closed box intake is best its like stock but much larger diameter that is best of both worlds, air flow and lower heat in intake temps

[@NissanTy]

Boss 302s, gt350s, and gt500s all come with an open element filter from the factory though. Blows my mind why Ford would use an open element filter if these closed boxes keep IATs down and make more power

[@Jimmyxsx]

NissanTy they are open air element but they are well designed and seal against the hood really good. They feed from an opening in the grill.

[@MaliciousSRT]

Same with the Dodges, there's almost no gain in swapping out the intakes, or exhausts for that matter.

[@scarface9617]

@@MaliciousSRT on my bone stock 19'SS.. I installed a Roto-fab intake.. headers.. and full exhaust.. and made a gain of +38whp.!

[@ToG_7]

ayyyyyyyy he posts the forbidden fruit

[@ThatGuyWalter]

This is not an indictment on anything. This is common sense/science. Good stuff, as always, Alex!

[@kevinskonieczny7708]

Please do this but with the Steeda closed lid. Awesome data man. Speaks volumes

[@corsagays9000]

I was gunna ask the same question...seriously wanna know cause thats the route i wanna take

[@PalomosdeCazaUSA]

That will be awesome the test with steeda; putting the truth out there respect

[@coyotekelly7143]

Thank you for this! This answers my question on getting a CAI on my 18 Gt.

[@mattjones1378]

Remember foxbodies had that aftermarket ram air by a company called March. The ram air snorkel was located under the front bumper. S550 needs that. Also, remember back in the days when school bus drivers had those small fans pointing at them. You can use those, make a bracket in the front bumper and have the fan pointing at the ram air snorkel too cool the air temp down during staging lines.

[@fransullivan4099]

That March really worked, mounted under the bumper for outside air

[@michaelharris748]

This already exists its called the velossa tech ram air snorkel they make them for the s550 mustangs they bring air in through stock location but the design of the inlet lets most possible air in with least resistance and also avoids the hot dadiator backwash air that you can get through the stock opening look into it they make them for the rs ans sts too i have one on my full bolt on hybrid turbo fiesta st theyre great stuff ill have one on my s550 if i ever get one too...with a steeda closed box 121 mm intake would be the best possible intake setup imaginable for the s550 imo.

[@1BAD14GT-1BADAT4X]

Glad to have someone out there not taking sides and just giving us the truth. Hard to find that these days. Keep it up. 👍🏻

[@kwmiked]

This is great! I knew this info back yrs ago on my KB 04 GT , everyone told me the down in fender well CAI from Kb was no good, I was gonna suck water, blah blah blah, everyone told me I needed a open filter under hood. I had one, I knew it sucked heat off radiator and made less power, had higher IATs , but all the GOOFs on the Mustang Fb pages told me I had no idea what I was talking about. Gotta love it! Keep those open filters guys! Your making more hp u can really feel

[@kwmiked]

This was one of the main reasons I sold the car and left the mustang pages. Cause of Goofs that have no clue

[@neilwattoo]

Man thank you. I put a JLT on my brand new Scatpack w/ less than 1k miles. Havent been impressed ever. 2 years later, i see this, I'm going back to stock.

[@remander3873]

Air density is king. That IAT difference negates the intake gains, due to decreased air density. Closed box, FTW!

[@deadman1515]

Thanks man, I had assumed this but with everyone talking about this and JLT I wasn’t sure, appreciate the time.

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

Saw this video on the weather channel. Sh-t storm heading for southern Florida. Great video Alex.. between the vlog and your tech stuff your getting powerful.

[@jdigitalseven7]

Thank you for finally being first person to actually do a detailed test. There's a reason Manufacturers dont put open air elements in cars. Only thing it seems to do is make is sound louder. Might have exposed that these after market intakes are biggest marketing scam out there. Watch yourself, 2 men in black suits might be visiting you soon 😂😂😂.

[@randyoehlert9571]

I run almost the same test 3 years ago. I got almost the same results. The stock air box draws in cool air from outside of the engine compartment. Another test i done was carburetor compared with EFI. At Top end carburetor had 20 more hp then EFI system. Testing done with the same engine on engine dyno. That was surprising. Good video that was fun. Thanks proving again what i have been telling my customers. I wouldn't install one if it was my car.

[@timothycann7086]

I definitely appreciated the time spent delivering this information. Real tests with real information on real parts. Thank you bro !

[@SHOOTSHOW00]

Finally, Lund is pretty good at having your back... You should do a video on MPR cam caps.

[@blackstang9972]

Moe is in the know lol!!! I agree

[@forcedair92gt94]

4 open hood and open air element dyno junkies gave thumbs down. You could always drop a hunk of dry ice in that open tomb before each pull to boost dyno numbers with the hood closed.

[@smokeum12]

I have the 350 intake, TB, and cold air set up... For an open air element it really doesn't do bad at all.. even in traffic. Maybe because it's a Ford design?

[@AlekseiBykov]

actually the FRPP and GT350 CAI have best sealing rubber that goes from the box to the hood. thats y ur intake doesnt get too hot!!!

[@matewansid]

This confirms what I suspected about most of the "Cold Air Intakes" being marketed for the S550. All the dyno tests are done with the hood open. The Roush intake in particular look like a horn or bowl. That's not to make more power. It's a megaphone to make MORE NOISE ! So the driver hears all this intake noise and thinks, "wow, listen to the power !" The factory design is actually pretty good except it gets heat soaked in traffic. I have some high-tech gold foil insulation and will try wrapping the factory airbox and see if the IAT numbers improve in traffic.

[@YDBT4LIFE]

Good man

[@douglasbrodock573]

Nice! Great info. For years I've always chuckled when I've seen these "cold air" kits.

[@HarrisonWHB24]

Great video man! Before It ended I was thinking how a CAI was still beneficial as long as you weren't sitting stationary for too long. You ended up saying exactly that.

[@isca21]

My PMAS is like this. IATs get high really quick. Been thinking about building a box around it and a duct from the lower fog light cover hole from the bumper to the box

[@m.ragland559]

isca21 Same here on PMAS IATs.

[@BillySAw951]

isca21 check out Velossa tech they make a air tube that directs air to the intake it looks pretty cool I’m ordering one soon and I’m going to test out the ambient air temps in daytime heat and traffic and then I’ll compare it to the stock airbox

[@isca21]

BillySAw951 I have a s197. They only make s550 ones :-(

[@ashleyg8373]

Thanks for the test and data. Keep these tests going 👍

[@a_zula1]

Goddamn Alex. Appreciate all the hard work you do man. Facts are facts, I’ll be saving hundreds of bucks keeping my stock intake.

[@61484]

Test it out with the steeda closed air box Would be awesome

[@kevinskonieczny7708]

My suggestion exactly.

[@meorge9359]

Send him one and he’ll test it loo

[@ReflexGs31]

Good shit man, always nice to learn stuff that have been talked up for awhile

[@natsts50]

Well done for keeping it real Alex, great video! Ignore the noise this vid might create.

[@mannyhernandez6324]

Man of the people👏🏽🙌🏼

[@jershelb]

Outstanding data, man! I have a 2019 that is bone stock, aside from an aFe magnum drop-in filter. I deleted my sound tube and also deleted the muffler on the stock intake tube (dremel cut off wheel and then plastic welded the hole). It has an amazing sound, and while I only have the butt dyno for measurement, it feels much snappier! This video helped solidify my decision. I would love to see your input on the best possible option for the resonator section (x-pipe vs h-pipe vs stock). Keep up the great work!

[@thecykotik1]

Come on man I just ordered my tune through Lund. I don't want you to lose your job now ☹️. Once again thank you for the great videos Alex!!

[@brocklndrs]

Real info not bs, Alex is the man!!

[@fericyde]

This is the reason I follow and watch everything you do man. Glad you did this one, because even before you did your results here I've been skeptical of these parts! They always compare a stock airbox with a stock tune against thier parts and it's always made me wonder. It's why I did my coyote swap with the stock components - with the thought that someday I might switch it up - But I NEVER thought about the hood open situation!! That's even more damning. Is it possible that a tune that accounts for the Hood being closed (by the manufacturer, in this case Roush) would make better numbers but not as high, so they ship it like this? In any case, this took some work and some enormous balls man Kudos

[@GamerNRetro]

Thank you for all you do, Alex. Another great video.

[@BillySAw951]

Thank you so much Alex I’ve always kept an eye on the intake air temps and used the butt dyno lol and it does feel limper or weaker once the iat gets high but when it’s low it’s amazing it just rips

[@manowar6556]

Sometimes truth causes controversy... and that’s ok lol Thanks for great video Alex!

[@joelubner3879]

Nice Alex glad to see you made this video!!

[@MoragTong_]

Bingo. Been pushing my car to staging since high school drags back in the 90's...old skool.

[@forcedair92gt94]

Guys at the track today will have their camera man push the car(LOL).

[@billb9288]

As always great video Alex, appreciate the great info!

[@hotchihuahua1546]

Thanks for you and especially your engines hard work, getting cold air is the key !

[@serengetilion]

Interesting. Kudos to you man.

[@krownvikkhris3004]

This was some great information, because I was planning on buying a cold air intake for my crownvic police interceptor, but now I see how it works. The factory airbox is a better design with a better drop in air filter 👍👍👍

[@fransullivan4099]

Excellent video, testing tells the truth, not marketing BS

[@Schoenfeld3]

Didn’t have any objection to the dyno gains and losses. For years of common sense finally truth may get out to more people out there. Great video. I have the Roush CAI on but it has it’s flaws and I corrected most of them. When you look at the quality and thickness of the stock ducting you can see the what the Ford engineers were doing to lower IAT’s. What I did is closed up all the leaks in which hot air can enter and insulate the Roush intake.

[@Schoenfeld3]

It is the 2018 and up closed cold air intake that is…

[@BowenzMotorsports]

Great job Alex! Always coming with the %100 unbiased truth!

[@3star2nr]

Damn alex you the man for this. These videos have really helped me make smarter tuning decisions thanks to them i know better what I want from the car

[@kevkel33]

Great video. I couldnt agree more. I Switch my aftermarket cold air for the stock 18 airbox on my 16 a few months ago. Very happy with it.

[@codykyle3603]

Did you have to tune for it?

[@disinferno06]

LOVE this testing you do. No bullshit JUST DATA

[@xtank50]

Awesome video!! Always great info and data to back it up

[@3star2nr]

Guys important note like Alex said this ONLY applies to NA with boost you can lose as much as 50whp staying with the stock airbox. It just isnt designed for the volume of air forced induction needs. But stock for stock ford does a great job designing their intake systems

[@qwicxs]

I did a Steeda CAI and tune after running my car 57,000 miles bone stock. No mods but axel back exhaust. I new it was bull shit all these years I don’t beat on my car because it’s a rare Lava Red. I noticed a lot of difference so did my wife afterwards with F off money. Is it HP? or is the sound it makes sucking in the air?? Sure puts a smile on my face. Im bias also best reviews after years of reading Steeda got the most compliments. It was really hard to pull the trigger on the tune... Would love a blower but not for the price. Long tubes and x pipe someday. Enjoy the channel I recommend Steeda I love it.

[@JR10_RR]

Said this for years, ever since I had one on my 07GT. Felt great when it was cold for first 5 minutes of the day....then felt soggy when warmed up.

[@airflow_concepts]

⛽🔧Finally some real world testing. Thanks for posting.

[@brianneal9204]

Thanks for posting this up. Finally some real facts. So many people have no clue about thermal dynamics and just listen to know-nothing loud mouths.

[@brillowolf]

Why Roush make a CAI that looks like something you’d take a piss in???

[@deanwinchester119]

Great video!! Looks like stock intake with just a K&N drop in filter is good until you go ported cobra jet mani but put on the PMAS intake and maf goes into the fender by the tire

[@dlp2600]

Great Video Alex!!! Very good information.

[@d.hayward5232]

The solution is obvious - run the car without the hood! 🤦‍♂️

[@michaelharris748]

That actually isnt a bad idea at least at the track anyways that would give u a big time advantage

[@billysandals]

Cleetus McFarland has entered the chat.

[@ThrottleHavoc]

@@michaelharris748 IAT advantage but an aerodynamic disadvantage, honestly I think it would be more of a disadvantage than an advantage at that point tbh you’d prob run slower

[@bioni007]

Thanks for all the info.... I hope I get to see a late night commercial saying how the cold intake Industry paid out 1 billion dollars for the ppl who were affective

[@ricardosimon1975]

Love your videos man keep em coming!

[@matthewgray259]

Damn... If you come up missing we all know why lol

[@BadgerGT500]

Matthew Gray 😂😂

[@disegnosys]

Matthew Gray yeah the Clinton’s did it.

[@Xtr3me85]

Awesome video Alex!!!

[@raygonzales4465]

Luv ya brah......soooooo legit and real. Way to keep it

[@SergioGomez-to1jl]

I had jlt intake in my 03 cobra made 719hp my tuner said said put the stock stock intake back on with the k&n fpik and I and couldn’t believe how much bigger the stock intake tube was over stock and re dyno it and made 744hp with stock intake tube

[@kwmiked]

Samething on my KB 04, all the Goofs on the mustang page told me I needed the open filter , I showed the dyno sheets, nobody cared. Said I was wrong and everyone stood behind everyone that said open filter was better, sold the car in 2013 and left the mustang pages. Couldn't handle the stupidity

[@rotor13]

Kwmike-D could’ve kept the car and just left the pages don’t let a community of idiot dictate what you do.

[@kwmiked]

@@rotor13 it was time to go, get my money outa car and move on

[@understatedautobody]

This is exactly why I went with the Steeda closed box factory style intake with 110mm MAF housing.

[@cmdrdredd]

Thanks for the video. This isn’t surprising to me. I knew that open air filters will only make more power(manufacturers advertised gains) in ideal conditions and with cooler weather. I still like an open filter element for more air flow and how it looks which is just preference on my part.

[@teddiazjr.6223]

Another great video

[@isthatahemi1979]

The Roush isn't a CAI......Something like and S&B sealed cover with the fully upsized intake tract should perform much better. Great test, well done.

[@bitpro8903]

137°F IAT with my hood closed is idle temp after 5 mins in 98°F when I'm driving it's 6°F increase in IAT and I feel the car pulls harder when IAT is lower. Thanks for the information

[@drewdalesandro672]

Same! I want to see highway pulls and data logging. Sitting on a dyno is great for conversations and sales figures. I am begging for highway data logging.

[@cable-njh586]

Great video getting the best info for your buck !!!

[@Themazcorner]

Very interesting to see. I just did install a Velossa Tech Big mouth on my 18 with the stock box and Afe drop-in filter. It would be interesting to see if it really makes any difference. However it is difficult as that would actually require the car to be rolling. Also Alex damnit please develop a tune for cars with GPF filters lol

[@chrishelms5831]

Please try it with the underhood insulation pad in place, I’m sure it’s the reason for the high IAT’s. I noticed this on my roushcharged/JLT intake combo. I ditched the hood pad and now I have higher iat’s and a ton of space between the hood and the uncapped airbox.....

[@ShizawnSanders]

If you noticed he doesn't even have the hood closed all the way. There is a 1" gap. He just posted what we have all been seeing for years. Aftermarket CAI with a open filter LOSE power from a dig and are slower in the 1/4 because of the high IAT'S which take too long to recover. From a roll maybe the car is faster but from a stop the car is pulling timing form the high IAT'S.

[@FiveFiveSixx]

Alex please test out the Mishimoto induction hose it’s got more flow then the stock tubing but maintains the use of the stock air box. Please try this out.

[@richardoehrle6640]

I have the same Setup. Would also Like to see If there is any benefit

[@danrudd6262]

Awesome straightforward factual information...panel filter it is.

[@bubbafinch07]

That's insane. I love it.

[@williameathorne1500]

I would like to see you test a a ford performance stage 2 kit with the CAI and tune from ford and gt350 throttle body. On your 6r80.On an a 15-17 GT.

[@donnie5556]

Me too. That's what I have and I can't find any automatic dyno videos of the stage 2.

[@mikehughes8023]

Why would he waste time with that? Ford already claimed a 20 hp gain and 20 ft lb torque gain. Even throughout the rpm curve that power pack picks up over 45hp at 5100 rpm on 93 octane. Bolt ons with Lund tune will give you more than that.

[@mitchellsternberg3281]

I'd like to see the numbers on the gt350 intake on a gt My inlet air runs 10 to12 degrees above ambient and in traffic stop and go maybe 5 to ten above that As soon as I touch h the throttle it drops It does use the stock snorkel to the grill and the hood vent is directly above it

[@excelmaestro9798]

Very educational thank you so much for posting this video

[@abdullahsameer9035]

Very informative great job, thanks Alex

[@TheCdM1981]

I think what you’re showing is great but you should also put closed air boxes to the test to see if products like airraid, injen, and roush 2018 CAI’s are much better or not. Great vids bro.

[@YDBT4LIFE]

No real point. Just a waste of time testing basically stock cold airs

[@TheCdM1981]

Alejandro Flores thanks for the response. Nice to know my money was well spent on a prettier intake then at the very least. Lol.

[@jason52973]

This should tell you a CAI works well when u can keep the IATs low. Common sense. Summer temperatures always negatively affect performance. Run the same tests in November. This is why it's crucial WHEN u Dyno, because as Alex says you will get different results on different days and times of the year.

[@saleen367]

The secret is to completely seal the air box and pull in fresh air via the inner fender or grill opening. Its kind of a no brainer ... you don't want to start with any fresh air coming from the hot engine bay.

[@aussie-c10-68]

saleen367 got to drill out all the holes in the grille... sealed filter, more filter area, more air flow to the filter...

[@joshodin19]

Alex, do u think a 14 model stock air box would be better than an open element?

[@talaminia]

Would be cool to see this tested as well, especially on a stock mustang.

[@joshodin19]

All I've got done is full exhaust, roush open filter, and a tune. After watching this video, I'm wanting to put my stock box back in and try it

[@joshodin19]

I have a 2 hr trip to make tomorrow so I will put the stock box back in b4 I go I'll let you guys kno the outcome

[@joshodin19]

I put stock air box back on, but got a k&n replacement filter since paper filter was dirty and it feels alot better. It seems to run stronger and smoother.

[@scarface9617]

@@joshodin19 damn.. I'm not into paying $ to lose h.p... glad it feels better!

[@camerondeforest7832]

Now my question is, coming from someone familiar with tuning all kinds of builds, is there a point with these cars in which the stock airbox can't bring in enough air for the modifications that have been done to the car? For example, if running a larger TB, LTH, Catless, etc, would the stock airbox start losing power because it can't flow as much as a more free flowing intake with a larger filter element?

[@sengsythao1896]

Thanks for this video man! I just dropped in a K&N filter in my stock box and later deciding to get a intake kit. But after seeing this, I am glad my wallet is still full. Haha!

[@Fir3man786]

Great informative video !

[@PimoAn01]

Somebody’s going to get a nastygram e-mail lol. Solid info, thanks for the video Alex

[@BIGBADSPARTAN217]

Can we see some testing on the steeda closed air box

[@MrBooricua]

I been wonder if opening the grill holes makes a difference

[@drewdalesandro672]

I did! Cut the whole grill portion out! Put the Velossa Tech Big Mouth in behind it and my AIT are awesome on the highway! Look them up.

[@kirsitompuri4150]

I have Dremel all the holes open

[@FerRod2113]

Kirsi Tompuri I want to do it to my mustang tbh

[@JoeMaters]

With the hood closed, we are not compensating the heat displacement in the engine bay due to no air being sucked as you do while moving. A small blower like that will never equal it, the heat will affect the sucked air temperature due to hotter intake tubes and hot engine bay air being sucked too. The open intake will work while moving since temperatures are being controlled by the colder air and will give you the same numbers as if you tested the car in the dyno with the hood open. Stationary, obviously will give you lower power and will affect you in drag racing due to raising engine bay and hot air around the while staging but in the road course, the open intake will outperform due to the lower air temperature as he explained in the video. In my opinion, stock intake for drag racing, open intake for rolling/road racing.

[@kwmiked]

I disagree. He could put 4 fans in front of that and it will still be sucking in all the heat off the radiator, its common sense! Nevermind the heat off exhaust and motor

[@JoeMaters]

Remember, air is all about density and its density is affected by the temperature.

[@ReflexGs31]

When are we going to see more comparisons Alex? I enjoy these kind of things. 🤘🏻

[@YDBT4LIFE]

Soon sir...i have a full time job. So its tough to get to it all.

[@ReflexGs31]

Yes sir, completely understandable

[@troyjohnson2627]

I bet the 4 dislikes at this moment on this video are from K&N, Roush, JLT, and BBK... LMAO!!! Thanks for being a truth teller YOLO

[@jpalmer3089]

Awesome info...thanks Alex

[@Jamie-ww3yz]

Alex recently bought a 2016 gt stage 2 Whipple kit had a belt issue today I think it was caused by the the hood insulation rubbing the pulley . But my question is what is the best replacement belt ? What length or part # you suggest. 2.9 blower. 3.75 pulley Thanks for any help you can provide.

[@YNTGUNS]

Airraid has a closed box around it, so i wonder if that makes a difference and not being open like the roush

[@thedrizzle899]

Now the question is would you close the open air on a GT350? Thanks for posting this

[@mikehughes8023]

For what?

[@Danu01c]

I did a test like that with a bone stock GSF. First run, bone stock it did 392whp. Took off the paper filter, ran it again and did 400whp. But what I'm curious to see is if in the long run it still giver more than with the paper filter.

[@firestang70]

Great data, thanks for sharing.

[@gaivoron]

I got 16 gt, would I need to tune if i were to upgrade to +2018 stock intake?

[@scarface9617]

damn.. that Red on that GT look good, that'd be plum siK' with red leather interior also!