Thoughts on the GM OEM Cold Air Intake.

[M R Trucks]

I’m really liking my 6.2L AT4. It has the upgraded exhaust which sounds great in my opinion. It did not, however, come with the cold air intake. I’ve read that the CAI may only add 2-3 hp. Anyone put a factory CAI and notice a difference in the response of the truck. I’ve also read that it makes the engine sound different. What are y’alls thoughts on that?

[Swiftks]

Can't speak for the 6.2L, but I have the factory GM intake on my Trail Boss.... Ok long story short... Ok long story long...

I negotiated the price of the intake, and had the dealership build it into the deal for my truck.  I gave the sales guy the part #... Couldn't be more specific than that, the G-damn GM part #.  So what does he do after I leave?  Goes over to the accessories guy, instead of the parts guy, and tells him I need a CAI.  Well the accessories guy only deals in aftermarket parts, so he orders a K&N.  Next day I pick up my truck, ask if the intake was installed as I had requested, was told it was.  Should have known to check before I drove off the lot, but I was in a hurry to get out of town, and I had been there all afternoon.  Of course when I get home and pop the hood, there's a K&N Intake and not the GM intake I had requested, by part #!  Now I get it, a CAI is a CAI is a CAI, for the most part.  But i know that K&N probably cost them $200 less, and again it's not what I had specifically requested.  Anyway, called the sales guy back, chewed his ass, and they had to order the GM intake.  So I got to drive around all weekend with the K&N and got a brand new intake installed after the weekend, and whoever at the dealership got to eat a $400 intake I had already put 300 miles on.

 

I say all that, because I am in the unique position of having two CAIs on my truck in a week.  Here's kinda what I'm seeing so far:

 

1) K&N intake was louder... In a good way.  Nice tone when you stepped on the gas during highway speeds.  The GM intake is relatively quite by comparison.  Don't know if this is due to a box design, or maybe because the K&N was a oiled filter and the GM one is dry, I believe.... I don't mind oiled filters.

2) The GM looks a lot better than the K&N.  Not that this really matters, but you're paying $500+, might as well look good.

3) Performance wise... Might notice a slight throttle response around the 4k+ RPM range.  But that's pretty much any intake.  I like having it, especially paired with a exhaust.... Making it breath better and sh*t better.

4) If I did it all again, I'd would go with something like a Volant or aFe intake... Get the best of both worlds, looks good and sounds more aggressive.

 

On a separate note, I have been wondering if the diameter of the GM filter is the same as a aFe oiled one, and I could just swap the filters.  Always herd that if there are gains to be had, the oiled filter is going to give you the most out of it.

 

Hope this helps.

Edited November 27, 2019 by Swiftks

[killramos]

I have it and the exhaust with the 6.2 on my truck. I don’t know what it sounds like without but the truck doesn’t sound ridiculously loud in any way with both in my opinion.

[fatwhiteboy]

I have one but only bought it because it will not void the warrantee.  I like AFE products better.  My dealer told me that if I bought any other CAI and they can prove it caused and engine failures that it will void the warrantee.  I purchased the extended warrantee on this one and did not want to risk it.  With the GM CAI you get their tune which I read is more than just reprogramming the MAF sensor parameters and a really nice factory fit.  I really did not notice any better throttle response or noise, I think the exhaust made a bigger difference.  The down side is that you have to purchase the GM filter which is about $100.00.  It says 2 years or 3K miles.  I expected it to be washable like the rest of the CAI dry media on the market.  Also the tube into the throttle body is the same old rubber that they have been using forever, not a smooth plastic like all of the other CAI’s.  So I give it an OK but not great.

[Snakes709]

3 hours ago, fatwhiteboy said:

I have one but only bought it because it will not void the warrantee.  I like AFE products better.  My dealer told me that if I bought any other CAI and they can prove it caused and engine failures that it will void the warrantee.  I purchased the extended warrantee on this one and did not want to risk it.  With the GM CAI you get their tune which I read is more than just reprogramming the MAF sensor parameters and a really nice factory fit.  I really did not notice any better throttle response or noise, I think the exhaust made a bigger difference.  The down side is that you have to purchase the GM filter which is about $100.00.  It says 2 years or 3K miles.  I expected it to be washable like the rest of the CAI dry media on the market.  Also the tube into the throttle body is the same old rubber that they have been using forever, not a smooth plastic like all of the other CAI’s.  So I give it an OK but not great.

That is correct. But they have to prove it caused the issue and not just say "oh this failed, warranty denied because of a CAI". And i highly doubt any intake on the market for these trucks would cause an engine failure, not unless it actually failed and pieces of it went through the motor. My first car that i started modding was a Cobalt SS Supercharged. Had a Injen CAI on it, was the only mod. My reverse lights stopped working so i brought it in. Was told the switch box under the shifter that triggers the reverse lights when shifting into reverse, was broken. Was told my warranty was voided because of the CAI.  I told them they had to prove my CAI caused the switch box that is under the shifter, caused the damage. They couldnt prove it obviously, so warranty covered it.  Most dealerships will find any way possible to get out of warranty work. I have only had less then a handful that been good and dont care.

[Black02Silverado]

I have the GM CAI on my 2019 with the 6.2 and a Corsa cat back.  Love the truck.  When it comes time to change out the air filter I'm going with AMSOIL's  EAAU4070.  I got one and tried it and it fits the GM CAI.   It retails for $63.60. Anyone interested let me know.  I will give all GM-Truck members a discount. PM me for details.   

 

The blue filter is the AMSOIL air filter.  Red is GM's.

[Taz56]

I have a 6.2L

I did both the GM CatBack exhaust and the GM factory CAI

 

[mistermcgoo]

 

17 hours ago, M R Trucks said:

I’m really liking my 6.2L AT4. It has the upgraded exhaust which sounds great in my opinion. It did not, however, come with the cold air intake. I’ve read that the CAI may only add 2-3 hp. Anyone put a factory CAI and notice a difference in the response of the truck. I’ve also read that it makes the engine sound different. What are y’alls thoughts on that?

 

I have a 2018 5.3 with a CAI, so take the following for what it's worth

 

Coming from a bone stock 2016 5.3 with 3.08 gears to my current 2018 with a CAI and 3.42 gears, I definitely notice a difference. Not night and day, but there is a noticeable change. As far as how much the CAI contributes to that I can't confidently say, since there's a difference in gearing..

 

 I honestly probably never would have bothered putting on a CAI, but since the previous owner of my 18' threw one on I decided to leave it on for now. I can say that I love the low RPM growl it gives though! Reminds me that I'm in a V8.

 

 I have a pedal commander on the way, from what I hear it should change the throttle response dramatically and people on here seem to give them pretty good reviews generally speaking. Check them out if you haven't already.

[fatwhiteboy]

4 hours ago, Snakes709 said:

That is correct. But they have to prove it caused the issue and not just say "oh this failed, warranty denied because of a CAI". And i highly doubt any intake on the market for these trucks would cause an engine failure, not unless it actually failed and pieces of it went through the motor. My first car that i started modding was a Cobalt SS Supercharged. Had a Injen CAI on it, was the only mod. My reverse lights stopped working so i brought it in. Was told the switch box under the shifter that triggers the reverse lights when shifting into reverse, was broken. Was told my warranty was voided because of the CAI.  I told them they had to prove my CAI caused the switch box that is under the shifter, caused the damage. They couldnt prove it obviously, so warranty covered it.  Most dealerships will find any way possible to get out of warranty work. I have only had less then a handful that been good and dont care.

The only issue that I have seen with any of the oiled media CAI's when folks over oil them.  I have oiled media CAI’s on every vehicle I own except this one.  I have see guys with oil dripping off of the filter, it doesn’t seed that much oil.  I am a bit frightened of this engine, there is a lot of new technology for GM in our trucks.  There are so many things that can go wrong and even if the CAI did not cause the issue fighting with the dealer is never fun.

[fatwhiteboy]

4 hours ago, Black02Silverado said:

I have the GM CAI on my 2019 with the 6.2 and a Corsa cat back.  Love the truck.  When it comes time to change out the air filter I'm going with AMSOIL's  EAAU4070.  I got one and tried it and it fits the GM CAI.   It retails for $63.60. Anyone interested let me know.  I will give all GM-Truck members a discount. PM me for details.   

 

The blue filter is the AMSOIL air filter.  Red is GM's.

Thank you

[OnTheReel]

To each their own, but the GM CAI is pretty homely looking, IMO. I tried but I could never talk myself into it, especially with it not showing any type of gains on the dyno either. I do have the GM exhaust though.

On the intake, I took my chances on the Roto-fab and love it. I just as soon would have left it stock, but I got bored and had a slight desire to play around and clean up the engine bay in the process.

[Tyler1199]

Guys- depending on what you want- don’t go with the GM stuff. Not worth it. My truck came with the upgrade CAI & performance exhaust. Have already swapped the exhaust ( too quite but well built similar to Borlas) for the ATAK and the CAI is next. My 18 with the 5.3 had the volant and the ATAK and it sounded really good other then the little bit of drone it had.