**Cold Air Intake vs Programmer**
#16
The computer controls the air/fuel ratio. The stock ratio table can't handle all the extra air without a tune that rebuilds that table. You can put a 10 inch tube on it to let in more air, and it will not improve performance more than what the ratio table is capable of doing. You really need to do a little reasearch/reading before giving advice. If you don't do a custom tune, the Gotts mod is more than adequate as it will provide all the air the fuel table can handle. Plus, if you have a 2004 or 2005 5.4, you run the risk of running lean unless you are custom tuned.
i dont disagree with all of you. basically just saying that I would never put a programmer on without doing at least the intake first. just dont trust it alone. no matter what you say, you cant change my mind. but since i already have an intake, a programmer would be next, just dont have the $ right now. working on my exhaust. wont be any better flow, just going for looks. i have not heard any exhaust system that is worth buying and putting on the V6. its still a V6 and you can still tell its a V6. my stock system sounds fine to me so i am keeping it. just re-routing it after the rear axle so it is 2 pipes out of the back.
If you are performance orientated, extending the exhaust, you must now about load and the coefficient of flow.
#17
A custom tuned programmer like the Xcal3 from a reputable tuner!!
Exactly, any time you alter the MAF sensor's housing you must tune for it!!!
The problem is that your advice to the OP is not only worthless, but is dangerous in some cases. What you do with your own truck is your business and not a problem. I have run a programmer now for 64,000 miles with no CAI. It is awesome. I could add a CAI with my custom tunes and get maybe 6 or 7 more HP. Not cost effective since I am not racing anyway.
Last edited by FordRacer2005; 12-10-2009 at 11:45 PM.
#18
geez you again? dont hijack another thread like you did with that one. respect everyone else on here. OK?
#19
#20
#21
i have a few questions then. 1-arent air intakes pretty much the best thing for a vehicle? more air=good right? (except the 5.4L being too lean a few years) 2-i dont know about tuners so my question is..if i were to buy a tuner with its preset tunes, would it work on my truck with my intake? or would i HAVE to buy custom tunes to account for it? basically asking if a preset tune like performance 87 will work with or without an intake the same. if i were to buy a tuner and load a performance 87 tune, would it work the same as if i had no intake? 3-will my intake squeeze out more power from the tune? thanks
#22
I don't understand why people waste money on 87 octane fuel, since your getting a tune might as well get a 91 or 93 octane performance tune, you can get better mileage and power out of the higher octane (when tuned appropriatly)
since you do not have a 3 valve motor you can squeeze by with an intake as long as you reset the ECM when it's installed
since you do not have a 3 valve motor you can squeeze by with an intake as long as you reset the ECM when it's installed
#23
i have a few questions then. 1-arent air intakes pretty much the best thing for a vehicle? more air=good right? (except the 5.4L being too lean a few years) 2-i dont know about tuners so my question is..if i were to buy a tuner with its preset tunes, would it work on my truck with my intake? or would i HAVE to buy custom tunes to account for it? basically asking if a preset tune like performance 87 will work with or without an intake the same. if i were to buy a tuner and load a performance 87 tune, would it work the same as if i had no intake? 3-will my intake squeeze out more power from the tune? thanks
If you add a CAI with a canned tune, you should get a small HP increase, depending on which engine you have, maybe 6 to 8 HP. Now if you have a custom tune that is set up to handle a CAI, that HP usually doubles to 13 to 16 HP increase. That is not taking into consideration, as you mentioned, there is the risk of running lean, especially with the 5.4 in 2004 and 2005. There have been a few of other years, but not many.
The CAI HP gains are just not worth the price for a lot of us, especially when you can do the Gotts self mod for about $15 and get close to the same results. The CAI does rally improve the underhood appearnce though and some want it just for that, plus it sounds impressive since it has no silencer.
__________________
Jim
Jim
#24
i have a few questions then. 1-arent air intakes pretty much the best thing for a vehicle? more air=good right? (except the 5.4L being too lean a few years) 2-i dont know about tuners so my question is..if i were to buy a tuner with its preset tunes, would it work on my truck with my intake? or would i HAVE to buy custom tunes to account for it? basically asking if a preset tune like performance 87 will work with or without an intake the same. if i were to buy a tuner and load a performance 87 tune, would it work the same as if i had no intake? 3-will my intake squeeze out more power from the tune? thanks
Regarding the original post if you are between a CAI and a tuner go with the tuner. You can also buy the tuner and do the Gotts intake
Last edited by PR Lariat; 12-12-2009 at 02:09 PM.
#25
Regarding the first part, no. More air is not always better, in order to make horsepower you need to have a good air-fuel mixture if you get to much air and little gasoline your engine is running lean and running lean can cause to engine damage that is why the tuner is recomended when adding a CAI because the factory computer can compensate until a certain point. With the tuner you have a more wide range to adjust your air-fuel ratio.
Regarding the original post if you are between a CAI and a tuner go with the tuner. You can also buy the tuner and do the Gotts intake
Regarding the original post if you are between a CAI and a tuner go with the tuner. You can also buy the tuner and do the Gotts intake
also i have an 08 with the 4.2L V6 and it is my 2nd 4.2L and i have had the SAME intake on both. it is made for an 04 f150 heritage. i found out K&N doesnt make an intake for 06+ on the V6 so i kept mine and put it on my 08 when i traded my 04 in. so far, i have heard that SCT is the best tuner for the 4.2L. any opinions?
#27
umm, im just trying to get some info here, if you dont want to help someone then fine. but i dont know what your problem is.. i wasnt argueing, just dont understand why a gotts mod is ok but intake i have to reset the ECM. they are almost the same exact thing, except the gotts uses the restrictive stock intake tube still. i know people ususally replace that tube with a smoother one. and they use a K&N or a like filter for better airflow going in. SERIOUSLY I ASK, what is the difference in between the two in the air fuel mixture and all that. i know gotts is enclosed and my intake is not. heck, i pretty much have the gotts mod just done with an intake on it already. i have a tube running from behind my front bumper's opening between the top and bottom pieces to collect air from outside the engine bay and have it running to the filter. puttin it on did help in performance slightly over just the intake.
#28
#29
umm, im just trying to get some info here, if you dont want to help someone then fine. but i dont know what your problem is.. i wasnt argueing, just dont understand why a gotts mod is ok but intake i have to reset the ECM. they are almost the same exact thing, except the gotts uses the restrictive stock intake tube still. i know people ususally replace that tube with a smoother one. and they use a K&N or a like filter for better airflow going in. SERIOUSLY I ASK, what is the difference in between the two in the air fuel mixture and all that. i know gotts is enclosed and my intake is not. heck, i pretty much have the gotts mod just done with an intake on it already. i have a tube running from behind my front bumper's opening between the top and bottom pieces to collect air from outside the engine bay and have it running to the filter. puttin it on did help in performance slightly over just the intake.
Additionaly, don't knock the stock tube so hard. Bill at PHP did a dyno comparison on a 2008 or 2009 5.4, I don't remember which, but he tested one of the CAIs and got 16 hp with a custom tune. Just for grins, he tested the stock intake after removing the restrictive snorkle(essentially the Gott's mod) and got 13 hp. If 3 hp is worth $300 to $400, then you should go for it. It won't change how I use my truck at all, so I won't.
__________________
Jim
Jim
#30
Additionaly, don't knock the stock tube so hard. Bill at PHP did a dyno comparison on a 2008 or 2009 5.4, I don't remember which, but he tested one of the CAIs and got 16 hp with a custom tune. Just for grins, he tested the stock intake after removing the restrictive snorkle(essentially the Gott's mod) and got 13 hp. If 3 hp is worth $300 to $400, then you should go for it. It won't change how I use my truck at all, so I won't.