I have a 2007 5.4L screw that I was planning on adding a Roush Off Road exhaust kit to next week. To complement the exhaust I was going to add a S&B intake as well. But after reading some of the posts here it seems like that I people are recommending to get a tuner as well so I don't damage my engine by running it too lean.

Is this right? Or will I be OK with just the new exhaust and the new intake? I really don't want to spend another couple of hundred $$$ if possible...

 

From what I have read on here you will be o.k. unless you get a intake larger than a 3" (diameter). I have a sido Magnaflo w/a AF1 3" intake and have no issues what so ever. However, I have bought a tuner and am currently in the hold pattern until my tunes have been written. Better pro's will chime in with additional info. .

 

JohhnyD's on the right track for sure. I have a 3" S&B CAI installed on my truck with an Edge Evo. I haven't thrown any codes, but I had it checked and am running a little lean, just because you don't throw a code doesn't mean you're running at optimal performance.

I've been holding off on getting my custom tunes because I've been waiting for my high flow cats to come in. I'll have it all, and installed next week *crosses fingers*, and then will get my Gryphon rolling.

You should be alright without custom tunes, but you don't buy a programmer just to have an "alright" truck!

 

I would love to have my truck run at "optimal" performance but I just can't spend the money right now. As long as I know I'm not hurting anything than the exhaust and intake will be plenty for the time being. I just need a little more ummppphhh than what it has already.

 

Spend the money on a custom tuned Xcal2 or Xcal3. The exhaust isn't going to effect any type of tuning aspect. So with that said, I was running the S&B on my 2006 F150. I finally got it on the dyno and what do you know it was running extremely lean and did not throw any codes. So I'd highly recommend getting a programmer that is custom tuned for the intake. It's $400, a lot cheaper than having to buy a new motor not to mention not having your vehicle, etc. Do it right, not twice ..

 

+2, very well put.

 

So now I'm confused again, thanks a lot Thumper!!

Let me ask this again, if I add a CAI and dual exhausts without a tuner, WILL IT CAUSE ANY DAMAGE???

 

Not necessarily, but the risk is much higher (for the intake without the tuner, exhaust wont do anything).

Add the exhaust now to make your truck sound nice, then buy the intake/tuning as a package deal when you can afford it.

 

It's very possible.

This is the best advice ...

 

I have the S&B and the SI/SO and no tuner. I did it backwards it seems. How do I tell if I am running lean?

 

A/F meter.

 

I think there's about 3 billion people on here running cai and exhaust w/no problems.

 

Everything I have read is that you could be running lean and not even no it. No CEL no nothing. Also if you do plan on a tuner you might go custom tunes because a lot of us have had the intake make that droning sound when ran with a tuner. A custom tune should eliminate that.

 

It shouldn't hurt it, just understand you will have power hidden and robbed. Custom tune is the only way to unleash it, and is worth every cent.

 

So if by running a CAI without tunes actualy decreases power and performance, why even do it? I mean the exhaust gives the sound and look, but what are you getting from just the CAI alone?