Take off your "performance" intake. You'll thank me.

**The Tony Show** · #1 (**permalink**) 12-27-07, 11:41 AM

Warning: The following information is not dyno tested- it has been gathered by my finely calibrated butt-dyno and ears.

I put a Lingenfelter "Performance" air intake on my car about a year ago. I didn't like that the car lost bottom end torque in exchange for 2 or 3 top end hp, so I took it off. Since then, I've added Kooks long tubes, Stealth tune and a lightweight flywheel, so a few months ago I figured I'd put the intake back on as it would compliment those mods.

Well, I've been getting annoyed by the constant popping and backfiring when the engine's cold, as well as the jerky decel when I let off the throttle in gear. Everyone suggested to check for leaks, which I've done a bunch of times and there are none.

Point of story:

I took it off again last night and reinstalled my stock airbox with a K&N panel filter in it- what a difference. The car no longer jerks on decel, it doesn't pop out the exhaust when I shift, and it gained back the lost bottom end torque.

One man's opinion: "Performance" air intakes for CTS-Vs are a cosmetic mod. The car runs better without them.

1FASTSS · #2 (**permalink**) 12-27-07, 12:01 PM

I thought the Lingerenfilter box was just a filter and new shroud and still used the same intake tube?

I don't think you'd gain much from just a filter. Unless the intake tube is increased in size thats when you see a gain after additional supporting mods.

You must have lost a bunch of TQ down low if you noticed it by just driving around? Any dyno #'s?

**JimmyH** · #3 (**permalink**) 12-27-07, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tony Show

One man's opinion: "Performance" air intakes for CTS-Vs are a cosmetic mod. The car runs better without them.

You can make that two men's opinion.

Although I think the K&N panel is a waste too. Tried it and it was more trouble that it is worth. Plus, consumer reports, or somebody, tested them and found that a brand new paper filter passes more air than a new or cleaned&oiled K&N. I change my air filter every other oil change. Not to mention God help you and your MAF if you even slightly over oil it.

And I just love those goofy cone filters. "Yeah, lets see, let me pull in dirty, hot air from the engine bay, that is sure to give me more power."

urbanski · #4 (**permalink**) 12-27-07, 12:14 PM

rick can tune out the popping.

**The Tony Show** · #5 (**permalink**) 12-27-07, 12:16 PM

The Lingenfelter includes a nifty little divider shroud that blocks the filter from the engine air- it pulls from the front grill and a hole going into the fender. The "thinking" behind it is that the huge frackin' cone filter has more surface area, therefore can pull more air into the tube. The idea that you can't get more air without replacing the tube is valid ONLY if the stock airbox is maxing out the capacity of the tube, which I suspect is not true at low RPMs- hence the torque loss.

The power really isn't the reason I dislike it so much. Maybe it's the combination of mods I have, but the car drives so much better with the stock box. As already mentioned, it jerked when I let off the throttle in gear and spit and backfired when the engine was cold.

RunningOnEMT · #6 (**permalink**) 12-27-07, 12:16 PM

i'll switch it at lunch ... have all my parts here at my office.

**The Tony Show** · #7 (**permalink**) 12-27-07, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbanski

rick can tune out the popping.

My tune is set for "no-pop" already. This wasn't the little popcorn noise on decel, either- it literally backfired on the 1-2 and 3-4 shift until the engine was warmed up.

WoooooooOOOOOO- POW! - WoooooooOOOOOOO - POW!

Any mechanic will tell you that backfiring is usually an intake leak. In this case, it's just too much air.

GMBOUND · #8 (**permalink**) 12-27-07, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tony Show

WoooooooOOOOOO- POW! - WoooooooOOOOOOO - POW!

Great illustration

Silver Dollar · #9 (**permalink**) 12-27-07, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tony Show

....WoooooooOOOOOO-WoooooooOOOOOOO......

Sounds like your whistle tips need calibration.

The whistles go Wooo WOOOoo.

**The Tony Show** · #10 (**permalink**) 12-27-07, 02:53 PM

Das jus fo decorashun.

nikon · #11 (**permalink**) 12-27-07, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Dollar

Sounds like your whistle tips need calibration.

The whistles go Wooo WOOOoo.

CBVLS6 · #12 (**permalink**) 12-27-07, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Dollar

Sounds like your whistle tips need calibration.

The whistles go Wooo WOOOoo.

..lol.

Silver Dollar · #13 (**permalink**) 12-27-07, 10:10 PM

Happy New Year Tony!

JBCTSV · #14 (**permalink**) 12-27-07, 10:43 PM

Guys,
I disagree with the K&N does not work theory. I have used the filters and cold air on various GM V8's and I have never had a torque loss or power loss due to the cold air induction or filter. Every car I have has a filter and they yield better mileage and with exhaust and/or headers I have always had a performance increase.
Did you remove your cats? I think a performance tune is definitely in order.

Just my $.02

**The Tony Show** · #15 (**permalink**) 12-27-07, 10:52 PM

Thanks for the thoughts, but I stated that I have a K&N panel filter in my stock airbox- my beef is not with the type of filter material, but the huge cone "cold air" intakes that K&N and Lingenfelter sell. The stock airbox does a better job of bringing cool air into the engine than the cone, and provides a proper amount of airflow for the intake tube and throttle body this car has. I've used cone filters on previous cars with good success, but it's a pile of crap on a CTS-V.

I also already have a tuned PCM and am running cats, so that idea's out.