[jasonpell1117]

Hi everyone, I am new to the forum and recently bought a 2009 Mustang gt. It is completely stock and I was looking at a K&N cold air intake as my first mod. This intake does not require a tune (and i don't want to have to tune) but I have heard many people saying that if you don't tune with a CAI then it will cause your engine to burn lean and could damage it by increasing the temp, especially at high rpm's.

Is there anyone with experience with a cold air intake and not tuning their mustang. Especially if you have had it a few years and not had problems, I would love to hear that.

 

[stlwagon]

You'll be fine running the K&N with no tune. You won't hurt anything.

...and welcome to AFM!

 

[ajaxthemax]

I agree. Welcome to AFM:happydance:

 

[MaverickMLFD371]

a CAI that doesn't require a tune will not hurt or burn your engine in the long run. so go ahead and get the K&N intake!

i think what you read is those people who bought CAI that require tuning and didn't bother to buy the tuner. if you decide not to tune a CAI that is requiring a tune, your car will throw at CEL (check engine light) and it would be a lean code. because what your doing now is your drawing more air into the engine than fuel. if you drive like that in the long run, yes you can do some damage.

welcome to AFM!

 

[MN Mustang]

Welcome aboard! The K&N setup doesnt require a tune, but you will see a greater difference in performance with a CAI and a tune.

 

[Heavy Armor]

So long as the CAI inlet diameter is the same as the stock one, there won't be a problem. The MAF sensor is calibrated for a certain volume of incoming air, so if you monkey with the inlet size, the MAF has no way of knowing it, and you'll run lean. The CAIs that don't require a tune provide the extra HP simply by reducing the amount of drag, allowing the engine to breath easier. The stock filter setup has all kinds of twists, turns, angles, and other restrictions.

~HA

 

[big8ter]

welcome to the site

i bought a bbk cai that didnt require a tune but it threw codes left and right even though bbk said it wouldnt it turns out that bbk only tested the can in low elevation california so a k&n might be the same way just something to ask K&n if you get a chance

 

[jasonpell1117]

Thanks for the help! I have called K&N and they said they fully back their product due to the extensive testing they do before putting it on the market. They told me they design their CAI to work with all the factory settings (factory tune, 87 octane, etc.). I also asked about the factory warranty because i don't want to throw that away after owning the car for only a few months and they told me about some law that protects the consumer from the factory voiding the warranty just because it is an aftermarket part. I will be stopping by the dealer this weekend to make sure they will not be like those few "hard ass" dealers out there that will try to void the warranty with out any merit to do so.

 

[stlwagon]

I think you'll be fine with that intake. If you require warranty work, you could always reinstall the stock airbox temporarily if you're concerned.

 

[CruizinConcepts]

Cai

2005-2009 GT K&N Intake

I'll take 10% off retail.

 

[chp2150]

You'll REALLY miss out if you don't go with a CAI/Tune combo. It's like a different car. The difference is really worth the cost.

 

[jasonpell1117]

Thanks but I don't want to mess with the computer, especially when still under warranty. I have heard that the dealer can still tell if you have messed with it, even if you flash it back to factory settings

 

[stlwagon]

Thanks but I don't want to mess with the computer, especially when still under warranty. I have heard that the dealer can still tell if you have messed with it, even if you flash it back to factory settings

Then the K&N or Airraid CAI would be the right choice.

 

[jasonpell1117]

thanks for everyone's help! I will prob order one soon

 

[ATXSilverGT]

I built the other parts of my car(suspension) till I was tired of worrying about the warranty. I then got an intake and tune and am glad I went this route. Just seems to me the tuneless intake is a decoration no one sees. Not bashin' just sayin'

 

[MaverickMLFD371]

Thanks but I don't want to mess with the computer, especially when still under warranty. I have heard that the dealer can still tell if you have messed with it, even if you flash it back to factory settings

as many of the horror stoires you have heard, its untrue. I too was worried way in the beginning when I had my C&L Intake / Bamachips SCT Tuner. I had to go to the dealer several times for TSBs and other warranty work. put my stock tune back in, and my stock intake. they had to hook up their machine to my ECU via the port under my dash, 30 min later, they handed me my keys and said I'm good to go. they told me they ran an entire ECU Diagnostics on my car, yada yada yada, an found nothing wrong with my car and everything, not mentioning anything about me messing around with my ECU, and that was 4 years ago

 

[jasonpell1117]

I wasn't so much looking at a CAI for the increased power as much as the increased gas mileage. I've heard accounts of CAI increasing the gas mileage by 3-5 MPG. But any increased power would be a nice side effect. Also with a tune, even if the MPG's stayed the same I would be spending more at the pump for the high octane stuff. But still, Thanks for your input!

 

[chp2150]

I'm running a Steeda intake with Bama's 91 torque tune and I'm averaging 16.5 to 17.5 around town (average speed shows around 23 mph) and on the interstate where the limit is 75, between 24 to 27 mpg with the computer showing 70 mph average. Mine's an 06 GT 5 speed. It has show this kind of mileage consistently since I went with the CAI and tune a couple of years ago. The only dealer intervention I had was the recall for the passenger airbag computer and fuel pump replacement. My dealer couldn't have cared less about the reflash. The improvement in drivability is well worth the change.

 

[prqwler01]

Here in Toledo we have a Ford dealer that sells the Steeda CAL and tuner and will still maintain warranty.
Also you might check with Ford Performance they affer the same thing a CAL and a Tune and is under warranty
Last weekend at the Woodward Dream cruise the Ford Factory Performance was their installing the CAL and Tune for Half Price
Don't make the same mistake i did just buy a CAL and a tune
You will be happier

 

[08DarkCandyGT]

I have an S&B tuneless intake and without a tune i could barley feel a difference. Some of these MAF's are still a little bigger than stock. S&B is 83mm. Its really not worth the money unless you get a tune. I ended up getting a tune for my S&B and it is night and day.
You can buy a Ford Racing CAI and calibrator through the dealer and it will be under warranty. They sell many packages including SC and they are under warranty.