Cold Air Intake
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Seasoned Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 385
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From: North Port, FL
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Cold Air Intake
I wanna get a cold air intake for the MPG not the power but more is fine. Anyone run any name brand cold air intakes? An if so did you notice a big difference in gas milage or should I just go with a snorkel? I know snorkel wont help with power or MPG but no point in getting the cold air if there isnt a real difference in MPG
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,952
Likes: 17
Model: Cherokee
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,387
Likes: 10
From: City of Trees, CA
Year: 93 2 door
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: Red Lion, PA
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Ill just sumarize the last 2 links. Cold air intakes do nothing besides suck water in and make your engine sound different. TB spacers are pretty much the same. If you really want to be special you can remove the air baffle in the airbox outlet. I personally got a K&N drop in filter, made no performance increase at all, only benefit is that i never buy another filter
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,825
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis
Year: '99 and '91
Model: Cherokee
Well here's my story...
I was doing mods and maintenance in prep for our vacation. 1500+ mile trip. It was a stock xj. 99 4.0 aw4 231 4 door with (at the time) 200k on it. Was getting bout 16-17mpg city 19-20 (max) highway.
Here's what I did.
Accel Tune Up Kit
oil change with K&N filter
Spectre Cowl intake.
Water pump, belt, fan clutch, thermostat, therm housing, rad cap.
Flushed, fresh coolant
New aux trans cooler mounted in the bulkhead
New trans fluid.
Newer stock tailpipe (not mandrel bent) with a thrush glass pack
Changed the diff fluid
So, first tank if gas, I got 22.3 MPG. We had a few stops and I wasn't going real fast. Second tank of gas, got 22.8, third got 24.5 as I got to go 70+ with no traffic to speak of.
On the way home I got 26.8 MPG on the first tank, 25.1 on the second and 26.9 on the third! I was stunned. Ran the numbers like 3 times. Wtf?
Also, I ran the AC about 70% of the time and I had a check engine light for downstream o2 sensor (heater wire short)
I'm not saying all CAIs are going to do this but that was my experience. Plus it helps to have a free er flowing exhaust in combo with the intake.
I was doing mods and maintenance in prep for our vacation. 1500+ mile trip. It was a stock xj. 99 4.0 aw4 231 4 door with (at the time) 200k on it. Was getting bout 16-17mpg city 19-20 (max) highway.
Here's what I did.
Accel Tune Up Kit
oil change with K&N filter
Spectre Cowl intake.
Water pump, belt, fan clutch, thermostat, therm housing, rad cap.
Flushed, fresh coolant
New aux trans cooler mounted in the bulkhead
New trans fluid.
Newer stock tailpipe (not mandrel bent) with a thrush glass pack
Changed the diff fluid
So, first tank if gas, I got 22.3 MPG. We had a few stops and I wasn't going real fast. Second tank of gas, got 22.8, third got 24.5 as I got to go 70+ with no traffic to speak of.
On the way home I got 26.8 MPG on the first tank, 25.1 on the second and 26.9 on the third! I was stunned. Ran the numbers like 3 times. Wtf?
Also, I ran the AC about 70% of the time and I had a check engine light for downstream o2 sensor (heater wire short)
I'm not saying all CAIs are going to do this but that was my experience. Plus it helps to have a free er flowing exhaust in combo with the intake.
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,952
Likes: 17
Model: Cherokee
Ill just sumarize the last 2 links. Cold air intakes do nothing besides suck water in and make your engine sound different. TB spacers are pretty much the same. If you really want to be special you can remove the air baffle in the airbox outlet. I personally got a K&N drop in filter, made no performance increase at all, only benefit is that i never buy another filter
Here's my take from the thread I linked too.
Made a difference on my 4.0L, same on my son's.
Dunno what to say other than some folks expect off the chart Butt-Dyno results, and that simply doesn't happen.
Keep in mind that any Dyno result needs to be weighted against altitude, ambient temperatures, humidity, air density, etc, etc,. A 25HP increase is impressive, but those results are usually in 3rd gear on an auto (or 4th on a standard) with a direct 1:1 final drive ratio.
25 extra HP doesn't mean a tremendous amount when your crawling along in low-range at 1800 rpm, but it might give you the extra boost you need when you have to give your rig a little "Moab Bump" to mount or clear an obstacle.
Increased performance? Yes because your jeep will breath easier.
Increased fuel economy? Yes, see above and keep your foot out of it.
Heat soak in the tube? No, the air in the tube is moving and therefore isn't in the tube long enough to suck up a bunch of heat.
Later model heeps don't have the hole behind the headlight so it might benefit those owners to add the hole and allow more (cooler) airflow to the filter.
Bottom line:
Think about your rig and the type of terrain you wheel on.
Think about your driving style.
Think about the return on investment.
If you're satisfied that the benefits are worth the cost, then buy one.
If you are happy with the Cool/Wow Factor, then buy one.
If you are unsure....keep your money in your pocket.
Disregard any blanket statements that say "No they don't Work" the same way you ignore embellished reports of rock crushing power gains.
Do your homework, keep an open mind, spend your money the way you see fit.
Dunno what to say other than some folks expect off the chart Butt-Dyno results, and that simply doesn't happen.
Keep in mind that any Dyno result needs to be weighted against altitude, ambient temperatures, humidity, air density, etc, etc,. A 25HP increase is impressive, but those results are usually in 3rd gear on an auto (or 4th on a standard) with a direct 1:1 final drive ratio.
25 extra HP doesn't mean a tremendous amount when your crawling along in low-range at 1800 rpm, but it might give you the extra boost you need when you have to give your rig a little "Moab Bump" to mount or clear an obstacle.
Increased performance? Yes because your jeep will breath easier.
Increased fuel economy? Yes, see above and keep your foot out of it.
Heat soak in the tube? No, the air in the tube is moving and therefore isn't in the tube long enough to suck up a bunch of heat.
Later model heeps don't have the hole behind the headlight so it might benefit those owners to add the hole and allow more (cooler) airflow to the filter.
Bottom line:
Think about your rig and the type of terrain you wheel on.
Think about your driving style.
Think about the return on investment.
If you're satisfied that the benefits are worth the cost, then buy one.
If you are happy with the Cool/Wow Factor, then buy one.
If you are unsure....keep your money in your pocket.
Disregard any blanket statements that say "No they don't Work" the same way you ignore embellished reports of rock crushing power gains.
Do your homework, keep an open mind, spend your money the way you see fit.
Last edited by SeriousOffroad; Sep 9, 2012 at 11:02 PM.
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From: North Port, FL
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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