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Why Do Some Air Intakes Need A Tune And Others Do Not?

  • Thread starter Thread starter SNVRES
  • Start date Start date Jul 17, 2014

SNVRES

New Member
Jul 17, 2014
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Jul 17, 2014
#1
  • Jul 17, 2014
  • #1
Maybe this has been talked about, and i've searched... But I just purchased a volant air intake and it says it doesnt require a tune... knowing me i still tuned with my diablo sport to CAI Universal 100mm. As soon as i fired her up she almost shut off and when i went for a drive well.... It studdered and ran so horrible. Finally i went back to my normal performance tune and it worked fine. Question is why does this enclosed system not work with a CAI tune?? I assume its pulling just as much if not more air then other systems.. But on the other tunes it was running rich ( I looked at the error codes ). If anyone has some answers to help me out how i can maximize with what I have. I just hope my air intake doesnt perform as much as open systems...
 

earleys94gt

Active Member
Aug 31, 2003
1,223
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Ashley, Ohio
Jul 20, 2014
#2
  • Jul 20, 2014
  • #2
Intakes requiring a tune will have a larger diameter tube, as well as a larger and/or re-located MAF housing. These two factors will cause the MAF to read lower air flow numbers and will cause a lean condition. A tune will compensate for these issues.
 

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 10, 2002
9,457
1,377
234
Ontario, Canada
Jul 20, 2014
#3
  • Jul 20, 2014
  • #3
Intakes that don't require a tune generally aren't pulling in a large enough amount of airflow to send the ECU into fits. That also means they aren't pulling in a large enough amount of air to make a huge difference in power either.

Keep these points in mind when you spend your hard earned bucks on that aftermarket intake.
 

SpartaPerformance

10 Year Member
Nov 5, 2006
2,517
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Long Island NY
Jul 20, 2014
#4
  • Jul 20, 2014
  • #4
Because some make power and others don't
 

Stroked88

Member
Nov 13, 2005
42
5
18
Aug 2, 2014
#5
  • Aug 2, 2014
  • #5
The Cold Air Intakes that need a tune relocate your Mass Air Flow sensor element to a larger housing which needs a tune. Airaid has an insert that makes the housing where the MAF element is located back to the stock 87mm which doesn't need a tune. Pull this insert out and the diameter changes to 100mm which requires a tune. Airaid does sell a race CAI which just doesn't come with the insert piece. Most CAI don't have an insert so you either have a standard size MAF housing or a larger one requiring a tune.
 
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