Pro - gains you 2-3hp
If it were me and I didn't want to tune, I would just not bother with any CAI. You will maybe see 2-3hp on a good day without a tune. The tune is what compliments that air filter and will wake the car up on its own even without any CAI.
I would go with a JLT or PMAS. Both great proven brands.Anyone use this K&N? Pro's/Cons?
https://www.cjponyparts.com/k-n-air...rmance-black-mustang-gt-2018-2022/p/KN713540/
Hey all, I just joined today. For a good 4 weeks I've been reading about cold air intakes. I installed this same k&n on my 2022 GT and from day 1 started getting P061B code. If driven lightly it did fine but I could never step on it without it kicking into limp mode and throwing that code.
Agreed after a lot of reading and going through YT videos seeing the AITs and how they rose with open air box filters I ended up throwing in a K&N filter in my stock box. Mines not a daily and to be honest I have to drive 30 min to do âin townâ driving. So majority of my drives are highway, but I canât make it make sense in my head to drop 400 dollars to have hotter air coming in and truly not seeing a real difference. Many folks are making 450+ rwhp on a stock air box and a drop in filter.It's a nice "HAI" unit...
Pass on it.
Also there's many threads on here that discuss in length how/why the factory closed air box is really beneficial to the S550 over nearly any aftermarket open "CAI" (HAI).
The only way an open air box is or can be beneficial is if it's being used to its design element on an open track where RPM and MPH is not only extreme, but is also sustained with no "down" interval. Putting such a unit on a daily driver or street car that is used in stop-n-go traffic and sitting behind other vehicles pushing off heat - there is absolutely NO benefit at all, none. There's really no benefit either if being able to breakaway from traffic and maintain 70mph for 2-5 miles...because you're going to come to a stop again...at which point IATs will instantly shoot up.
Keep with the stock box or go with an aftermarket unit that is also a closed box, but may have a better intake tube as well (internally smooth and less bends).
If your S550 will be used as a dedicated track vehicle (80% or greater) for road racing, drag racing or auto-x and it has other extreme engine mods, then sure an open air box would be better suited to that type of use.
I can already hear it... you're going to say "Well, Ford did offer factory open air boxes on some S550's" - true. But Ford or Ford Performance also designed those boxes for specific S550's and their tune. Those Ford box designs were not a totally "open" design, as they did buffer the filter element (somewhat) from under hood temps when the hood was closed. Their boxes were not totally "open air dumps" like some aftermarket units allowing excessive heat to be drawn into the engine.
Not every mod that everyone has (or is advertised) will be beneficial to ALL of us - it's how the vehicle will be used, what mods it has (or will have), is it N/A or forced induction and is its use dedicated track time than say grocery getter time/take it out for 1.5 hours on a weekend.
It kind of seals but definitely would be looking at higher iats for no real gain (possible loss of power if iats are high enough). 18+ oem intake flows efficiently just needs a better filter added and carbon trap removed on the newer versions.