Airraid Vs. Steeda Proflow vs. Stock 18 Intake.

[Wamp]

Hey Guys.

Found a cheap used Steeda Proflow, and bought a takeoff 18 stock intake in case I had problems with the Steeda.

Had an Airraid on my 2015 Mustang GT. Stock manifold/TB/Cats, Borla Catback. 91 SCT Canned tune (Trash, I know, just haven’t gotten PBD tune yet).

Im in AZ. It’s hot every day, so IAT’s are a concern. Will be tuning E85/Flex in the near future, and PBD says no problem tuning Flex for this intake with insert in.

Getting some pretty serious rev hang with the Steeda.

With the insert out, driving idle slowly increases itself from 650-2500 until you get on and dump off the throttle. Left unattended, idle bounces like a sprinkler between 2k and 2500! Sounds like I’m revving driving through a parking lot. I had to use the clutch/gears to throttle the RPMs, in a way… so I didn’t sound like an idiot test driving.

Much better with the insert in. Revs still increase on their own after shifts (~400rpm), and will hang for almost 5 seconds.

Logs show throttle position sensor actually increasing slightly when the revs increase/hang

Option 1: Go back to Airraid
Option 2: Switch to 2018 Stock
Option 3: Tolerate the issues and stick with the Steeda.

Thoughts?

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[4V Mayhem]

Steeda PF with insert removed is a tune required system. So your engine is not going to run properly if you don't have it tuned to work with that system. Airraid also has an insert but for some reason in all their infinite wisdom they decided to make it molded into the plastic. So to remove it you have to take the tube off, cut the insert out carefully, and then smooth it down. All because they couldn't just make it a removable setup like everyone else did. I don't care at all for the stock system. I'd take it off and throw it in the trash and I don't care how many people did flow tests and found it to be efficient. Between the three the Airraid is the best. Not only because you are untuned but also because it is a boxed system and will keep your IATs much lower than an open element underhood system. The Steeda is going to have your IATs super high on even a 70 or 80 degree day. Go with AR or any boxed system.

 

[Wamp]

Steeda PF with insert removed is a tune required system. So your engine is not going to run properly if you don't have it tuned to work with that system. Airraid also has an insert but for some reason in all their infinite wisdom they decided to make it molded into the plastic. So to remove it you have to take the tube off, cut the insert out carefully, and then smooth it down. All because they couldn't just make it a removable setup like everyone else did. I don't care at all for the stock system. I'd take it off and throw it in the trash and I don't care how many people did flow tests and found it to be efficient. Between the three the Airraid is the best. Not only because you are untuned but also because it is a boxed system and will keep your IATs much lower than an open element underhood system. The Steeda is going to have your IATs super high on even a 70 or 80 degree day. Go with AR or any boxed system.

Thanks for the feedback.

Note, it is flashed with the SCT 91 tune for the Steeda… so it shouldn’t be having the untuned drivability issues. Granted, it’s not a “custom” tune, but it is a tune that’s supposed to be mapped for that IAT diameter.

Airraid seems to be stronger at lower RPM’s (slight wheel hop even with a whole slew of BMR suspension) and seems to have lower low-speed/idle RPMS.

Steeda IAT’s seem to be higher at idle/slow speeds, but they drop faster. I suspect it has to do with the heat transfer rates through the box… Steeda’s thinner plastic gets hotter faster, but will also cool faster.

The Steeda does seem to pull harder at higher RPMs despite the drive ability issues. And street 60 foot times seem to be about .02s faster. Guessing the combo of lost lower power and gained upper power help with 1) traction at the beginning of the 60 ft and 2) pull later in the 60 foot.

 

[tj@steeda]

When properly tuned with the Steeda Pro Flow CAI - you should not have any issues. I run the Pro Flow on my 2019 with the Steeda Tune & its very smooth & refined.

You may want to consider getting a custom tune by us to refine the drivability - https://www.steeda.com/tuning

Best Regards,

TJ

 

[Wamp]

When properly tuned with the Steeda Pro Flow CAI - you should not have any issues. I run the Pro Flow on my 2019 with the Steeda Tune & its very smooth & refined.

You may want to consider getting a custom tune by us to refine the drivability - https://www.steeda.com/tuning

Best Regards,

TJ

Thanks for the info TJ. Wouldn’t be surprised at all it a tune smoothed out the rev hang. Obviously a tune can’t fix turbulent air, but I’d guess a custom tube would at least smooth out the rev hang.

 

[AZ18yote]

Hey Guys.

Found a cheap used Steeda Proflow, and bought a takeoff 18 stock intake in case I had problems with the Steeda.

Had an Airraid on my 2015 Mustang GT. Stock manifold/TB/Cats, Borla Catback. 91 SCT Canned tune (Trash, I know, just haven’t gotten PBD tune yet).

Im in AZ. It’s hot every day, so IAT’s are a concern. Will be tuning E85/Flex in the near future, and PBD says no problem tuning Flex for this intake with insert in.

Getting some pretty serious rev hang with the Steeda.

With the insert out, driving idle slowly increases itself from 650-2500 until you get on and dump off the throttle. Left unattended, idle bounces like a sprinkler between 2k and 2500! Sounds like I’m revving driving through a parking lot. I had to use the clutch/gears to throttle the RPMs, in a way… so I didn’t sound like an idiot test driving.

Much better with the insert in. Revs still increase on their own after shifts (~400rpm), and will hang for almost 5 seconds.

Logs show throttle position sensor actually increasing slightly when the revs increase/hang

Option 1: Go back to Airraid
Option 2: Switch to 2018 Stock
Option 3: Tolerate the issues and stick with the Steeda.

Thoughts?

With our temps in Phx I def recommend 18 oem. Keeps iats down and flows great. Once you go flex / e (are you doing flex tune, e54r tune and e85r for our fuel scenario or?) It's a night and day difference. The power is great, the cooling is evident just check your CHTs when it's 115 out on 91 its way higher than running e. Pair some long tubes with your tune at the same time and can avoid additional revisions and gain even more power.

 

[Wamp]

With our temps in Phx I def recommend 18 oem. Keeps iats down and flows great. Once you go flex / e (are you doing flex tune, e54r tune and e85r for our fuel scenario or?) It's a night and day difference. The power is great, the cooling is evident just check your CHTs when it's 115 out on 91 its way higher than running e. Pair some long tubes with your tune at the same time and can avoid additional revisions and gain even more power.

Surprisingly, the IATs seem to be somewhat even between the 3. IAT’s are pretty important in the AZ Heat, but I don’t know that any of the 3 is cooler than the other. They all have similar construction, they’re all sealed, and all pull air from the same place.

Going to run E85 or Flex, but I have E85 available near me thankfully. This is why I’m hesitant to keep the Steeda, even if it flows slightly more and PBD says they can tune flex for it.

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