Will a CAI help with altitude losses?

SS.Sanchez · 04-03-2021, 03:46 PM

I live at 5,280ish ft above sea level and read on the forum that at that altitude the car can loose up to 20% power. Would getting a CAI help mitigate this and if not what will?

2SS Capt · 04-03-2021, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS.Sanchez

I live at 5,280ish ft above sea level and read on the forum that at that altitude the car can loose up to 20% power. Would getting a CAI help mitigate this and if not what will?

Nope... A turbo would mitigate it... (Turbo Normalized)

FarmerFran · 04-03-2021, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS.Sanchez

I live at 5,280ish ft above sea level and read on the forum that at that altitude the car can loose up to 20% power. Would getting a CAI help mitigate this and if not what will?

Just remember -- everyone is "20% down".

Well other than the boosted. But they are not same as sea level.

SS.Sanchez · 04-03-2021, 04:11 PM

Yeah just realizing I've never experienced the car at its true power is a little sad lol

SS.Sanchez · 04-03-2021, 04:12 PM

Did you notice any real difference in performance with the CAI? or is it just a waste of money if bought by itself?

2SS Capt · 04-03-2021, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS.Sanchez

Did you notice any real difference in performance with the CAI? or is it just a waste of money if bought by itself?

I put mine on at like 70 miles on the odometer, so I never jumped on it prior as I wasn't broken in yet... It does sound and look great so I'm very happy with that mod...

Martinjlm · 04-03-2021, 05:49 PM

I noticed after putting on my CAI my quarter mile times improved slightly, a bit less than a tenth, and my trap speed improved by just under 2mph. That’s just comparing my last session at Milan Dragway before CAI to my first session at Milan Dragway after CAI. No other mods at that time.

COKen · 04-03-2021, 06:32 PM

I have not had my SS at sea level yet, but I have had my M Roadster at sea level several times. It sure does feel like it gets more than 20% at sea level. (FYI the M's rated HP is 315).

gtfoxy · 04-03-2021, 07:45 PM

Refer to the extensive testing done on intake systems. That’s going to be the relative gain.

As it’s been said, GM did a very good job maximizing the entire system on the cars as-is. Even the truck 5.3L gains next to nothing with a pre-intake change N/A. Big headers show no gain to even a loss.

Add a cam, LT2 intake to the mix & you’ll see some gains.

O2 saturation being what it is at altitude the best way to compensate for this is forced induction. It’s physics & stuff.

What you’re really looking at is dynamic compression. What that means is you lose dynamic compression because static compression changes with altitude because of air mass loss as altitude increases (not in a linear fashion, but I digress) so the only way to change that is by changing the mass of Oxygen the engine receives every induction cycle (Mass/volume). This can be by chemical (nitrous) or physical (Supercharger) augmentation.

JSH · 04-03-2021, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS.Sanchez

I live at 5,280ish ft above sea level and read on the forum that at that altitude the car can loose up to 20% power. Would getting a CAI help mitigate this and if not what will?

Denver density altitude (DA) is often in the 23-24 range versus sea level of 30-31, which for purposes of this post, basically translates into a loss of power for a naturally aspirated engine of approx. same % difference between the two DAs.

I don't believe you should add a power adder (turbo, supercharger, N2O) to an engine designed to run at atmospheric pressure. A custom valve train would be my first choice for you.

Rhobz · 04-04-2021, 12:20 AM

I moved from San Diego (0 ft) to Colorado Springs (6K ft) and man let me tell you, my butt dyno registered the power loss right away.

Spaceme1117 · 04-04-2021, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS.Sanchez

I live at 5,280ish ft above sea level and read on the forum that at that altitude the car can loose up to 20% power. Would getting a CAI help mitigate this and if not what will?

Any mods that get more air in and out of the engine will help.

But the only way to get the same amount of oxygen into the engine as at sea level is with boost.

This is why in WWII, nearly every fighter plane had a supercharger.

LT1ornothing · 04-04-2021, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS.Sanchez

I live at 5,280ish ft above sea level and read on the forum that at that altitude the car can loose up to 20% power. Would getting a CAI help mitigate this and if not what will?

You will need either a 100 shot of nitrous or at least 5 lbs of boost to make up for that 20% power loss. A CAI by itself ain't gonna do diddly iddly for you...

Rock-It Man · 04-04-2021, 09:48 AM

Your car will always inject the sociometric amount of fuel. Because air pressure is lower at altitude, there is less air and hence less fuel injected and hence less power.

It's debatable whether CAI increases power, but if it does, the effect is the same at high and low altitudes, so at altitude you will be the same percentage off from sea level power with or without CAI.

04-03-2021, 03:46 PM	#1
SS.Sanchez Drives: 2018 Redline Camaro SS Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: CO Posts: 10	Will a CAI help with altitude losses? I live at 5,280ish ft above sea level and read on the forum that at that altitude the car can loose up to 20% power. Would getting a CAI help mitigate this and if not what will?

04-03-2021, 05:49 PM	#7
Martinjlm Retired from GM Drives: 2017 Camaro Fifty SS Convertible Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Detroit Posts: 5,228	I noticed after putting on my CAI my quarter mile times improved slightly, a bit less than a tenth, and my trap speed improved by just under 2mph. That’s just comparing my last session at Milan Dragway before CAI to my first session at Milan Dragway after CAI. No other mods at that time. __________________ 2017 CAMARO FIFTY SS CONVERTIBLE A8 \| MRC \| NPP \| Nav \| HUD \| GM Performance CAI \| Tony Mamo LT1 V2 Ported TB \| Kooks 1-7/8” LT Headers \| FlexFuel Tune \| Thinkware Q800 Pro front and rear dash cam \| Charcoal Tint for Taillights and 3rd Brakelight \| Orange and Carbon Fiber Bowties \| 1LE Wheels in Gunmetal Gray \| Carbon Fiber Interior Overlays \| Novistretch bra and mirror covers \| Tow hitch for bicycle rack \|

04-03-2021, 06:32 PM	#8
COKen Drives: '21 Camao SS, BMW 435i, M Roadster Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Colorado Posts: 63	I have not had my SS at sea level yet, but I have had my M Roadster at sea level several times. It sure does feel like it gets more than 20% at sea level. (FYI the M's rated HP is 315). __________________ 2021 Camaro SS Riverside Blue Metallic 2014 435i M-Sport, Mineral Gray, Black Dakota Leather, Driver Asst Pkg, Prem Pkg, Tech Pkg, 8 Spd Sport AT, Heated Front Seats, ACC, BMW M Perf Tune w/MPE, BMW LSD, BBS CH. 2002 M Roadster, Steel Gray Metailic, Gray Nappa Leather, Steel Gray Metailic HT, TC Kline DA Shocks & Camber Plates, w/H&R Springs, Stromung Exhaust, SSR Type C.

04-03-2021, 04:11 PM	#4
SS.Sanchez Drives: 2018 Redline Camaro SS Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: CO Posts: 10	Yeah just realizing I've never experienced the car at its true power is a little sad lol

04-03-2021, 04:12 PM	#5
SS.Sanchez Drives: 2018 Redline Camaro SS Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: CO Posts: 10	Did you notice any real difference in performance with the CAI? or is it just a waste of money if bought by itself?

04-03-2021, 07:45 PM	#9
gtfoxy Account Suspended Drives: '21 Wild Cherry ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: WI Posts: 2,082	Refer to the extensive testing done on intake systems. That’s going to be the relative gain. As it’s been said, GM did a very good job maximizing the entire system on the cars as-is. Even the truck 5.3L gains next to nothing with a pre-intake change N/A. Big headers show no gain to even a loss. Add a cam, LT2 intake to the mix & you’ll see some gains. O2 saturation being what it is at altitude the best way to compensate for this is forced induction. It’s physics & stuff. What you’re really looking at is dynamic compression. What that means is you lose dynamic compression because static compression changes with altitude because of air mass loss as altitude increases (not in a linear fashion, but I digress) so the only way to change that is by changing the mass of Oxygen the engine receives every induction cycle (Mass/volume). This can be by chemical (nitrous) or physical (Supercharger) augmentation.

04-04-2021, 12:20 AM	#11
Rhobz Drives: 2018 Camaro 1SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 186	I moved from San Diego (0 ft) to Colorado Springs (6K ft) and man let me tell you, my butt dyno registered the power loss right away.

04-04-2021, 09:48 AM	#14
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,030 View My Garage	Your car will always inject the sociometric amount of fuel. Because air pressure is lower at altitude, there is less air and hence less fuel injected and hence less power. It's debatable whether CAI increases power, but if it does, the effect is the same at high and low altitudes, so at altitude you will be the same percentage off from sea level power with or without CAI.

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