Spectre Cold Air Intake Review

[J-Dub]

I bought a Spectre CAI off Amazon for $175. Installation was a breeze. Everything fit together nicely and I really like the use of the bottom portion of the factory air box compared to the K&N setup I had on my previous truck with the Hemi. This CAI really pulls some air and you can hear it during normal acceleration. I have the 3.21 gears and it seems like I'm getting into 8th gear easier and staying in it more on hills than before. I live on a hilly windy road. Not sure about an mpg increase yet. I'll have to run a few tanks through it. Overall a really nice upgrade to the factory setup.

 

[SitKneelBend]

I bought a Spectre CAI off Amazon for $175. Installation was a breeze. Everything fit together nicely and I really like the use of the bottom portion of the factory air box compared to the K&N setup I had on my previous truck with the Hemi. This CAI really pulls some air and you can hear it during normal acceleration. I have the 3.21 gears and it seems like I'm getting into 8th gear easier and staying in it more on hills than before. I live on a hilly windy road. Not sure about an mpg increase yet. I'll have to run a few tanks through it. Overall a really nice upgrade to the factory setup.

I know Spectre is supposed to be the bargain brand but from the pictures it looks much better than the K&N I had.

 

[zogg]

I recently put an Injen cai on my 2019 classic. I actually looked at the Spectre but I wanted a closed system. There were some noticeable improvements in performance initially but that all went away after 1,000 miles once the computer reset itself.

Absolutely no improvement in mpg, but I didn’t expect any.

So, now it runs exactly as original which is what I really expected. But it looks neat. Enjoy!!

 

[British Bulldog]

I had that exact one (Spectre) on my 2017 gen 4. Ran it for a couple years and only recently sold it to a member on here. It was a good fit, easy in and off if needed for warranty etc and sounded good on acceleration.
They are relatively cheap and good quality materials.
You will like it, a lot

 

[CheechDogg.0n37s]

CAI can actually ruin your engine if they are not designed right and there is honestly no improvement in HP or performance with one, especially an open one, so many things can go wrong like the intake sucking in water more easily ...

Unless you have a tuner with the CAI I wouldn't even waste my money on one ....

 

[zogg]

CAI can actually ruin your engine if they are not designed right and there is honestly no improvement in HP or performance with one, especially an open one, so many things can go wrong like the intake sucking in water more easily ...

Unless you have a tuner with the CAI I wouldn't even waste my money on one ....

I agree that cai systems don’t do much but I cannot agree that they can “ruin” an engine. Also, on a Ram, water could not get into the intake unless the truck is under water. In the process of personalizing our trucks, we certainly waste a lot of money.

I put wheel well flares on my Ram, and I thought they would not do a darn thing. Surprisingly, they do help to keep road grime off the sides of the truck. Otherwise, a complete waste of money. Lots of guys hate them, but I like the look. But it’s my money so who cares??

 

[JHoward]

I have MOPAR's version of the Cai. on my HEMI.

I like the looks and easy to clean the reusable air filter but I can't tell much difference in performance all though it's supposed to add an increase to hp/torq. ... also, inmo it's overpriced but that is how it goes when purchasing a brand name MOPAR performance goody.

JHoward

 

[zogg]

Looks good. I didn’t know mopar had a cai.

 

[Gregdad]

I agree that cai systems don’t do much but I cannot agree that they can “ruin” an engine. Also, on a Ram, water could not get into the intake unless the truck is under water. In the process of personalizing our trucks, we certainly waste a lot of money.

I put wheel well flares on my Ram, and I thought they would not do a darn thing. Surprisingly, they do help to keep road grime off the sides of the truck. Otherwise, a complete waste of money. Lots of guys hate them, but I like the look. But it’s my money so who cares??

View attachment 482831

I put flares on my old Sport because I couldn’t stand this.

 

[zogg]

I put flares on my old Sport because I couldn’t stand this.

Yep. Exactly what I was talking about.

 

[CheechDogg.0n37s]

I agree that cai systems don’t do much but I cannot agree that they can “ruin” an engine. Also, on a Ram, water could not get into the intake unless the truck is under water. In the process of personalizing our trucks, we certainly waste a lot of money.

I put wheel well flares on my Ram, and I thought they would not do a darn thing. Surprisingly, they do help to keep road grime off the sides of the truck. Otherwise, a complete waste of money. Lots of guys hate them, but I like the look. But it’s my money so who cares??

Yeep your money who cares, another one who doesn't seem to be able to take advice from personal experiences as just that, "advice" ...

Believe what you want, but CAI "CAN" indeed ruin your engine and very quickly ....

 

[DILLIGAF]

I put flares on my old Sport because I couldn’t stand this.

Depends on where you live. Up here we call them Rust flares. No one puts them on. We rather live with MUD on our trucks


Some of you guys sure have it easy in the southern states.

 

[CheechDogg.0n37s]

Depends on where you live. Up here we call them Rust flares. No one puts them on. We rather live with MUD on our trucks

I put them because of the -44 offset I have and because it was the look I was going for as well lol ...

 

[DILLIGAF]

Pretty sure California dosent have -50 and Salt to deal with 4-6 month of the year... lol...

 

[CheechDogg.0n37s]

Pretty sure California dosent have -50 and Salt to deal with 4-6 month of the year... lol...

Not at all lol .... pretty lucky out here lol .. we do deal with 110+ summers for about 4-5 months though and that's rough lol

 

[Gregdad]

Depends on where you live. Up here we call them Rust flares. No one puts them on. We rather live with MUD on our trucks


Some of you guys sure have it easy in the southern states.

I put clear 3M on the fender panels before installing the flares to prevent any scratching

 

[HEMIMANN]

I had that exact one (Spectre) on my 2017 gen 4. Ran it for a couple years and only recently sold it to a member on here. It was a good fit, easy in and off if needed for warranty etc and sounded good on acceleration.
They are relatively cheap and good quality materials.
You will like it, a lot

Why'd you take it off, Clive?

I installed an S&B. They claim on their website the flow resistance is reduced double digit % from stock, flow-bench tested. Not sure what ECM does over time, whether it "resets" or whatever. ECM is set for air-fuel ratios based on MAP sensor in the intake and O2 sensor in the exhaust, but reduced pumping losses are always more beneficial on the air induction side for naturally-aspirated engines. Probably doesn't pay for itself, but I like the idea of optimized air induction.

On the other end, exhaust restriction reduction doesn't yield any performance benefit (maybe some small mpg also) because the pressure delta is so high from combustion. Engine Masters recently tested a Hemi with various restricted exhausts and documented this. They also showed a ~10% torque increase when long tube headers with collector installed. That was the only exhaust treatment that added performance - and not because of reduced exhaust flow restriction - it's because of exhaust pulse tuning that scavanges exhaust gases better, and "pulls" fresh air in.

 

[turkeybird56]

I agree that cai systems don’t do much but I cannot agree that they can “ruin” an engine. Also, on a Ram, water could not get into the intake unless the truck is under water. In the process of personalizing our trucks, we certainly waste a lot of money.

I put wheel well flares on my Ram, and I thought they would not do a darn thing. Surprisingly, they do help to keep road grime off the sides of the truck. Otherwise, a complete waste of money. Lots of guys hate them, but I like the look. But it’s my money so who cares??

View attachment 482831

YEP, if it works for U, great. The flares are nice. If U ask, I am sure a lot of folks here will assist U in spending your money also !!!

 

[British Bulldog]

Hemimann,
In response to you queries?
I took it off because I sold the truck. Well, part ex for new one, May 2021and they told me I needed to go back to stock. Okay I said, I have the old stuff in bed, give me 15mins…….
And that’s what I did! CAI off, original bits on. Job done!
It won’t fit my new etorque anyway!

 

[TOTALCHAOS69]

I found my specter air filter laying in the box one day. The flange and clamp still attached but the filter had broken loose. ‍ Check it often.