I'm looking to install a K&N CAI on my 2005 SS/SC. Has anyone else done this and if so, have they had any issues with it running lean? If so, how bad and what did you do to fix it? I know at some point (especially when I upgrade the SC pulley) I'll need to get bigger injectors, but is it necessary to do so prior to the CAI to ensure that I'm going to deliver enough fuel to the mix?

Next project (probably next month) will be replacing that rattle can of a stock exhaust with a Magnaflow cat-back system.

Any suggestions or thoughts to consider will be appreciated.

-- Spidermonkey

 

my first mod was a k&n cai.

I threw a code for lean bank. This happends to some cars, some it doesnt...

This has given me NO problems for the 7 months i had it on. It doesnt really mean anything.

 

If it is only happening on some Cobalts and not others, it would seem that CAIs are making it run just lean enough to set the O2 sensors off on some of them. Have you had yours dyno'd since installing the CAI? Lean mixtures will cause hotter temps in the combustion chamber, detonation and in extreme cases, melted pistons.

Im definitely going to get mine dyno'd after I install my CAI. I'm just trying to get a gauge of how urgently I'll need to do so. It's likely that the ratio will be in an acceptable range. If not, I'll need to either get it tuned and possibly install the bigger injectors to provide the necessary additional fuel.

Like always, you change one thing... and you have to change three more to make it work right. Gotta love it.

 

if you get oil on the MAF, does that throw the same lean code?

I think the k+ns had problems at the start, but i also think it was fixed.

with stock filters, the 05s had problems throwing the lean bank code. in most cases, rotating the filter 45-90 degrees fixed. dumb, and a total pita, but might be the same issue.

 

any intake thats any good should throw a lean code because its bringing in more air, you need to recalibrate the MAF with hp tuners to get it right, just putting an intake on a stock car is not the proper way to do things