2017 Yukon XL 6.2 CAI

[NCRugRat]

Just installed the K&N CAI and it’s much louder than expected. I had one on a previous (smaller) V8 and you had to get into the gas to hear much of anything. On my 6.2, anything more than slight pedal pressure results in a growl and getting on it just roars. Just checking if this is normal and considering going back to factory air box with upgraded filter. Maybe just add the tube. Planning ahead as my wife hasn’t driven it yet since I made the change. Was also considering a mild muffler swap, but went with CAI first.

 

[Doubeleive]

are you sure it still has the original oem muffler? or if the exhaust flapper has been wired open?, just doing a cai on a stock system doesn't do much to make it any louder, will sound different but not really louder.

 

[NCRugRat]

are you sure it still has the original oem muffler? or if the exhaust flapper has been wired open?, just doing a cai on a stock system doesn't do much to make it any louder, will sound different but not really louder.

Stock exhaust which is quiet. It’s all under the hood. I made sure connection to throttle body was tight too. YouTube going down the road.

 

[avalonandl]

The OEM air intakes are more than sufficient to flow. No need for CAI unless you put a supercharger on it.

 

[Doubeleive]

Stock exhaust which is quiet. It’s all under the hood. I made sure connection to throttle body was tight too. YouTube going down the road.

sounds like a open pipe, I would get under the truck and take a look and make sure one of the clamps on the exhaust pipe didn't slip off somewhere, no way a cai alone will make it that loud. even with a cai and no flapper and a aftermarket muffler my silverado is not even that loud, it was once when I hit some good jumps and the pipe came loose so it was basically a straight pipe and that's what yours sounds like.

 

[avalonandl]

sounds like a open pipe, I would get under the truck and take a look and make sure one of the clamps on the exhaust pipe didn't slip off somewhere, no way a cai alone will make it that loud. even with a cai and no flapper and a aftermarket muffler my silverado is not even that loud, it was once when I hit some good jumps and the pipe came loose so it was basically a straight pipe and that's what yours sounds like.

I think he is talking about the Intake. The OE intake has all kinds of silencing tubes (hemholtz resonators to cut down intake drone).

 

[Doubeleive]

I think he is talking about the Intake. The OE intake has all kinds of silencing tubes (hemholtz resonators to cut down intake drone).

I have the same intake on my Silverado (for the most part) it's a 5.3 l83, the l86 has a slightly bigger intake, it still shouldn't be that loud with just a cai, if it is then so be it but sounds like a open pipe somewhere.
if he wants a happy in-between gm sells a airbox

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it still uses part of the original intake and just changes the airbox to a cai style, that should eliminate some of the noise.

 

[NCRugRat]

Thanks. Not sure what the issue was, but that was 100% the intake. Everything seemed to be clamped on tightly so not sure why so loud. I changed it back to stock for now and everything is normal and quiet. I’ll probably just look at the filter exchange for now. My daughter thought it sounded “cool”, but knew it would get old quick.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Agreed with above. The change in sound should not be all that much.

I don't know much about the '17 trucks, but most of the earlier trucks with the 6.2 motor already came with and OEM CAI as standard equipment, so I'm not sure why you made the change. On my 07, which came with OEM CAI, as I previously mentioned, I simply replaced the air tube running from the air filter to the motor's throttle plate, and it was called an MIT made by AiRaid. As mentioned above, the OEM air tube has a bunch of funky protrusions and passages in it, designed to make it quieter.

 

[STORMIN08]

i disagree with most statements above...all reports i have ever read, or even experienced from CAi is that the sound is very noticeable.

perfect example is my current rig...i have opened up the factory box, below the filter...AGAIN, VERY NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN SOUND. the grumble of the motor when you have any throttle input is noticeable and even the exhaust tone has changed slightly.

i am considering a AIRAID JR TUBE, but not sure i want it to be any more noticeable as it currently has a great sound. the stock piping and silencer box make the engine sounds barely noticeable.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

i disagree with most statements above...all reports i have ever read, or even experienced from CAi is that the sound is very noticeable.

perfect example is my current rig...i have opened up the factory box, below the filter...AGAIN, VERY NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN SOUND. the grumble of the motor when you have any throttle input is noticeable and even the exhaust tone has changed slightly.

i am considering a AIRAID JR TUBE, but not sure i want it to be any more noticeable as it currently has a great sound. the stock piping and silencer box make the engine sounds barely noticeable.

View attachment 349875View attachment 349876

Based upon what I can see, unless I am missing something, your cutting away mod on the plastic housing basically eliminated your OEM CAI setup.

 

[STORMIN08]

and that may possibly be, which at idle is irrelevant (actually probably better for emissions). once rolling, that is not the case...the area removed is still well contained by other items that block most heat.

highway mileage, throttle response and drivability all had noticeable changes.
current mileage on long trips (with lift and larger tires) has stayed the same as when original tire size was installed (it had slight gains with original tire size)
throttle response and drivability, both showed effects.

they was affected in a matter that this created a small dead spot in the pedal at off idle, low speed, low throttle input (you needed to use more pedal to drive through it)

never said this mod was an improvement, nor is it for every one...this was a trial that i have done to most of my vehicles...i actually took small windows at a time, most having no change to low speed drivability...but there was a sound and mileage change with all.

it wasnt until the majority of the lower box was removed that the dead spot appeared. but again, i knew this was a possibility, but was looking for the gain at higher speeds as we perform long road trips regularly. since having the vehicle tuned (i have a diablo intune3) the dead spot is gone. either by the tune itself or the pedal sensitivity input changes.

the whole point of my post here was to inform that there probably isnt anything wrong the OP vehicle...but that the open flowing elements do create a louder engine noise when throttling...even the posts of swapping to the L83 to L86 intakes on a 5.3 increase sound.


my end game is to have a better flowing, much nicer appearing intake, this was all just a trial...but i can assure you, what ever route i do go...a K&N will NOT be my filter of choice. filtering and flow are 2 very different topics.

 

[Jeff Dant]

I have a 16' Denali with a Volant CAI and it's pretty damn loud. I added a Corsa cat back after and the intake can be louder than the exhaust from inside the car when half throttle while holder higher gear(lugging). It does get a little old but sometimes but overall it's badass! I also picked up about 2 MPG after installing both- 18.1 MPG now. I also have an AFM delete from Range so no 4 cyl mode for me.

 

[Nautilus571]

So, we are a two Danali family. I have a 2019 Sierra Denali with the 6.2, Borla catback, and a CAI brand CAI. The difference between the factory air box and the cai is phenomenal in not only the sound, but performance and MPG as well. Pushing 440hp or more. Gained almost 2 mpg on average. My wife has the 21 Yukon with a 6.2, stock exhaust, and a CAI cai as well. With the stock exhaust sound is nomi al at idle, but in accelaeration, yeah it sounds awesome. Performance increase is noticable. And the same for mpg as the Sierra. Bottom line I would say a cai is a good investment.