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ShadowsPapa

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I have a CAI on my 2015 Camaro SS, and the sound alone was worth it (I got it for a great deal, though). It gives a lot deeper sound up front.

Now, on those cars its worth an additional 5-15 HP IF you tune for it. Eventually, I'd like to add long tube headers and have the local shop do their magic. The CAI and LT's together with a tune are worth around 50HP on my L99 car as they are reallllyyyy held back stock.

It wouldn't be nearly the impact on a 3.6, and I wouldn't spend the money for sound OR looks.
Yeah, figure the CFM a 3.6 needs when it's stock and much of the time in low-lift mode, the other restrictions....... but on what you talk about, sure. The "air" flowing through an engine is an entire system - we used to say from air horn to exhaust tip. If you don't tune the whole thing, you will have a weaker link somewhere. If a simple CAI would make more HP and give more MPG, it's hard to imagine that they'd not have simply opened things up a bit.
On these, they get cold air anyway, so the MOPAR "CAI" isn't going to do much that way - there's a passage from the grill into the air box, and, the air box takes air from the right front edge of the hood, not the engine bay.
People keep thinking back to the days of pulling hot engine bay air into the engine - sure, you can shave a tenth or two off your time slip, maybe gain a mph at the end, but no performance change here.
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HorsesRear

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Well, you were the one that said the CAI looked cool. Do you really open the hood and stare at it?
Does anyone really care how it looks (well, apparently some do! HAHA)

The hood on mine gets opened only for occasional fluid checks, belt check, that sort of thing, otherwise, it's wasted energy. CAIs are a total waste of time and money unless you like the sound.

Ironically, I find the 2025 3.6 sounds louder under acceleration at around the low 2,000s RPM than any other Jeep I've owned, and I wonder - what did they change? Perhaps the tune?
The 25 has more of a heavy-breathing intake sound than any of our other Jeeps have had.
I like a clean looking engine compartment and I do open the hood and look quite often.
 

ShadowsPapa

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I like a clean looking engine compartment and I do open the hood and look quite often.
I get that and yeah, although I don't open just to look, if I'm doing anything else at all, sure, I enjoy the clean, neat, everything in its place look

This one, I do open now and then just to see what I might have done better, and look at it because it's a Jeep engine in a car and I did it all.

Jeep Gladiator Exhaust steam eng-bay


This one - I just stop and stare. Damn, I love that color and it sure can SHINE -

Jeep Gladiator Exhaust steam PXL_20250925_163951216

Jeep Gladiator Exhaust steam 1765567292852-y


I guess I to appreciate a clean, orderly, engine bay - without a lot of confusing messy things.
That's why I did my best to integrate, or even hide, the snow plow "stuff" or at least make it look stock, like it is a factory install.
Jeep Gladiator Exhaust steam PXL_20250919_220143205
 

HorsesRear

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I get that and yeah, although I don't open just to look, if I'm doing anything else at all, sure, I enjoy the clean, neat, everything in its place look

This one, I do open now and then just to see what I might have done better, and look at it because it's a Jeep engine in a car and I did it all.

eng-bay.webp


This one - I just stop and stare. Damn, I love that color and it sure can SHINE -

PXL_20250925_163951216.webp

1765567292852-yw.webp


I guess I to appreciate a clean, orderly, engine bay - without a lot of confusing messy things.
That's why I did my best to integrate, or even hide, the snow plow "stuff" or at least make it look stock, like it is a factory install.
PXL_20250919_220143205.webp
Now that's what I am talking about. Very nice.
 
 







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