Carbon Trap Delete Pro's & Con's

[MustangMitch69]

What are the pro's and con's of removing the carbon traps in the air boxes? I was told that by removing them I'd get about the same horsepower boost as if I replaced the air boxes with washable filters (K&N, Steeda, etc.), and that there wouldn't even be that much of a difference between doing that and buying and installing an $800 cold air intake (other than getting washable filters vs. disposable filters, of course). Don't know how much truth there is to that, nor what the disadvantages would be that would come with removing the carbon traps.

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[RaceRedder]

Pro 1, no apple in your throat while you want to breath.

Pro 2, you also get placebo horsepower for free.

Con 1, you might damage the sensor while reinstalling.

Con 2, dealerships might void your warranty.

 

[roket]

it removes a restriction from the intake that may or may not actually make a power difference. no dealer would void your warranty over it, though. to deny warranty coverage, the dealer has to provide evidence that whatever issue is being repaired was directly caused by the customer or something the customer did. evidence beyond a reasonable doubt

edit: as a couple of people pointed out, this is the ideal scenario, and unfortunately not a lot of dealers actually follow this. plus, it would be too much trouble and financial burden to take the dealer to court over it, and im willing to bet thats why the dealers continue with it

 

[robvas]

There isn't any proven power to be had in the airboxes on these is there? Even the ones the vendors post show 2-3hp which can just be dyno variation, or a half of a half of degree of timing the car decided to pull.

 

[Q6543]

I found zero gains at the track by removing them, you hear the electronic throttle body a hair more.

after I did it I was like… well what a waste of time and felt stupid.
I was a big believer that I was removing a restriction and would pick up MPH gains after all the dyno vids I watched promoting that idea

it wasn’t reality

 

[MustangMitch69]

Pro 2, you also get placebo horsepower for free.

So there's no actual noticeable horsepower difference, it just makes people feel better about it? No noticeable difference in throttle response, etc?

 

[msquad]

Just out of curiosity, I had to look up how much they cost from Ford (this is just one side). Just FYI...

 

[roket]

There isn't any proven power to be had in the airboxes on these is there? Even the ones the vendors post show 2-3hp which can just be dyno variation, or a half of a half of degree of timing the car decided to pull.

without tuning, Ford has gotten these engines pretty well optimized. gone are the days of a 15hp aftermarket intake. cams do nothing, the block is bulletproof, the heads are crazy good flowing, the crank is forged, and so on. i think the most power you get with the gen 4s is headers and is something like 20hp, 30hp if you are lucky, imo not worth it. we wont know the true limits until tuning is cracked, though

 

[msquad]

without tuning, Ford has gotten these engines pretty well optimized. gone are the days of a 15hp aftermarket intake. cams do nothing, the block is bulletproof, the heads are crazy good flowing, the crank is forged, and so on. i think the most power you get with the gen 4s is headers and is something like 20hp, 30hp if you are lucky, imo not worth it. we wont know the true limits until tuning is cracked, though

I have concluded unless I'm supercharging my DH, don't waste money/time elsewhere.
OTOH, I may want beefier half shafts just for peace of mind, but haven't been able to confirm if GT350 half shafts are stronger than DH half shafts. But don't let me take this thread off the rails here.

 

[smurfslayer]

to deny warranty coverage, the dealer has to provide evidence assert that whatever issue is being repaired was directly caused by the customer or something the customer did. was on the same vehicle as one that had any modification at all to any possibly related system. evidence beyond a reasonable doubt

FIFY.

Once the stealership says “your car has mods” the work stops unless you pony up. You can throw all the “lemon law/magnusson-moss/get a lawyer” verbiage out you want, but if the dealer sees something they don’t want to work on, they throw this obstacle up to get rid of you.

A previous poster offered up that this can be related to metrics, and not wanting to get on the wrong side of metrics from Ford.

You’re correct when the issue gets to court, but court costs time and money and most consumers won’t bother. Usually this comes up when there’s a bigger problem; broken hard parts or similar and the stealership says they’re denying coverage ( because Ford won’t cover it ).

And when it gets to court, the manufacturer’s paid for expert witnesses will swear under oath that your modification caused or contributed to whatever failure occurred. That’s why they’re retained. Your expert witnesses have to prove otherwise.

All of that said, unless there’s some kind of serious issue, they won’t even have cause to look in the intakes, so it’s not like they’re inspecting every inch of the vehicle when you’re in for routine service or warranty work. UNLESS: you’re actively seeking a buyout or suing under a lemon law.

 

[Zig]

What are the pro's and con's of removing the carbon traps in the air boxes? I was told that by removing them I'd get about the same horsepower boost as if I replaced the air boxes with washable filters (K&N, Steeda, etc.), and that there wouldn't even be that much of a difference between doing that and buying and installing an $800 cold air intake (other than getting washable filters vs. disposable filters, of course). Don't know how much truth there is to that, nor what the disadvantages would be that would come with removing the carbon traps.

They’re not in the boxes

 

[MAT1955]

@roket no they do not have to provide any "evidence" at they can just qoute their policies and deny the claim stating their concerns. YOU are the one who will have to prove it didn't harm the vehicle, when you modify items related to your engine management system ie your air intakes. The dealer won't likely touch it ( mine won't accept those mods and will void the warranty) and Ford sure won't. You'd need a lawyer $$$$$ and you'd lose unless it was completely egregious factory fault - which messing with the car (while fun) isn't and kills most warranties, period. I will say it for the 20th friggin' time. If Ford Corporate approves a specific email for your specific case and an email and case number you are likely covered.... all others speaking for Ford Corporate warranties Dealers, After Manufacture part suppliers are full of ......

 

[MAT1955]

@roket no they do not have to provide any "evidence" at- they can just quooute their policies and deny the claim stating their concerns. YOU are the one who will have to prove it didn't harm the vehicle, when you modify items related to your engine management system ie your air intakes. The dealer won't likely touch it (mine won't accept those mods and will void the warranty) and Ford sure won't. You'd need a lawyer $$$$$ and you'd lose unless it was completely egregious factory fault - which messing with the car (while fun) isn't and kills most warranties, period. I will say it for the 20th friggin' time. If Ford Corporate approves a specific email for your specific case and an email and case number you are likely covered.... all others speaking for Ford Corporate warranties like Dealers and After Manufacture part suppliers are full of $hit...... AND..... as I have posted at least three times in this forum the two local performance centers near me are looking at air intake mods with EVERY customer engine complaint. Their techs have you tube - who thought? The dealer and the aftermarketer's are full of crap. Call Ford - it is only their opinion that matters in the ]

 

[roket]

@smurfslayer @MAT1955 admittedly, what i said is how things should go (and i have edited my message to reflect that now), but some dealers are definitely dirtier than others about it

 

[roket]

... But don't let me take this thread off the rails here.

dont worry, i think the rails are already gone now

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