Does a cold air intake actually add power on an LS truck?
A little. Speedway estimates 5–15 hp from a cold air intake on a 4.8/5.3, by feeding the engine cooler, denser air. For comparison, its estimates for other bolt-ons:
| Upgrade | Estimated gain |
|---|---|
| Camshaft | 20–40 hp |
| Headers | 10–20 hp |
| Intake manifold | 10–20 hp |
| Custom tune | 10–20 hp |
| Cold air intake | 5–15 hp |
If power is the goal, a cam and tune do far more.
Confidence: medium — sources disagree or are limited; check the sources below.
Community discussion
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Sources
- Vortec 4.8 LS Build: Horsepower Recipes, Specs and Upgrades — Speedway Motors