Eugene, how long did you use your CAI? I want to get one and am interested in buying yours.
Hi
ChevImpalaBoy4. I ended up putting the K&N back on to see if it would help with gas mileage. While it did give me a little (Maybe 1mpg), I've got to tell you.
With no other mods, more air, changed the power curve of the engine. The low RPM torque has dropped off noticably. Frustratingly so. While the top RPM torque has increased a little, it is not worth the price of the K&N.
This issue is very pronounced due to the long final gear ration the 2006 Impala has. The gears are veeeeeerrrrrrry tall. Erego, the car spends most of it's time, even if you are racing someone, in the low to mid range RPMs. If the final gear ratio was not so tall, and I know because I may have had the car up to 150+ mph with little sweat, this would not be an issue. But, because it is so, when you crank first gear up and finally feel the little extra power kick in at 5-5.5 grand, you shift into second at redline and the RPMs really drop back into the low mid range. Second gear, then, is REALLY tall and while you are waiting for your engine to rev back up to the power zone, the other guy is calling you a clown and pulling away.
Save your cashola and purchase a Predator tuner and dry shot nitrous. Of course, if you do this, you better plan on a shift kit or changing transmissions, as the stock unit is a total piece of crap. Ask the thousands of people, me included, that had to replace theirs, and I don't even run the car hard!! The wife won't let me.
