When it comes to improving your vehicle’s performance or helping it have better breath, upgrading the cold air intake is the most common step you can take. It provides your vehicle with cooler and fresher air by blocking the tiniest particles. Thus, your vehicle can roar louder and perform better than before.
Picking just a random cold air intake doesn’t help you. You need to replace the old CAI with a better one. This is where Sinister Diesel comes in.
This brand offers several cold air intakes, air filters, and individual parts of the CAI system to help you improve your vehicle’s performance. In this Sinister Diesel cold air intake review, I will discuss a lot about it to help you decide about your next CAI.
Don’t miss it.
Let’s know about the brand a bit.
About Sinister Diesel
Sinister Diesel started its journey in America when a team of diesel, truck, and 4X4 enthusiasts wanted to make their dream come true. Instead of being just a part seller, the aim is to be a high-quality part seller and change the way of the automotive parts business.
Besides manufacturing and offering cold air intakes and parts, this brand also offers engine parts, exhaust kits, coolant systems, turbos, alternators, exterior parts, etc.
Everyone in the company shares the rebel spirit- the CEO says. If you share the same spirit, they also have an appeal section for you.
Now let’s go back to the discussion of CAI.
Sinister Diesel Cold Air Intake Review
Material
Material is one of the most crucial factors when it comes to performance. Looking at Sinister Diesel CAIs, I think they’re completely aware of ensuring maximum quality through materials.
The tubes are made of aluminum. So, it is light yet strong, and safe from heat and rust. The powder coating on it improves the protection.
The filter media here is cotton, one of the best media available in top-class filters. It is durable and reusable.
Silicon couplers come with the package to handle the joints properly and stop heat penetration. These couplers last way more than rubber ones.
Build Quality
Sinister Diesel has also focused equally on build quality. It uses CNC-machined mandrel bending technology to keep the inside of the tubes smooth. The joints are sealed properly with a high-technology sealing process to ensure uninterrupted airflow.
Also, these CAIs’ parts are designed to fit perfectly without having a slight gap. This helps in smooth performance.
Performance
Most users are completely satisfied with its performance.
CAIs from this brand improve the overall driving experience by outperforming the stock CAI. You’ll see better throttle response, handling, performance, and towing ability. Also, it improves engine sound.
It outperforms most of the CAIs out there.
Installation
Sinister Diesel CAIs are vehicle model-specific and designed to fit perfectly under the hood. So, you won’t have to make changes to get them installed. The required hardware comes with the package. You can do it with a few common tools and just a little experience.
If you enjoy working under the hood sometimes, this will help you save the installation charge.
Look
They look fabulous under the hood, I promise. The polished sinister blue color allows it to stay bold among all the engine components. Thus, no matter why you check under the hood, it’ll surely catch your focus.
And you’ll thank yourself for getting it.
Price
You can’t call these CAIs reasonable. In fact, they are some of the highest-priced CAIs in the market. So, if you’re desperate enough to spend a good amount on CAI improvement, you can go for them.
Warranty Policy
Most Sinister Diesel cold air intakes are backed by a 2-year warranty policy. It is the most practiced warranty policy in the market.
Some of them come with a 1-year warranty too. It’ll be best to discuss the warranty policy with the seller.
Customer Support
I’ve found some negative reviews about Sinister Diesel’s customer support. But positive reviews outnumber the negatives. They have designed a responsive customer support system that helps customers with any issue.
Limitations of Sinister Diesel CAIs
Despite being a well-established product, these CAIs have some limitations and downsides. Let’s see them.
Price
Sinister Diesel CAIs are not overpriced, but the price could be negotiated slightly. They are more expensive than common CAIs known for quality, like K&N, Airaid, Volant, etc.
No Heat Shield
CAIs from this brand don’t come with heat shields to protect the filter from engine heat. This is a bit damaging to the filters. Though they are designed to withstand high heat, adding a shield might make them more efficient.
Discussing My Favorite Sinister Diesel Cold Air Intake
Sinister Diesel Cold Air Intake for 2003-2007 Powerstroke 6.0L
It is the perfect replacement for the OE CAI of 2003-2007 Powerstroke 6.0L engine. Sitting smoothly on the OE CAI’s space, it outperforms the OE and provides an exciting and enjoyable driving experience.
Just like other CAIs from the brand, it comes with a cotton filter, oversized and long-lasting. The bigger size allows it to catch more particles than OE. You can reuse the filter even after it gets dirty. Washing is easy.
The air tube is made of high-quality lightweight aluminum and bent with CNC-machined mandrel bends. It offers excellent airflow toward the engine. Strong seals protect the joins.
After installing this CAI, you’ll see a noticeable improvement in the performance of your vehicle. It makes your engine roar louder, work harder, and perform better. Thus, you’ll notice an improvement in throttle response and overall vehicle control. No matter it’s a competitive race or a long daily drive, the CAI will keep you prepared for anything.
Also, by improving your engine’s capability, it helps your vehicle to tow a heavy load.
It is designed to fit in the OE space and ensures easy installation with a few common hand tools. You can do it easily. To make installation easier, PDF instructions are available online. Also, you’ll find unofficial installation videos.
When it comes to price, it is a bit expensive compared to similar products from most other CAI manufacturers. But its performance has made it worth the price.
Sinister Diesel Cold Air Intake Installation
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are Sinister Diesel CAIs legal?
The CAIs from this brand are not legal all over the USA. They are legal in all states except for California. So, you can’t use it there.
Be careful about it.
Are these available for all vehicle models?
No, they are not available for all vehicle models. You’ll find them for common models. Sinister Diesel is focused on designing and manufacturing components for diesel vehicles. So, you’ll find them for most diesel engine vehicles. You’d have to find CAIs from other brands for other vehicles.
Do these CAIs come with installation instructions?
Some of these CAIs come with installation instructions, whereas some don’t. So, the answer is not definite.
However, don’t worry if your one doesn’t include instructions in the package. You’ll find PDFs online. Also, YouTube videos are available for some models.
Final Verdict: Is Sinister Diesel CAI Any Good?
From the Sinister Diesel cold air intake review, you can see that these are some dependable offers to the market. They are made with top-notch material and dependable build quality. Thus, they provide satisfactory performance for diesel enthusiasts.
Just like any other product, you might find some negative reviews about them. But the number of positive reviews is way more than the negatives. So, you can depend on them.
They may not be the best picks for you when price is a concern, as they come with expensive price tags. Still, if you want a dependable CAI system for unmatched performance improvement, going for one from Sinister Diesel is worthy. So, you can try it if it is possible to increase the budget.
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