Are there any issues that would arise from installing these mods?

[Tcoder]

I have 2014 Sonic LTZ with 95k miles. I started looking at my first aftermarket parts to install. I bought the zzp CAI and the high voltage coil pack with new spark plugs. I was super excited as it was my first time working on this car. Everything seemed good but after driving to work (around 20 miles) I had smoke coming from the engine block. I did some research and settled on it being the valve cover gasket. To be sure, I put the stock air intake back on and the problem persisted. I believe the CAI may have been the final straw for either my turbo or my pcv system. After intallation of the valve cover gasket I put the ZZP CAI back on and the turbo noises were awesome (durrrrr turbo noise). Then when driving it shifted hard, popped the engine light, and I believe went into limp mode. Still had to get to work so I was driving the whole time basically under 2k rpm. My buddy ran the code and it was a P0299. Took it to the shop again and asked them to check out the pcv system and check what was causing the engine underboost. They diagnosed that the wastegate was getting stuck and if the problem persisted the turbo needs to be replaced (why not only the wastegate??). Doing more reading and watching videos I was almost certain that they misdiagnosed it and the pcv was the problem. I’m not a mechanic but I heard the valve cover gasket thing had happened to others. I bought the ported intake manifold from zzp as well as the pcv system upgrade. From earlier when I had taken the car in and they said the turbo would need replaced, I had bought the Chinese turbo from a-premium for 300. I was gonna return it and save the money but my friend that is a mechanic said my turbo would need replaced in 20k miles or so. Currently having the turbo installed and I wanted to ask your guys opinions on my situation and if you think I’ll have more problems if I put the CAI back on along with the ported intake manifold and pcv system upgrade. Thanks and sorry if this post sucks.

 

[orangeltz13]

I have 2014 Sonic LTZ with 95k miles. I started looking at my first aftermarket parts to install. I bought the zzp CAI and the high voltage coil pack with new spark plugs. I was super excited as it was my first time working on this car. Everything seemed good but after driving to work (around 20 miles) I had smoke coming from the engine block. I did some research and settled on it being the valve cover gasket. To be sure, I put the stock air intake back on and the problem persisted. I believe the CAI may have been the final straw for either my turbo or my pcv system. After intallation of the valve cover gasket I put the ZZP CAI back on and the turbo noises were awesome (durrrrr turbo noise). Then when driving it shifted hard, popped the engine light, and I believe went into limp mode. Still had to get to work so I was driving the whole time basically under 2k rpm. My buddy ran the code and it was a P0299. Took it to the shop again and asked them to check out the pcv system and check what was causing the engine underboost. They diagnosed that the wastegate was getting stuck and if the problem persisted the turbo needs to be replaced (why not only the wastegate??). Doing more reading and watching videos I was almost certain that they misdiagnosed it and the pcv was the problem. I’m not a mechanic but I heard the valve cover gasket thing had happened to others. I bought the ported intake manifold from zzp as well as the pcv system upgrade. From earlier when I had taken the car in and they said the turbo would need replaced, I had bought the Chinese turbo from a-premium for 300. I was gonna return it and save the money but my friend that is a mechanic said my turbo would need replaced in 20k miles or so. Currently having the turbo installed and I wanted to ask your guys opinions on my situation and if you think I’ll have more problems if I put the CAI back on along with the ported intake manifold and pcv system upgrade. Thanks and sorry if this post sucks.

I am not sure if this helps but I have the same exact zzp CAI system on my 2013 LTZ; I still have the OEM coil pack and plugs. Like you, I installed the system myself about 4 years ago without any occurring issues. I am not a mechanic so when it came time to do the pcv repair, I had it done at my local chevy dealership. I know the pvc was replaced and the valve cover gasket was probably done as well. I just had the spark plugs and coil pack replaced (at the dealership) and the car runs like a champ. Have you considered going back to the stock coil pack? I don't know the advantage of the high voltage coil pack would be so I haven't replaced mine with one. It sounds like putting the cai on first and then driving it around should be your first step. If nothing happens you should be fine. My Sonic has 105K miles on the clock and it is mostly stock outside of the mid pipe and CATback exhaust. It also has new Alpine speaker and 4-chanel amp with 2 Kicker Hideaway powered subwoofers.

 

[Tcoder]

I’ve had some electrical problems in the past

I am not sure if this helps but I have the same exact zzp CAI system on my 2013 LTZ; I still have the OEM coil pack and plugs. Like you, I installed the system myself about 4 years ago without any occurring issues. I am not a mechanic so when it came time to do the pcv repair, I had it done at my local chevy dealership. I know the pvc was replaced and the valve cover gasket was probably done as well. I just had the spark plugs and coil pack replaced (at the dealership) and the car runs like a champ. Have you considered going back to the stock coil pack? I don't know the advantage of the high voltage coil pack would be so I haven't replaced mine with one. It sounds like putting the cai on first and then driving it around should be your first step. If nothing happens you should be fine. My Sonic has 105K miles on the clock and it is mostly stock outside of the mid pipe and CATback exhaust. It also has new Alpine speaker and 4-chanel amp with 2 Kicker Hideaway powered subwoofers.

I’ve had some electrical problems in the past and the coil pack said more volts not exactly my most educated purchase but I wouldn’t think it would hurt. I think I’ll install the pcv and intake manifold before, and then if it’s running smoothly from there I’ll install CAI. Thanks for your input

 

[orangeltz13]

There have been no electrical issues with my car. I get a little apprehensive about engine mods. I would like my car to be faster, but I also want it to be reliable. That being said, my engine bay is pretty stock, except for the CAI. Since I am not a mechanic, I let the dealership handle most of the under-hood issues. Keeping it stock ensures they can properly diagnose any issues that may arise.

 

[Dingleberry69]

There have been no electrical issues with my car. I get a little apprehensive about engine mods. I would like my car to be faster, but I also want it to be reliable. That being said, my engine bay is pretty stock, except for the CAI. Since I am not a mechanic, I let the dealership handle most of the under-hood issues. Keeping it stock ensures they can properly diagnose any issues that may arise.

Wise words indeed. I am from the same camp. Keep it stock and keep it reliable. Even with the cai and k&n filter or equivelant. What is the purpose of cai, increase the flow and volume of air into an intake plenum by using shorter fatter pipes and high flow air filters. Which I know works, but I also do find funny at the same time.
So you start with cooler air coming from the wheel well, going thru a pleated air filter, through a restrictive pipe with decent bends in it before it hits the plenum. (I’ll just put emphasis on the air temp and filter media for now) so install that cai, you’ll be drawing engine bay air, which is warmer, through a filter media that reduces filtration of smaller particles (dust, fine grit) but flows more because you relieved a restriction, through a wider straighter pipe that takes a more direct path to the intake plenum.
Cooler air is better, for sure, taking air from the engine bay will always be warmer air due to the enclosure, proximity to exhaust, and generally warmer air than outside the power barn. Now comes the story of the filter itself, high flow air filters are all a compromise of getting higher flow at the cost of air filtration capability. Pleated air filters have higher filtration at the cost of flow, a filter sign high flow AND better filtration can not, and will never exist. UTOPIAN THOUGHT. The rest of the system is well contrived though. Could get cooler air by locating a high flow filter into the wheel well, but you will be sucking even more fine grit directly into your intake and into your engine. CAI even, considered a beginners mod, will still be a detriment to your engines reliability, just because of the filter itself. Oiled filters are better for filtration because the oil traps finer particles but many do clean them but don’t know or have the patience required to reoil them. I’ve seen many cases where kn filters were over oiled, which causes issues with maf sensors and whatnot. Doesn’t matter if it gets in the intake as it will get burnt up in some form of another. However the oil will coat everything else along the way. Uncoiled foam filters, it’s sort of like replacing your MERV8 pleated furnace filter with a MERV3 foam pad, in HVAC/R terminology. The higher the number, the lower the flow, but the more it can filter out. Standard pleated auto air filters would be more at an hvac equivalent of a MERV8-11 average across all aftermarket air filter brands (stock pleated)

Long rambling over. Cai will contribute to higher possibility of the engine oil sludging up quicker due to the excess particles getting past the high flow filter media, this may Lead to the engine wearing out quicker than a dead bones stock engine. Note, I’m not calling it an instant death, by no means. But a few less thousand km less than a stocker on average.