The eighth-generation C8 Corvette offers some pretty impressive performance right out of the box, but as is the case for most speed freaks, the call of more power grows stronger every day. As such, Paragon Performance went about testing out how a new aftermarket air filter could affect power numbers for the C8 Corvette’s atmospheric, mid-mounted V8 engine.
A performance air filter is just about the easiest, simplest, and least-expensive upgrade one can make in the search for more power. However, to make sure that these small components were actually making a difference, Paragon Performance went about measuring output numbers using its in-house DynoJet.
Prior to modifying the C8 Corvette intake, the test car made repeat runs in order to establish a baseline power number. To this end, the test involved warming up the engine and ensuring that it was properly heat-soaked, eliminating any power advantages that you might see with the first few runs.
What’s more, Paragon Performance made sure to plug in the right electronic bits to monitor and control the dyno cell conditions. Using HP Tuners logging software, Paragon was able to keep an eye on fueling and timing, as well as airflow, fluid, and air temperatures.
After ticking all the boxes to ensure consistent results, the C8 Corvette was tested with two aftermarket filters as well as no filter at all. Hit play to see it all go down.
As a reminder, the C8 Corvette Stingray is motivated by the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine, which is rated at 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque when equipped with the factory performance exhaust system. Muscle is routed to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, while under the skin we find the mid-engine Y2 platform. Production is done at the GM Bowling Green plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
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Comments
Related – the Corvette plant and museum may have been impacted by the Bowling Green tornados. Keep those impacted in your thoughts and prayers.
Would the milage improve slightly with the Atack Blue since the engine can breath a little easier?
Yes, but only at WOT.
Thanks for the honest reviews.
If you are worried about mileage in a Corvette…. Until recently Corvettes with the base engine and driven reasonably were some of the best freeway mpg cars on the road.. COD and low weight 32+Mpg was normal at 65mph.
Well done. Thanks
Please help me out . I watched carefully, studied the chart. What I see with my eyes on the chart at the bottom is a 6hp gain using AFE dry or Attack Blue. Simple, am I correct?
That 6 gain would let us say, yeah its got 500, and not 495…
What I heard was blah blah blah, and stock is 423, and with not stock maximum 429, but was he explaining the torque? Because the bottom of the graph said torque peaked at 429, not horsepower. It made me think he was speaking strictly about torque. The chart says horsepower peaked at 441, not 429.
But how much more dirt do this filters let through?
If you look at the data on the Attack Blue filter, you will see that it uses nano-media, which means the pores are in the nanometer size range, so will pass actually much less dust and debris than any of the other media. So the pores are smaller, but there are a gazillion of them.
This will be my choice when my filter life has run out, but the gain is insufficient to trash the remaining life on my current OEM filter.
Test seems to be very well done. In this particular case, the stock air box and filter seem to have been very well designed as the very small gains fall into the not very significant levels. Bigger gains really show up when forced induction is used. Often the small gains in airflow come at the expense of filtration as has been demonstrated multiple times before.
I have been using AFE dry high flow filters for years with no issues.Best air filter on the market,AEM dry flow is comparable as well.Easy to clean and no oil and I can feel the difference between dry high flow and stock.AEM is made by K&N.I use K&N where dry flow isn’t available.