Considering getting a delta force (flowmaster brand) CAI and flowmaster cat back. I have a coupon to get it at half price. I'm really only interested in either noticeably better performance or better MPG. Think it's worth it?

I've had a CAI on another vehicle before and didn't see any gains, but I have a buddy with a tundra that swears he's getting 3-4mpg better.

This is on a 5.4

 

Your buddies truck might have a restrictive intake, this is not the case of Ford trucks, CAI will only gain you engine noise as will the cat back. No gains in performance or fuel economy to be had.
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^^ Yep. The cat-back might be fun if you want to get some tone from the exhaust, but a lot of aftermarket systens produce an in-cab drone that gets old real fast.I can't comment on the FM, but I know the Roush system that came on my used '13 was hideous! The CAI is probably a complete waste of money from a power standpoint, possibly even a step backwards. Sorry, I'll quit raining on your parade now. Just do your homework.

 

Get a tune instead.

 

Your buddy is mistaken.

 

Don't know anything about toyoduhs, but I'll bet you're buddy likely buys new vehicles at $1000 below dealer cost as well.
I've got an Airaid CAI, and a Borla catback. Only gains were a nice sound and look at both ends. No performance or mpg at all.
I knew that going in, so there weren't any surprises.
Now a tuner? Money well spent.

 

if mpgs were to be had, ford would have done it from the get go, think about it

 

If you're looking for performance, a tuner is probably the best bang for the buck, a high flow exhaust will probably help a little, and a CAI is a waste of money.

And your buddy is lying. He might have sounded credible if he said 1 mpg better, but he's full of it if he claims 4 mpg.

 

I have both on my 2010 5.4 liter and my neighbor bought at 2012 5.0. I installed my magnaflow cat back exhaust and s&b CAI after I had already installed a tune from 5*. When I got re-tuned for the intake, I was consistently 1.5 to 2 MPG better than before the CAI. I was not convinced until my neighbor went through the same steps with his 5.0. He did not have any noticable gains on his, but mine was pretty evident due to the large amount of miles I drive every week.

I am sold on the fact that I did gain something, but if you don't drive a lot of miles, 1.5 to 2 MPG gain takes a long time to pay back the amount of money you spend on the upgrades.

I do believe that the CAI helps the 5.4 motor more than the 5.0. (strictly my opinion) Looking back, the tuner was far better of an investment for the truck power and MPG wise, but the Magnaflow dual rear exit sounds great with the CAI. My advice, Tuner first then exhaust and CAI.

FYI, i feel that the Flowmaster Outlaw and even American Thunder sound great but the cab drone is fairly annoying. I had the American Thunder on my 2001 5.4 and the Outlaw is even louder.