CAI on N/A engine
CAI on N/A engine
anyone here install a CAI on their N/A engine? did you also upgrade exhaust?
what's been your experience, would you do cai w/out exhaust, will i need a tune? level of satisfaction with the mod?
I've looked up tons of naioc setups, everyone is either too positive or too dismissive, I need a realistic opinion about what to expect, especially regarding the MAF sensor issue documented in the 05-07 rs, not sure if 04 is affected or not.
I have an 04 TS/RS 130k miles, thinking about installing aem cai.
what's been your experience, would you do cai w/out exhaust, will i need a tune? level of satisfaction with the mod?
I've looked up tons of naioc setups, everyone is either too positive or too dismissive, I need a realistic opinion about what to expect, especially regarding the MAF sensor issue documented in the 05-07 rs, not sure if 04 is affected or not.
I have an 04 TS/RS 130k miles, thinking about installing aem cai.
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That being said, the COLD AIR aspect of the CAI is moot because the stock intake takes it's air in from the front grille, which is already "cold". This is why you don't see those snaking CAI's going into the bumper in more modern cars. They only sell short intakes whose benefit is mostly to move the torque curve up to the high end at the expense of the middle-lower area.
Even so, the biggest benefit of these aftermarket intakes is COOL SOUND.
Agreed... the reason is that turbo engines are much more sensitive to MAF sensor fluctuations. The N/A isn't as sensitive.
That being said, the COLD AIR aspect of the CAI is moot because the stock intake takes it's air in from the front grille, which is already "cold". This is why you don't see those snaking CAI's going into the bumper in more modern cars. They only sell short intakes whose benefit is mostly to move the torque curve up to the high end at the expense of the middle-lower area.
Even so, the biggest benefit of these aftermarket intakes is COOL SOUND.
That being said, the COLD AIR aspect of the CAI is moot because the stock intake takes it's air in from the front grille, which is already "cold". This is why you don't see those snaking CAI's going into the bumper in more modern cars. They only sell short intakes whose benefit is mostly to move the torque curve up to the high end at the expense of the middle-lower area.
Even so, the biggest benefit of these aftermarket intakes is COOL SOUND.
I personally run a filter, deleted the intake *****, am happy with that. Intake helped a little bit mid-upper RPM, even saw it on the dyno, but never moved the max numbers much, like 1hp on the dyno. It makes more power in the mid range though, on my car roughly 5hp/8tq right in the middle, like at 4kish RPM. But again, did NOT move the max power at all. Cams are needed for that.
Personally I like it. I like the response, I get something similar with what I've got with my car, and I'm too lazy to get cracking on a new customer intake.
Personally I like it. I like the response, I get something similar with what I've got with my car, and I'm too lazy to get cracking on a new customer intake.
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Car Info: 2004 2.5 RS
Well I opted for a short ram intake and is satisfied with it really well. My RS' throttle response has improved and that's what matters to me most. IMO. If you want we could meet up and you feel the difference for yourself. The best opinion is the free test drive opinion. ( if that makes any sense )
Well I opted for a short ram intake and is satisfied with it really well. My RS' throttle response has improved and that's what matters to me most. IMO. If you want we could meet up and you feel the difference for yourself. The best opinion is the free test drive opinion. ( if that makes any sense )
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From: Turlock, CA
Car Info: 2002 Impreza Outback Sport
as another caveat, especially with using k&n on maf cars, which i'm quite sure yours is, if the filter is oiled too heavy it will clog up your maf and cause a/f issues. Of course you can remedy this with proper, and sparing, oiling. as well as cleaning the sensor as needed. Also, coming from an n/a guy with his stock intake still intact, i must say that the air taken in at the end of our intakes is far from cold, as it is taken in at the end of the tube, which is behind the grill but still in the engine compartment, and immediately behind the radiator. Many folks make their own cai's that pull air from the fender well using the stock air box as well as the plate to plug the hole adjacent, and most report favorable results. I will be making my own custom, only like 40 bucks from Kragen, i call that win 
. As to the op's last post, a very wise decision, we cant really pull lots of power out of our engines with bolt-ons, and not even really with cams, but suspension goes a long way to maintaining the speed that you, or your engine for that matter, worked so hard to get.
. As to the op's last post, a very wise decision, we cant really pull lots of power out of our engines with bolt-ons, and not even really with cams, but suspension goes a long way to maintaining the speed that you, or your engine for that matter, worked so hard to get.
as another caveat, especially with using k&n on maf cars, which i'm quite sure yours is, if the filter is oiled too heavy it will clog up your maf and cause a/f issues. Of course you can remedy this with proper, and sparing, oiling. as well as cleaning the sensor as needed. Also, coming from an n/a guy with his stock intake still intact, i must say that the air taken in at the end of our intakes is far from cold, as it is taken in at the end of the tube, which is behind the grill but still in the engine compartment, and immediately behind the radiator. Many folks make their own cai's that pull air from the fender well using the stock air box as well as the plate to plug the hole adjacent, and most report favorable results. I will be making my own custom, only like 40 bucks from Kragen, i call that win . As to the op's last post, a very wise decision, we cant really pull lots of power out of our engines with bolt-ons, and not even really with cams, but suspension goes a long way to maintaining the speed that you, or your engine for that matter, worked so hard to get.
. As to the op's last post, a very wise decision, we cant really pull lots of power out of our engines with bolt-ons, and not even really with cams, but suspension goes a long way to maintaining the speed that you, or your engine for that matter, worked so hard to get.
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From: Daly City
Car Info: 2001 Impreza 2.2L
rugmonkey, since you have an 04 Wagon, you have the EJ25 2.5L with the MAP sensor? I believe they changed back over to MAF in 05 and above.
If that's the case, then you can easy make something that dlgonsalves mentioned with the piping to the fender for about $30 bucks or less.
This is how my setup is (although on a 2.2L, it should be the same)
That huge black box on top is the torque box, and many have said that they have lost some noticeable low end power when they removed it in favor of CAIs (Cobb, Injen, AEM). Personally, I had a AEM short ram and it definitely felt like I lost low end power.
If that's the case, then you can easy make something that dlgonsalves mentioned with the piping to the fender for about $30 bucks or less.
This is how my setup is (although on a 2.2L, it should be the same)
That huge black box on top is the torque box, and many have said that they have lost some noticeable low end power when they removed it in favor of CAIs (Cobb, Injen, AEM). Personally, I had a AEM short ram and it definitely felt like I lost low end power.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 26
From: South City
Car Info: 02 Impreza 2.5rs
rugmonkey, since you have an 04 Wagon, you have the EJ25 2.5L with the MAP sensor? I believe they changed back over to MAF in 05 and above.
If that's the case, then you can easy make something that dlgonsalves mentioned with the piping to the fender for about $30 bucks or less.
This is how my setup is (although on a 2.2L, it should be the same)
That huge black box on top is the torque box, and many have said that they have lost some noticeable low end power when they removed it in favor of CAIs (Cobb, Injen, AEM). Personally, I had a AEM short ram and it definitely felt like I lost low end power.
If that's the case, then you can easy make something that dlgonsalves mentioned with the piping to the fender for about $30 bucks or less.
This is how my setup is (although on a 2.2L, it should be the same)
That huge black box on top is the torque box, and many have said that they have lost some noticeable low end power when they removed it in favor of CAIs (Cobb, Injen, AEM). Personally, I had a AEM short ram and it definitely felt like I lost low end power.