Thoughts on a CAI
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,518
From: Plymouth, MN
Car Info: 94 T-Leg Sedan and a 00 M5
Thoughts on a CAI
I bought a used AEM Cold Air Intake about a month and a half ago, more so to modify my car than anything else. I haven't noticed any significant power difference. Just a lot more noise (a good thing).
I'm curious how many others have a CAI intake on their cars, and if you've noticed a difference in performance.
Was it worth the $100 I bought it for?
I've talked to a number of people and there are two schools of thought:
1. It's a great way to increase your spool by a little bit (200-300 RPM earlier), and a small (never numbers) increase in horsepower.
2. It does nothing for you other than change the sound of your car. Since your running a turbo, a cold air intake is not going to significantly add to the amount of air being pulled into your engine due to expansion.
Thoughts?
I'm curious how many others have a CAI intake on their cars, and if you've noticed a difference in performance.
Was it worth the $100 I bought it for?
I've talked to a number of people and there are two schools of thought:
1. It's a great way to increase your spool by a little bit (200-300 RPM earlier), and a small (never numbers) increase in horsepower.
2. It does nothing for you other than change the sound of your car. Since your running a turbo, a cold air intake is not going to significantly add to the amount of air being pulled into your engine due to expansion.
Thoughts?
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I look at cold air intakes as a stepping stone. By themselfs they may or may not give you hp but with alot of other parts they work good.
As for CAIs not making hp what gives? Are people talking about peak hp? The AEM CAI on a stock Honda Civic EX on a dyno will make an additional 3 peak hp. But between lets say for example 3800 rpm and 4700 rpm it gives 14 hp. Thats a mid range hp increase so it is making the manafactures claim. It's still making power but in a differant part of the rev band. I would like to see all the differant CAIs for the WRX dynoed so we can see if they are making power and where. I am going to get the K&N Typhoon for x-mas. Plus anything that makes the turbo whine louder can't be all that bad.
As for CAIs not making hp what gives? Are people talking about peak hp? The AEM CAI on a stock Honda Civic EX on a dyno will make an additional 3 peak hp. But between lets say for example 3800 rpm and 4700 rpm it gives 14 hp. Thats a mid range hp increase so it is making the manafactures claim. It's still making power but in a differant part of the rev band. I would like to see all the differant CAIs for the WRX dynoed so we can see if they are making power and where. I am going to get the K&N Typhoon for x-mas. Plus anything that makes the turbo whine louder can't be all that bad.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 65
From: S.W Florida
I made my AEM into a short ram. You need to use the rubber connection to attach it on the one end. Then clamp it. On the airfilter end use half of the rubber connector (cut it down the middle) to make the airfilter tight on the piping. Then clamp down to make tight.
So it wouldn't move from side to side I used a black tie wrapped around the airfilter and then attached on the side.
It works great.
The location of the AEM was terrible. The airfilter was always wet and dirty. I also didn't see any performance improvement.
With the short ram setup I've run my fastest trap speeds both in the 1/8 mile and 1/4 mile.
So it wouldn't move from side to side I used a black tie wrapped around the airfilter and then attached on the side.
It works great.
The location of the AEM was terrible. The airfilter was always wet and dirty. I also didn't see any performance improvement.
With the short ram setup I've run my fastest trap speeds both in the 1/8 mile and 1/4 mile.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 570
From: Chicago and it's South West suburbs
Car Info: full race 02 Prodrive widebody with 2.5 Cosworth
I had the Injen CAI and I will say it did not seem to make a noticable diffrence in proformance but like what optimalrage said they do seem to make more of a diffrence in conjunction with other modifications.
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