Cold Air Intakes

[RedDevil73]

So...cold air intakes. I've got people in one ear telling me they're a must-have and people in the other ear telling me they're phony voodoo science. The video claims to have "mythbusted" CAIs. So why is it wrong?

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[Casper]

So...cold air intakes. I've got people in one ear telling me they're a must-have and people in the other ear telling me they're phony voodoo science. The video claims to have "mythbusted" CAIs. So why is it wrong?

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1) The mfgr considers intake noise reduction and assembly line simplicity over performance in their stock design, then adds the cheapest filter cartridge they can get away with.

2) A CAI takes some of the noise abatement features away and smooths the air path. It also provides a high flow filter. The idea is that cooler denser air improves combustion, but just improving the flow of available air through a better filter should allow the engine to breath better. The larger the engine displacement, theoretically, the more improvement from better air flow.

3) CAIs are one of the easiest and more satisfying do it yourself embellishments (mod) an owner can make under the hood. It requires no more than a basic ability to use a wrench and follow directions. Even if it did no good (and that is not the case)--its like a dog ******* on a tree to mark territory, it's your truck by d@mn and you've made a statement.

 

[TRXHemi]

They don't hurt you, BUT in my opionion... for the cost, they don't do that much. It sounds meaner, of course, and you may feel a little bit more response, but adding 15hp?? No...

Just depends on what you want....

 

[metalfab]

Good video. Though like other members have mentioned, it might not be just about power gains but, satisfaction in making mods yourself. Of course the lower tone of the sound is appealing too.

 

[Razzaa]

No single bolt on by itself will dramatically increase performance. I wouldn't expect it to. Add a TB, headers and exhaust with it and you will be able to tell the difference.

 

[hemihustlin]

I stopped watching where they installed a "cold air intake" on the skyline. He removed the admitedly well designed stock air box and replaced it with a 20$ cone filter from walmart...
Then he wonders why the engine lost power?!?!?
Oh noes the evil cold air intakes!!!!!!1!!1
dynoing 1.3 litre cars to see a difference in intake design, he might as well be testing which brand of water pump works best in an aircooled westfalia

 

[-Arana-]

I went from stock to a k&n to a vararam intake within one week I felt a small difference with the k&n but only at wot, when I went to the vararam the truck pulled harder at high speeds so imo its worth it

 

[chrisb38002]

Ok, let me see if I get the video right. They are testing a turbocharged car, which means the air going into the intake is under pressure (boost) already. Pressurizing air also generates heat, which is why turbos have an intercooler. So if my logic is correct (not saying much ), the air going into the engine is going to be at whatever temp the intercooler can drop it to, no matter what the air temp going into the intake is before the turbo.

Maybe these guys could test some octane boost additive on a top fuel dragster and see if it increases power also.

On a NA engine, the cooler the air the better. The testing that has been done with CAI's on NA engines has shown around 10 - 20HP gains, depending on brand, type, etc. It all depends on what you want and if you think it is worth it.

 

[mudjunky]

it less the temperature of the air and more the flow the stock air boxes are quite restricting cold restricted air is no better then warmer unrestricted air
I made a intake for very cheap that works perfect im not gonna claim 15 hp
but the truck dosnt stay in eco mode much better making truck much better on fuel
throttle response is much snappyer


and when you said dynoing 1.3 litre cars to see a difference in intake design,
I hope you were talking about the r34 skyline they have on the dyno cuz its time to do some research if you are

 

[Lhemi]

All I know is before my CAI my 2012 RT with a BD would not spin the tires. Now I don't know for sure if it's from resetting the air flow or what but after I added a CAI my truck will now light them up on call. Maybe it just needed more air...

 

[mudjunky]

its all about restriction basically you sucking true a straw with stock intake the inlet of the air box that gos into the fender is very small with an open element filter you pull the air from every were the heat difference is very small if well installed compared to the amount of added air even with a cheep air filter like I have on my with a more expensive say knn or similar filter a slight gain would be also seen

no mater were you put the filter the intake tube with still be going over the radiat heat coming from exhaust manifold unless you have a vararam that is why people se the most gain even though the air is still exposed to minor heat from the radiator with that tipe of intake but if you go off road like me a scoop at the hood seems like a sweet bulldozer effect wave would drop right into the engine just my 2 cents