CAI: FAQ's, truth and lies...

[Mikewire]

So, you want a CAI...

Discuss...

Let the party begin! :biggrinsanta: :emgift:

Ok, so straight off of ECStunings website:

The concept of the cold-air intake is nothing new for the aftermarket tuner. Consider the internal combustion engine as a simple air pump; air is drawn in through the intake, burned with fuel and then pumped out through the exhaust. By simply reducing the restriction of air drawn into of the pump will increase the pumps overall efficiency, producing more power.

[ValveFloat]

My actual experience with this is slim to none, but they do seem to make a little power on dynos, but the gain seems to vary car to car.

[Roadhog]

I've been researching them alot.

A _real_ Cold Air Intake that goes into the fender well, out of the engine bay is the only thing that will gain you power.

Just sticking a K&N Filter on the end of the MAF, like Aerons (No Offense) will lose power.

Hot air = less power
Cold air = dense air, more power.

Dyno proven too.

[Roadhog]

Here is the great intake comparison. All of them are true Cold Air Intakes and made power over the stock airbox.

http://www.eurotuner.com/techarticles/0 ... index.html

[Ramrod]

All the dyno numbers I've seen for B5 S4's show very slim to no power gains. Even when the new intake is isolated from the engine bay at high boost levels. Even at modified boost levels for stock turbos there has been no real gains. In most cases they are for looks only, and only in the rare custom tuned stage 3 car have I seen them justified.

The short answer is money is better spent elsewhere in a turbo'd car.

[CBCGSXR1000]

I put a blue typhone k&n cold air on my ride its in fender. seem to add lil not much but looks nice to so its all good

[Roadhog]

All the dyno numbers I've seen for B5 S4's show very slim to no power gains. Even when the new intake is isolated from the engine bay at high boost levels. Even at modified boost levels for stock turbos there has been no real gains. In most cases they are for looks only, and only in the rare custom tuned stage 3 car have I seen them justified.

The short answer is money is better spent elsewhere in a turbo'd car.

I think thats because of the heat soak with the intercoolers.

[JayRyan]

The short answer is money is better spent elsewhere in a turbo'd car.

Agreed. I wouldn't have my Evo if I didn't get it for REAL cheap. It sounds cooler than a stock airbox... it didn't make my performance any better, but it didn't make things worse either. I've always been a HUGE fan of the stock airboxes. They do really well.

[Ramrod]

I did put an aftermarket intake on my truck. It's pulling in warm air from the engine bay, but the larger unobstructed intake piping did give me some low end gains. Just helps me get out into traffic a bit better. But it was also $60 off ebay, so I'd say I got my money's worth. No way I'd ever spend $200 on an intake. I think the biggest reason people run them is for looks and sound. Mine can get really loud, I've debated about putting my stock one back on now that I don't use the truck on the highway.

[JayRyan]

I did put an aftermarket intake on my truck. It's pulling in warm air from the engine bay, but the larger unobstructed intake piping did give me some low end gains. Just helps me get out into traffic a bit better. But it was also $60 off ebay, so I'd say I got my money's worth. No way I'd ever spend $200 on an intake. I think the biggest reason people run them is for looks and sound. Mine can get really loud, I've debated about putting my stock one back on now that I don't use the truck on the highway.

Yup. I think I paid $35 for my Evo intake. Now, I did spend some extra money to have a custom and VERY burly heat shield fabbed op for it. Next time we're out for a drive I'll pop the hood and everyone can feel the difference

RE: the shoutbox, check with Carbonio and see if they have one for the VR. True CAI and an enclosed CF box to go with it