Cold Air Intakes - Do they really work?

[Quixfire]

Best bang for the buck upgrade WITHOUT the sound

First let me explain I am not a Tuner or Ricer or any other type of more-show-than-go kind of mechanic. What I do well, and get paid for, is restoring and maintaining classic muslcecars.

Most stock vehicles can gain decent performance by improving the exhaust flow. A mandrel bent exhaust from the cat-back could give the most performance for the price. Just stay away from those silly oversized exhaust tips or mufflers.

With ignition system upgrades I would focus on coils and wires first. Most stock ignition coils start to get weak around 3,000 to 4,000 rpm. If you plan on driving the car at 3,000 rpm or higher on a regular basis then I would spend some money on improving the system.

Once both the exhaust and ignition have been upgrade you could spend your money on a better fuel deliver system and/or air induction system to further enhance your performance.

P.S. Don?t forget to add the ?R? sticker and 30 lbs of dead weight spoiler. 😉

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: adlep

Originally posted by: notfred
It may add 1-2 horsepower, if you're lucky. Don't you think the manufacturer would include it if it added 15hp? All it is is a metal pipe.

Well, I was thinking this same.

Well, you'd be thinking wrong...By itself, a CAI will do almost nothing.

What? I said "1-2hp if you're lucky" and I'm wrong, but you said 'almost nothing" and you're right?

1-2hp is almost nothing.

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: Aharami
HYDROLOCK!

im not gettin a CAI. not worth it

The cure for hydrolock. 😀
But I'm not buying it, looks funny to me. 😀

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Quixfire
With ignition system upgrades I would focus on coils and wires first. Most stock ignition coils start to get weak around 3,000 to 4,000 rpm. If you plan on driving the car at 3,000 rpm or higher on a regular basis then I would spend some money on improving the system.

Once both the exhaust and ignition have been upgrade you could spend your money on a better fuel deliver system and/or air induction system to further enhance your performance.

cool, i didnt know that. <goes out to vwvortex to search more on ignition upgrades

Originally posted by: Quixfire
P.S. Don?t forget to add the ?R? sticker and 30 lbs of dead weight spoiler. 😉

haha. you mean like this???

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Quixfire

Originally posted by: Aharami
HYDROLOCK!

im not gettin a CAI. not worth it

The cure for hydrolock. 😀
But I'm not buying it, looks funny to me. 😀

i dont think the NA GTI VR6's have a BOV....thats only on the turbos

 

[styrafoam]

I can't wait for the day some company starts selling custom matched hood scoop &amp; intake kits. It will be awesome seeing primer colored hoods with twin cone filters sticking out of them 🙂

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: adlep

Originally posted by: notfred
It may add 1-2 horsepower, if you're lucky. Don't you think the manufacturer would include it if it added 15hp? All it is is a metal pipe.

Well, I was thinking this same.

Well, you'd be thinking wrong...By itself, a CAI will do almost nothing.

What? I said "1-2hp if you're lucky" and I'm wrong, but you said 'almost nothing" and you're right?

1-2hp is almost nothing.

Don't edit my posts for your own convenience. I was referring to the idea that a manufacturer would include a CAI in a new car if it added hp. My answer is that that is wrong, because unrestricted induction noise is so loud. To almost all manufacturers, making a quiet car is every bit as important as squeezing hp. That's why almost all cars have an intake silencer. And (to give an example) the CAI on my SO's 2.5RS is louder at WOT than the aftermarket catback exhaust. Seriously.
The rest of my answer was that removing the intake restrictions while not removing the exhaust restrictions does next to nothing. That's why a CAI in an of itself does nothing, mostly because the exhaust on most cars in even more restrictive than the intake. That's why if you plan to mod a car for engine performance, the first mods should be the exhaust, then do the intake.
And the solution to counteract ECU controlled engines is to hard reset the ECU right after the mods are installed by disconnecting the negative battery terminal. Even then though, ECU tuning is usually required for maximum performance.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Aharami
HYDROLOCK!

im not gettin a CAI. not worth it

That guy is full of it. A splash from a little puddle won't hydrolock the engine. You have to soak the intake somehow. He probably had completely removed the inner fender lining when he installed the intake instead of putting it back on like you're supposed to. Either that or the puddle was at least a foot or more deep and he went through it fast.
Anyway, your insurance comprehensive policy should cover that. Pay the deductible, brand new short block (check your own policy, but I personally know someone who has done it). Do not take it to the dealer for warranty, that's just stupid. Hydrolock wouldn't be covered even with the stock intake box, as driving through a puddle deep enough to soak the intake clearly counts as abuse.

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: Electric Amish

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: dirtboy
I'll believe 15hp when I see dyno slips.

i heard CAI's dont fare that well in dynos cuz the lack of fresh cold air blowing into the intake (that you get when on the highway)

It probably depends on where your CAI is located.

CAIs are usually located behind the front bumper, right? but why would it matter where its located? whether it be a CAI or a short ram intake located in the eagine bay, the intake still has still air aorund it

Not always. A lot of them that I have seen are just a pipe pointed down below the motor and not towards or through the front bumper.

 

[Rudee]

Unless you'e pulling a trailer, adding an extra 15 hp on a street driven vehicle is pointless. If this was a race car or as mentioned, a vehicle pulling a trailer, it would be beneficial. Otherwise, for a street-driven vehicle that will never need to use this horsepower, there is no point.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Rudee
Unless you'e pulling a trailer, adding an extra 15 hp on a street driven vehicle is pointless. If this was a race car or as mentioned, a vehicle pulling a trailer, it would be beneficial. Otherwise, for a street-driven vehicle that will never need to use this horsepower, there is no point.

:roll:

You do realize that Americans have been modifying their cars since the very first ones were sold more than 100 years ago, right? I can see you talking to an old Model T owner: "It's already got 20 hp, why do you need more for the street?"
That's how progress occurs. The complacent "who needs more?" mentality is that of a loser.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Rudee
Unless you'e pulling a trailer, adding an extra 15 hp on a street driven vehicle is pointless. If this was a race car or as mentioned, a vehicle pulling a trailer, it would be beneficial. Otherwise, for a street-driven vehicle that will never need to use this horsepower, there is no point.

this is a joke, right? c'mon "15 hp gain" AND better gas mileage!!

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish

Not always. A lot of them that I have seen are just a pipe pointed down below the motor and not towards or through the front bumper.

ah didnt know that

 

[Rudee]

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: Rudee
Unless you'e pulling a trailer, adding an extra 15 hp on a street driven vehicle is pointless. If this was a race car or as mentioned, a vehicle pulling a trailer, it would be beneficial. Otherwise, for a street-driven vehicle that will never need to use this horsepower, there is no point.

this is a joke, right? c'mon "15 hp gain" AND better gas mileage!!

First off, there is no guarantee on how you gas mileage will be affected. I suspect minimal improvement. Secondly, I can think of other ways to spend money on a vehicle than boosting horsepower by 15. Sure, if you're into showing off your ability to do burnouts in a parking lot, cool. But for a daily driver who does the speed limit, what's the point? I'd rather sink money into a decent audio system.

I restored a 57 Chevy Shortbox pickup back in the mid 80's. It had a reworked small block capable of pushing over 450 horsepower. It was silent but deadly, in that I never raced the vehicle. It was mainly just for show, not for go. I can share pics if you want

 

[Rudee]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Rudee
Unless you'e pulling a trailer, adding an extra 15 hp on a street driven vehicle is pointless. If this was a race car or as mentioned, a vehicle pulling a trailer, it would be beneficial. Otherwise, for a street-driven vehicle that will never need to use this horsepower, there is no point.

:roll:

That's how progress occurs. The complacent "who needs more?" mentality is that of a loser.

I'd love for you to say that to my face, you little puke.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Rudee

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Rudee
Unless you'e pulling a trailer, adding an extra 15 hp on a street driven vehicle is pointless. If this was a race car or as mentioned, a vehicle pulling a trailer, it would be beneficial. Otherwise, for a street-driven vehicle that will never need to use this horsepower, there is no point.

:roll:

That's how progress occurs. The complacent "who needs more?" mentality is that of a loser.

I'd love for you to say that to my face, you little puke.

Grow up.

There's a reason why everybody doesen't drive cars with 90HP engines. Afterall, what would be the point in more? It makes you move, right?

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Rudee

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: Rudee
Unless you'e pulling a trailer, adding an extra 15 hp on a street driven vehicle is pointless. If this was a race car or as mentioned, a vehicle pulling a trailer, it would be beneficial. Otherwise, for a street-driven vehicle that will never need to use this horsepower, there is no point.

this is a joke, right? c'mon "15 hp gain" AND better gas mileage!!

First off, there is no guarantee on how you gas mileage will be affected. I suspect minimal improvement. Secondly, I can think of other ways to spend money on a vehicle than boosting horsepower by 15. Sure, if you're into showing off your ability to do burnouts in a parking lot, cool. But for a daily driver who does the speed limit, what's the point? I'd rather sink money into a decent audio system.

I restored a 57 Chevy Shortbox pickup back in the mid 80's. It had a reworked small block capable of pushing over 450 horsepower. It was silent but deadly, in that I never raced the vehicle. It was mainly just for show, not for go. I can share pics if you want

yea there is no guarantee....and i wouldnt know myself since i dont have a CAI. but from talking/chatting to numerous people who do have CAI, i have gathered that CAIs help gas mileage somewhat. even if its a 2-3mpg improvement, i'd welcome it!

and about the "ability to do burnouts in a parking lot" comment....HAHA. cuz u know, thats what all the drivers with fast cars do. i mean u see STi's, EVO8's, SL55's, RS6's burning out in parking lots everyday!

and if you are complaining about a 15hp gain, why bother reworking your small block to push 450 hp?

wow your post is full of contradictions

It was mainly just for show, not for go.

then why rework the engine?!?

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Rudee

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Rudee
Unless you'e pulling a trailer, adding an extra 15 hp on a street driven vehicle is pointless. If this was a race car or as mentioned, a vehicle pulling a trailer, it would be beneficial. Otherwise, for a street-driven vehicle that will never need to use this horsepower, there is no point.

:roll:

That's how progress occurs. The complacent "who needs more?" mentality is that of a loser.

I'd love for you to say that to my face, you little puke.

Woohoo. Not just a troll, but an e-thug too eh? LOL :roll: