So I have this 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt 2.2 Ecotec. It's just a beater work car but I still want the best for it. It has a cold air intake system with a Specter cone air filter and a nylon sock prefilter on it. My question is am I killing my engine with this air filter. I want to go to the junkyard and get a factory airbox for the car but time and money is a issue for me with work, school and bills taking priority. Should I make a point to get the factory setup in the car for a filter or is the spectre filter good enough. The car has 100k miles I'm not sure how long the cold air intake as been on if but the filter looks clean. The previous owner told me it was new. I would like to keep this car for at least a few more years (I think). So should I keep the spectre air filter for a few thousand m as il es or skip a few meals for myself and get a used factory intake? As usual with bitog community the more research I do the confused I get! There is a lot of information about K&N filters on here, I know not the same as spectre but similar.
I am so confused with air filters!!
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Assuming its sealed properly and not falling off, you should be fine. Its not like its going to instantly blow the car up.
gathermewool
Site Donor 2023
It's not just about the filtration, but how the intake affects the tune. You've changed the intake geometry, which means the MAF sensor may not be accurately reading the intake charge, requiring the ECU to make correction by adjusting the fuel trim (I.e., adding or subtracting fuel after-the-fact.)
It may not be an issue, and I don't know anything about your setup, but many stock intakes draw cool air from the corner or side of the engine compartment anyway, effectively making a CAI nothing more than an expensive, less-efficient noise maker.
If I was strapped for cash I probably wouldn't rush to change it out, but I would be on the Cobalt forums every other day looking for some one who wanted to trade straight-up.
It may not be an issue, and I don't know anything about your setup, but many stock intakes draw cool air from the corner or side of the engine compartment anyway, effectively making a CAI nothing more than an expensive, less-efficient noise maker.
If I was strapped for cash I probably wouldn't rush to change it out, but I would be on the Cobalt forums every other day looking for some one who wanted to trade straight-up.
If you can find the right size cone paper filter to fit your intake that would work. Otherwise I would look for a stock setup. If thats not an option just run short ocis to help minimize the amount of silicon building up in your oil, but im afraid that wont help the rings any.
I guess it all depends on how long your really want to keep it
I guess it all depends on how long your really want to keep it
Thanks for the posts everyone. I have researched the paper cone filter and almost bought one that fits a early 90's Honda Prelude but I was concerned what would happen to the paper element if it got wet. Also looked at the very nice oilless dryflow filters such as Amsoil and AEM but for the 45-50 bucks they cost I figured I could but the stock setup from the junkyard. I am not sold on the cold air intake concept. I bought the car with it already installed and i truly feel cold air intakea is more about looks than performance.
Get the factory air intake from a junkyard.
I prefer OEM/paper elements myself.
But this is a beater work car? Runs fine? I wouldn't bother changing anything. Yes it's a glorified rock catcher, but at least it has a pre-filter on it too, and I've gotten tons of miles out of previous engines with K&N panel and cone filters.
If you had the stock intake setup, I would say swap it out if you wanted to. But since you'd have to source once, forget about it.
Run what you brung!
But this is a beater work car? Runs fine? I wouldn't bother changing anything. Yes it's a glorified rock catcher, but at least it has a pre-filter on it too, and I've gotten tons of miles out of previous engines with K&N panel and cone filters.
If you had the stock intake setup, I would say swap it out if you wanted to. But since you'd have to source once, forget about it.
Run what you brung!
Will a oiled cotton filter seriously reduce engine life compared to a paper filter? I mean will a given car last longer if you were to change the paper filter every 12,000 miles compared to a car with a K&N cleaned every 50,000. It's not good to change air filters more than nessasary. If a clean paper filter lets in more dirt than a dirty K&N than what is the difference over the life of a car. I am not saying a clean paper filter does not filter as well as a dirty K&N but just speculating.
See how much you can sell it for on ebay or craigslist, and if it is a good price sell it immediately after you buy junk yard stock parts. If you can't sell the cold air / short ram intake, just keep an eye on it and keep it clean for now.
I'm not sure what the cold air kit is worth. It is currently set up as a short ram intake but I have the pipe that moves i down behind the front bumper. Update for you guys. I went to my local pick and pull, website said they had two cobalts in the yard. I get there and there's only one and its missing the entire engine and intake. So I still have the aftermarket intake, was still fun walking around the junkyard checking out all the cars.
I wouldn't spend any money to change it. The filter sock is waterproof(iirc) so that's a non issue and it does help keeping the filter cleaner for longer.
I've put cai on most every vehicle I owned,and none made a lick of difference in performance,but they look nice.
Engine components are built to compliment each other. Putting a cai on may actually lower the velocity of the intake air charge costing bottom end torque in some cases.
Since its already there I would leave it but I'm sure you could sell it and buy a stock set up but if the stocker costs more than the cai brings in then I wouldn't bother
I've put cai on most every vehicle I owned,and none made a lick of difference in performance,but they look nice.
Engine components are built to compliment each other. Putting a cai on may actually lower the velocity of the intake air charge costing bottom end torque in some cases.
Since its already there I would leave it but I'm sure you could sell it and buy a stock set up but if the stocker costs more than the cai brings in then I wouldn't bother
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
It's not just about the filtration, but how the intake affects the tune. You've changed the intake geometry, which means the MAF sensor may not be accurately reading the intake charge, requiring the ECU to make correction by adjusting the fuel trim (I.e., adding or subtracting fuel after-the-fact.)
It may not be an issue, and I don't know anything about your setup, but many stock intakes draw cool air from the corner or side of the engine compartment anyway, effectively making a CAI nothing more than an expensive, less-efficient noise maker.
If I was strapped for cash I probably wouldn't rush to change it out, but I would be on the Cobalt forums every other day looking for some one who wanted to trade straight-up.
I disagree that the cold air intake does ANYTHING with the air reading by the MAF. It surely does not change the "tune".
I totally AGREE that you should just keep it like it is and watch for somebody wanting to swap for a cold air setup.
It's not just about the filtration, but how the intake affects the tune. You've changed the intake geometry, which means the MAF sensor may not be accurately reading the intake charge, requiring the ECU to make correction by adjusting the fuel trim (I.e., adding or subtracting fuel after-the-fact.)
It may not be an issue, and I don't know anything about your setup, but many stock intakes draw cool air from the corner or side of the engine compartment anyway, effectively making a CAI nothing more than an expensive, less-efficient noise maker.
If I was strapped for cash I probably wouldn't rush to change it out, but I would be on the Cobalt forums every other day looking for some one who wanted to trade straight-up.
I disagree that the cold air intake does ANYTHING with the air reading by the MAF. It surely does not change the "tune".
I totally AGREE that you should just keep it like it is and watch for somebody wanting to swap for a cold air setup.
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