Performance Air Intake?

[hardcore302]

If you will enjoy it, get it. That's what it comes down to. I've had a CAI on about every car I've had. I like adding even the slightest performance.

Forget what they say about it's not a true CAI. The kits with the filter in the engine bay will still make some power, just make sure you have some sort of heat shield.

Spend a little extra and go with a reputable company like K and N, AirAid, or AEM.

Do it and enjoy.

 

[daves87rs]

It will add some help.o..know someone who has on his 2000....

Sounds cool too...

 

[hattaresguy]

Waste a little money on it, everyone goes threw a phase.

 

[sciphi]

I had one of those on an old car. It sounded cool, and that was it. No performance or MPG increase.

Both cars have CAI-type setups from the factory. I didn't see a need on a daily driver. Now on the eventual weekend toy car, that car will have a shiny CAI as part of the mission of being fast, loud, and fun. And something I'm glad I don't drive daily...

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: ClutchDisc
I want to get a performance air intake for my 2001 Chevy S-10 2.2L 4cyl. Looking to gain a little power and maybe some mpg. I don't want to spend a lot of money on it, was thinking around $50 or less. Any recommendations? Anyone here do this before to a 4cyl S-10? Is this fairly easy to install?


There unfortunately is no blanket recommendation I can make. These CAI's vary wildly from car to car and many times do absolutely nothing for performance.

Example: 2005 Silverado 5.3, installed an AEM dryflow CAI and got a full mpg across the board. Lots more noise but only with your foot in it. No real performance gains, but it sounds nice most times.

2006 300C SRT8 6.1 liter, absolutely nothing gained from 3 different brands unless dyno tweaked. Then you get about 3-5 hp of increase for a total investment of almost a grand by the time you get off the dyno rollers. The factory airbox is already hogged out and picks up air from outside the engine compartment. Plus it is QUIET.

2001 Corvette C5 5.7 liter, huge gains from a CAI. I can't even remember the name, the car is long ago sold, but the gains were HUGE! About 15-20 real world HP and a couple mpg, along with snappier throttle response, etc. All around excellent mod.

Be cautious and investigate thoroughly, check with the forums where your vehicle is known well and others have already done the beta testing for you! 4 bangers are a little louder than you may think possible, but many love the noise.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8

There unfortunately is no blanket recommendation I can make. These CAI's vary wildly from car to car and many times do absolutely nothing for performance.


I agree 100%. For what it's worth, here is my experience with a Mazdaspeed CAI installed on a 2007 Mazdaspeed 3: Shadetree Mazdaspeed CAI Test

Bottom line: 3rd gear 30-70 acceleration times were reduced by 0.6 seconds.

 

[jmsjags]

please do not get a "performance intake". you are just letting more dirt into your engine. you will not notice a performance increase unless your under WOT all the time. in most driving situations your engine probably doesn't even need half of what the air filter is capable of sucking in.

 

[mechtech2]

For $38, it seems like an absolute steal.

Note that you are trading a stock cold air intake for warm underhood air! This can HELP in winter for normal driving - it works both ways.
But underhood air is purged when moving anyway. It is stopped and slow that makes the engine breathe hotter air.
It will be louder -no doubt. You may like the sound at full throttle.
It will almost certainly breathe better at full throttle high RPM. The stock system is convoluted and restrictive.
A few more HP is expected. Normal driving MAY show better throttle response.
I don't see how fuel mileage would be affected. Maybe helped in winter a minute amount.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: jmsjags
please do not get a "performance intake". you are just letting more dirt into your engine. you will not notice a performance increase unless your under WOT all the time. in most driving situations your engine probably doesn't even need half of what the air filter is capable of sucking in.


Once again, it depends on the car and it depends on the intake. As I noted above, installing a cold air or short ram intake on a Mazdaspeed 3 will net @24 horsepower at the wheels. With respect to inferior filtration, the Mazdaspeed CAI uses an AEM Dryflow cone filter and used oil analysis before and after installation show that the level of silicon and insolubles have remained the same.

 

[Fleetmon]

Dusted engines always seem to run faster so I would throw a K&N on there. K&N flows better because less filtering is taking place.

Have you ever noticed when you turn the volume up on the tv it seems as if the Nascar cars run faster? Same thing with a CAI.

 

[mechtech2]

fleet -
Instead of watching Nascar cars make left turns, try reading dyno results with various intakes. Both from the mfr and personal tests.

 

[Cujet]

On my 09 F150 5.4L V8, removal of the intake snorkel and the addition of a K+N filter is worth a dyno verified 7-8 HP.

The cold air packages don't make any more power than the stock box with the (admittedly restrictive) snorkel removed.

I've not done this mod, as it requires a re-tune to prevent an CEL.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
On my 09 F150 5.4L V8, removal of the intake snorkel and the addition of a K+N filter is worth a dyno verified 7-8 HP.

The cold air packages don't make any more power than the stock box with the (admittedly restrictive) snorkel removed.

I've not done this mod, as it requires a re-tune to prevent an CEL.


That's the way it was on the 'stangs too. Pulling the factory silencer gave you the same "boost" in power as the aftermarket CAI's.

 

[msmoke00]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
On my 09 F150 5.4L V8, removal of the intake snorkel and the addition of a K+N filter is worth a dyno verified 7-8 HP.

The cold air packages don't make any more power than the stock box with the (admittedly restrictive) snorkel removed.

I've not done this mod, as it requires a re-tune to prevent an CEL.


The mod doesn't require a tune as it doesn't change MAF function. A CAI does. It also doesn't need an oiled filter for the gains, Bill used the stock paper filter.

http://www.f150online.com/forums/2009-2013-f-150/360079-initial-dyno-results-2009-a.html

 

[jeepman3071]

I can't open the ebay link at work, but from that picture of the S-10 engine bay I think it will make a difference.

Just like another poster said, cars are built with both performance and comfort in mind. The intakes are designed to be quiet without hurting performance too much. Same with exhaust.

My jeep for example comes with a throttle body that has a tapered bore at the bottom. The top is 60mm and it narrows to 55mm or so at the bottom. This is so acceleration is smooth and comfortable, not quick and jerky. My throttle body is bored so it is the same size all the way through. The result is much snappier acceleration from a stop.

I'd say an intake may help on your truck due to the restriction from that factory setup. My Jeep doesn't have that restrictive of an intake box, and when I swapped my buddy's CAI from his Cherokee onto mine I noticed an improvement on low end power, and a difference in temps on the scan gauge.

 

[meep]

i wouldn't worry too much about the CAI for improvements besides sound.

Yes, an open muffler can help with power. A set of headers in front of that, in my experience is one of the best mods you can make without opening the engine. Headers, then cat-back. Maybe an open intake at that point. Then you start getting into heavier engine work, porting, polishing. Don't know if you can get a different intake manifold? But you may be able to port & polish it some with a dremel and a couple of bits. Shave the head a bit and run higher octane gas... that you will feel too. Not sure of your ignition, but even just advancing the timing to the point that it starts to ping can help... and then go to higher octane fuel... and you can advance a little more.

btw the head trick and timing advance can yield better mpg, though savings get offset with the high-test fuel.

 

[mechtech2]

Regardless of what others say, a good intake on a ZX2 will net about 4-5 HP. Check Ford racing dynos, the ZX2 intake shootout, and other personal dyno results . With a stock 130 HP engine, you'll feel it for sure.
There are umpteen jillion variations of intakes mods - some better, some not so hot.

BTW, increased compression usually calls for a DECREASE in ignition advance [if it was appropriate and good before].