Cold Air Intake

astro76

astro76

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#1
I'm quite new with this stuff so - be gentle on me [rolleyes]
I'm thinking to replace my current air intake (the "basic" K&N boxed) with new one.
Maybe even thinking to gain something with it... at least looks underhood.

I've been reading articles and so on about the intake systems.
What benefits does the cold air intake have compared to the free air intake and vice versa?
Is those intakes easy to install?
 
T

the dude

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If you attach just an K&N air filter it will make your engine sound more aggressive, but not necessarily add much, if any, power. There has been much debate over this issue. Basically, if you get a full CAI kit from, say, Dinan, the airfilter is lower to the ground and farther away from the engine so it sucks up cool outside air, more than the hot engine air. This yields the power gain. Even under ideal conditions, and with just a CAI, I wouldn't expect more than 5 HP increase. But considering that anything more than 2 HP increase supposedly is felt, 5 isn't too bad.
 
M

Marinakorp

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#6
just replacing the stock box with a Cone type filter... MAY not be adding as much power as you would like...

reason - colder air is more dense than hot air... air in the engine compartment is hoter than the air outside (generally speaking)

if you pull the air from another source... say behind the bumper or have a heat shield that insulates most of the air from heating around the CAI.. and still gets good cold air flowing into the compartment... this CAN increase howsepower...


now ... there are other issues that need to be taken into sonsideration when replacing with a K&N type of filter (oiled cotton - should include all in this type)

1 - the oils from the filter CAN gum up the MAF sensor - there have been NUMEROUS occurrences of this... most of which I know of on the e39

2 - the particles that are "supposed" to be blocked can flow through and eventually damage the motor.

3 - the K&N flows MARGINALLY better than the stock paper filters (only a few percent, but enough that the butt dyno may pick up)

Given the drawbacks to the K&N type - you should re-think the usage of this product - I have had them on my cars... a 4-500 MAF sensor really sucks to pay for... for marginal performance gains.

There are other options for gaining HP, most deal with breathing (which is why the K&N gives slightly better perf) - exhaust, headers, etc.. and others try and re-map the air fuel mixtures, etc (chip)
 
astro76

astro76

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#7
Marinakorp said:
just replacing the stock box with a Cone type filter... MAY not be adding as much power as you would like...

reason - colder air is more dense than hot air... air in the engine compartment is hoter than the air outside (generally speaking)

if you pull the air from another source... say behind the bumper or have a heat shield that insulates most of the air from heating around the CAI.. and still gets good cold air flowing into the compartment... this CAN increase howsepower...


now ... there are other issues that need to be taken into sonsideration when replacing with a K&N type of filter (oiled cotton - should include all in this type)

1 - the oils from the filter CAN gum up the MAF sensor - there have been NUMEROUS occurrences of this... most of which I know of on the e39

2 - the particles that are "supposed" to be blocked can flow through and eventually damage the motor.

3 - the K&N flows MARGINALLY better than the stock paper filters (only a few percent, but enough that the butt dyno may pick up)

Given the drawbacks to the K&N type - you should re-think the usage of this product - I have had them on my cars... a 4-500 MAF sensor really sucks to pay for... for marginal performance gains.

There are other options for gaining HP, most deal with breathing (which is why the K&N gives slightly better perf) - exhaust, headers, etc.. and others try and re-map the air fuel mixtures, etc (chip)
Click to expand...
This was helpful and cleared a lot of things in my mind - Thanks!
I already have a SuperSprint exhaust so that's in order.
 
R

ra328i

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#10
most others would say that the increase isn't felt, but i have a tri-flo cat-back exhaust, and didn't feel the power inc too much. but when i recently added the autowerke cai and conforti shark inj. i was shocked with the increase!!! i wish i dynoed my car before i added the chip and cai. i'm positive there is a significant inc. those numbers HAVE to be correct. if you have the funds and want that extra pull and torque, by all means get both. i highly suggest them.

aa cai= 372 shipped
conforti shark inj.= 360 shipped

$732.00

with all that air going in, you need an exhaust to blow it out. try activeautowerke.com. they've won almost all the awards and is considered the best. in retrospect, i wish i got the aa exhaust. mine is too loud!!!
 
D

darkfluid

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#11
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#11
Ok this may sound kinda goofy, but I'm looking at buying a 325is with a CAI setup that uses a K&N. I think the CAI setups add a bit of power (little), but I don't think the K&N filter really helps, I've read some trusted comparisons of air flows (I might be able to find a link) that show that the difference in paper filters and K&N is really tiny. I don't like dirt getting in my engine, so I was wondering if anyone could tell me how the filter attaches to the intake (I have never owned one), I mean, could I probably get a large cone type paper filter from another vehicle to use on the CAI??
 
BigEarl325is

BigEarl325is

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#13
Confort doesn't use an oiled cotton filter (K&N) they use another type. I forget what they call it but it has MUCH better airflow than paper and doesn't have the drawbacks of K&N. The only problem is I don't believe you can clean them but they're probably only 30 bucks to replace.
 
D

darkfluid

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#14
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#14
It looks like a foam filter.

Here is a pretty interesting filter test I read, although not strictly controlled, it is one of the more thorough that I have read.

I wonder if these would fit the CAI I'm loooking at? I believe its from Benfer Performance. The look cool and would be cheap to replace. The site says they're for the late 80s prelude.



 
astro76

astro76

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#15
Okay - another problem with this CAI...
I recently checked some stores on the web for those kits.
I bumbed into this:
Cold Air Intake kit WITH CENSOR and WITHOUT CENSOR!!!
How the heck do i know if i have a censor or not?!
Please can someone explain this to me...[???1]
 
Rollin_In_The_is

Rollin_In_The_is

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#17
Here's what I came up with. I am using a dry cotton filter by Vibrant. I built this myself. I get a very aggressive tone(especially since i disconnected my exhaust actuator at the tailpipe). and I am sure it's puilling in a lot more/colder air than the stock setup. My cost <$100 !! If anyone is interested I'll let you know what I used and how it was done.
 
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