Is Cold Air Intake actually worth the money?

paras211 · 12th January 2009, 23:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinar

Do you mean to say that the scoop on your car has a temperature difference of 5-8 deg C form ambient temperature or as compared to the factory intake temperature? Did you use a thermometer to check this?

as compared to without the scoop . i did have a sri . no clue about the factory intake temp. i took readings from the ecm

dinar · 12th January 2009, 23:56

Wow, 5-8 deg is big different. so system is design like a sri? the one right now on the car? or earlier. does it work even in day to driving or just on the track? I mean the temp difference?

paras211 · 14th January 2009, 15:08

sri is a short ram intake. the non cai.its a short pipe with a conical filter.

dinar · 14th January 2009, 17:11

I know the what a sri system is. I was wondering How come just a scoop makes so much difference in temperature.

paras211 · 14th January 2009, 17:21

2003 Toyota Corolla (On steroids) - karan561's Photo Gallery - Team-BHP not my car same intake.

its just a hole in the hood with a pajero like scoop over the air filter.
now as the car moves fresh air is sucked in instead of hot air from the engine bay . temps inside the engine bay are higher compared to the ambient temp .

Mi10 · 28th January 2010, 13:27

I am planning a intake system for my Swift petrol.

What do you suggest- CAI or Conical Filters or Stock 'Replacement' Filters ?

I understand there wont be great gains or so, but in future i am planning for a FFE and Prob'ly porting & polishing too. So keeping that in mind, what do you suggest ?

Is there a problem with CAI during rains ? - if yes, how do i protect it

Thanks in advance

wildchild4lyfe · 28th January 2010, 14:41

ive personally tried both and didnt find a difference between the cold air intake and a universal conical filter..
if you are looking for performance then i wouldnt suggest a stock replacement.
well a cai is always a risk during the rains but what you could do is to get the inlet pipe fit at the opening above the wheel arch on the fender. well atleast its better than putting it on the bumper..

Mi10 · 28th January 2010, 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildchild4lyfe

ive personally tried both and didnt find a difference between the cold air intake and a universal conical filter..
if you are looking for performance then i wouldnt suggest a stock replacement.
well a cai is always a risk during the rains but what you could do is to get the inlet pipe fit at the opening above the wheel arch on the fender. well atleast its better than putting it on the bumper..

With some good plumbing, can i direct the inlet to take from the Bonnet Top (Assuming i cut the bonnet and ..well something like this)

wildchild4lyfe · 28th January 2010, 16:39

well yes but the thing is how are you going to get your inlet up there... even if you do what are you going to do during the rains??
it wouldnt be very practical...

pranavt · 28th January 2010, 20:23

All those twists and turns in the intake will kill the intake velocity and actually hamper performance.

sumeethaldankar · 29th January 2010, 09:33

If you fit in the CAI , make sure it doesn't have the filter or the pipes close to the engine block or it will not serve it's purpose.A CIA will definitely have better performance and sound against the stock replacement one but the stock replacements ones are more practical in indian driving conditions.

thedreamcatcher · 29th January 2010, 14:04

Hey even, i was planning to do the same for my Accent. A friend of my got one installed for around 7,000 in Bangalore and he seems very happy with it, especially the growl.

In terms of performance, Ill meet hiw when he brings his car the next time so I can chekc it out myself

adi99 · 29th January 2010, 15:49

I had CAI setup in my Swift. Paid 8.5K for it. All I could get was "growl", no noticeable change in performance. It was not worth paying 8.5K only for the growl. I would suggest getting a FFE first and then go for CAI if necessary.

Otherwise just stick to stock replacement filter if you are not into too many mods. Here's a pic from my swift (now sold).

Is Cold Air Intake actually worth the money?-dsc00955.jpg

wildchild4lyfe · 30th January 2010, 09:30

@adi99: thats not a CAI you have there...
the K&N CAI is called the typhoon kit.what you have is a conical or from what i can see a tubular freeflow K&N air filter.
but i really like the positioning of the filter.most filter fitments that ive seen out here on swifts are way too close to the engine..

deathwalkr · 30th January 2010, 09:48

Pardon me if i am wrong but K&N's CAI would be the Apollo series

and yes adi99, that is not a CAI and our tiny engines cannot utilize K&N's very much since they are usually rated for cars with much higher power outputs.

i use a green cotton wind CAI and no i do not have a clue if my BHP has increased and i do not care if my mileage has increased or decreased but i just love the way it has freed up my swift's already free revving engine

coupled with FFE it surely makes driving all the more fun and ultimately that's all that matters...

12th January 2009, 23:56	#32
dinar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: goa Posts: 1,066 Thanked: 57 Times	Wow, 5-8 deg is big different. so system is design like a sri? the one right now on the car? or earlier. does it work even in day to driving or just on the track? I mean the temp difference?
	() Thanks

14th January 2009, 15:08	#33
paras211 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 646 Thanked: 108 Times View My Garage	sri is a short ram intake. the non cai.its a short pipe with a conical filter.
	() Thanks

14th January 2009, 17:11	#34
dinar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: goa Posts: 1,066 Thanked: 57 Times	I know the what a sri system is. I was wondering How come just a scoop makes so much difference in temperature.
	() Thanks

14th January 2009, 17:21	#35
paras211 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 646 Thanked: 108 Times View My Garage	2003 Toyota Corolla (On steroids) - karan561's Photo Gallery - Team-BHP not my car same intake. its just a hole in the hood with a pajero like scoop over the air filter. now as the car moves fresh air is sucked in instead of hot air from the engine bay . temps inside the engine bay are higher compared to the ambient temp . Last edited by paras211 : 14th January 2009 at 17:27.
	() Thanks

28th January 2010, 13:27	#36
Mi10 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,169 Thanked: 3,268 Times View My Garage	I am planning a intake system for my Swift petrol. What do you suggest- CAI or Conical Filters or Stock 'Replacement' Filters ? I understand there wont be great gains or so, but in future i am planning for a FFE and Prob'ly porting & polishing too. So keeping that in mind, what do you suggest ? Is there a problem with CAI during rains ? - if yes, how do i protect it Thanks in advance
	() Thanks

28th January 2010, 14:41	#37
wildchild4lyfe BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: mumbai Posts: 405 Thanked: 7 Times View My Garage	ive personally tried both and didnt find a difference between the cold air intake and a universal conical filter.. if you are looking for performance then i wouldnt suggest a stock replacement. well a cai is always a risk during the rains but what you could do is to get the inlet pipe fit at the opening above the wheel arch on the fender. well atleast its better than putting it on the bumper..
	() Thanks

28th January 2010, 16:39	#39
wildchild4lyfe BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: mumbai Posts: 405 Thanked: 7 Times View My Garage	well yes but the thing is how are you going to get your inlet up there... even if you do what are you going to do during the rains?? it wouldnt be very practical...
	() Thanks

28th January 2010, 20:23	#40
pranavt Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,682 Thanked: 641 Times View My Garage	All those twists and turns in the intake will kill the intake velocity and actually hamper performance.
	() Thanks

29th January 2010, 09:33	#41
sumeethaldankar Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 3,937 Thanked: 3,320 Times View My Garage	If you fit in the CAI , make sure it doesn't have the filter or the pipes close to the engine block or it will not serve it's purpose.A CIA will definitely have better performance and sound against the stock replacement one but the stock replacements ones are more practical in indian driving conditions. Last edited by sumeethaldankar : 29th January 2010 at 09:34.
	() Thanks

29th January 2010, 14:04	#42
thedreamcatcher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,204 Thanked: 66 Times View My Garage	Hey even, i was planning to do the same for my Accent. A friend of my got one installed for around 7,000 in Bangalore and he seems very happy with it, especially the growl. In terms of performance, Ill meet hiw when he brings his car the next time so I can chekc it out myself
	() Thanks

29th January 2010, 15:49	#43
adi99 BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 274 Thanked: 2 Times View My Garage	I had CAI setup in my Swift. Paid 8.5K for it. All I could get was "growl", no noticeable change in performance. It was not worth paying 8.5K only for the growl. I would suggest getting a FFE first and then go for CAI if necessary. Otherwise just stick to stock replacement filter if you are not into too many mods. Here's a pic from my swift (now sold).
	() Thanks

30th January 2010, 09:30	#44
wildchild4lyfe BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: mumbai Posts: 405 Thanked: 7 Times View My Garage	@adi99: thats not a CAI you have there... the K&N CAI is called the typhoon kit.what you have is a conical or from what i can see a tubular freeflow K&N air filter. but i really like the positioning of the filter.most filter fitments that ive seen out here on swifts are way too close to the engine.. Last edited by wildchild4lyfe : 30th January 2010 at 09:32.
	() Thanks

30th January 2010, 09:48	#45
deathwalkr Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 1,284 Thanked: 4,145 Times View My Garage	Pardon me if i am wrong but K&N's CAI would be the Apollo series and yes adi99, that is not a CAI and our tiny engines cannot utilize K&N's very much since they are usually rated for cars with much higher power outputs. i use a green cotton wind CAI and no i do not have a clue if my BHP has increased and i do not care if my mileage has increased or decreased but i just love the way it has freed up my swift's already free revving engine coupled with FFE it surely makes driving all the more fun and ultimately that's all that matters...
	() Thanks