8th Generation Honda Civic Forum - View Single Post

aki · 05-01-2007, 03:59 PM

Ooo, I love the debating on this thread. I think both sides bring valid points (TampaSi07, Tom1222). That said,

1) CAI's run warmer than stock airboxes. Yes, I know it uses the word "Cold", and has a pipe running down to the bumper, away from the engine compartment. However, keep in mind that the metal piping is continually exposed to engine heat, and that metal transfers heat much more effectively than plastic. You're basically cannibalizing the lower temp of getting cooler air with the air getting warmed by the hot metal piping.
2) CAI's gains come from less restriction. The stock air box is very restrictive, both due to its shape and also due to the filter itself. Many aftermarket filters are less restrictive, but also let more dirt pass through. Piping shape can be optimized for increased airflow, hence the gains seen on CAI and SRI.
3) K20's respond well to intake mods. This is where I respectfully disagree with TampaSi07. Getting 10+ WHP gains is not just a handful of isolated cases. Go on RSX boards and you see very similar dyno results posted. Maybe Honda makes the stock intake very restrictive out of the factory, but these engines have always had a rep of being responsive to a new filter-on-a-stick. Granted, in most cars an intake doesn't make much of a diff, but in this case I'd say they do.
4) 0 Smoothening doesn't produce fluctuations of 15whp. Yes, the figures get spikey, but at most the spikes are 1-2hp, not a whopping 15whp across a considerable RPM band.

In short, CAI's have their ups and downs, and are mostly good for producing high-end gains (a lot of times at cost of low-end).

05-01-2007, 03:59 PM	#67 (permalink)
aki Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: tehインターウェブ Age: 32 Posts: 8,707 Semi-Si Sedan Hater	Ooo, I love the debating on this thread. I think both sides bring valid points (TampaSi07, Tom1222). That said, 1) CAI's run warmer than stock airboxes. Yes, I know it uses the word "Cold", and has a pipe running down to the bumper, away from the engine compartment. However, keep in mind that the metal piping is continually exposed to engine heat, and that metal transfers heat much more effectively than plastic. You're basically cannibalizing the lower temp of getting cooler air with the air getting warmed by the hot metal piping. 2) CAI's gains come from less restriction. The stock air box is very restrictive, both due to its shape and also due to the filter itself. Many aftermarket filters are less restrictive, but also let more dirt pass through. Piping shape can be optimized for increased airflow, hence the gains seen on CAI and SRI. 3) K20's respond well to intake mods. This is where I respectfully disagree with TampaSi07. Getting 10+ WHP gains is not just a handful of isolated cases. Go on RSX boards and you see very similar dyno results posted. Maybe Honda makes the stock intake very restrictive out of the factory, but these engines have always had a rep of being responsive to a new filter-on-a-stick. Granted, in most cars an intake doesn't make much of a diff, but in this case I'd say they do. 4) 0 Smoothening doesn't produce fluctuations of 15whp. Yes, the figures get spikey, but at most the spikes are 1-2hp, not a whopping 15whp across a considerable RPM band. In short, CAI's have their ups and downs, and are mostly good for producing high-end gains (a lot of times at cost of low-end).