Does Cai Really Matter?

[SuperSleeper]

With an NA car, I can understand that sucking in as cold of air as possible is important.

However, with our turbos, why does it really matter that much? The turbo cranks the temp way up anyway, which is why we have intercoolers... I don't see why it'd really affect performance that much to have the filter in the coldest possible place of the engine bay. Obviously it can't hurt, but is it worth the hassle? Just curious on what your opinions are...

[HondaKiller]

I would think cooler in cooler out, regardless of the turbo. Is it worth the hassel though? I don't think so.

[SlowWhite]

I used to run a duct from my passengerside fog light up to the Air filter (ie: I cut out the metal that was under the AirFilter)

And althought it's useless on the dyno when I was out driving around it did make a little difference.

Like my and Nash back when we both had our FWD running together. We were about even all the times, when I first put on the Cold/Ram Air I had alittle bit more until he put one on his car then we were even again. Wasn't that much of a difference in HP but it was enough that I wouldn't loose as often.

-Brian

[A//// Guy]

Yea Id think it would help some. The cooler the air going into the turbo the cooler the air will be exiting your turbo... compared to regular intake.

[SuperSleeper]

Originally posted by EclipseTurbo@Apr 29 2004, 01:26 PM
Yea Id think it would help some. The cooler the air going into the turbo the cooler the air will be exiting your turbo... compared to regular intake.
That makes sense to me. What I just wonder is if it's worth the work for all those DSMers to custom-fab up intakes to the stock SMIC location, when the temp difference is not that much as compared to the hot-air temps from the turbo.

I guess when you're trying to squeeze every little last hint of HP out of your motor, it's worthwhile. But for the average modder, it's not worth it. My $0.02

[CVD]

Its worth it. The temperature difference can be quite significant. Especially if you have a smaller or less efficient intercooler.

[A//// Guy]

Well if your going to end up buying a nice 2.5" or 3" intake pipe, why not get a CAI in the firstplace? Unless your still using stock mafs... which would be the limitation to get a nice on in the first place. I guess they are more spendy though. But not that much difference in price.

[Goat Blower]

Made almost a .2 second difference on my mostly stock 91 Talon automatic. Wouldn't make as big of a difference with super efficient intercooler, but who has one of those? Even Curt Brown has Home Depot ducting for a cold air setup on his 9.3 second car. Yes, it's worth doing.

[SuperSleeper]

Thanks for the responses guys. Just wanted some more input on it. :thumbsup:

[john]

I currently have the home depot CAI mod. Plastic pipe putting the air filter in the opening on the pass side of the bumper. I haven't/will not be able to judge if there is a difference though. I would assume it would be worth wile. On a dsm, in only takes about a 1/2 hour to use a sawzall to cut the hole in the pass side of the engine bay larger. I have a 4" intake pipe until it gets restricted by the 2g MAS. It was a easy decisoin for me to make to relocate it was easier to do than making a heat shield and I didn't want to cut my stock canister.