Here's a question, to be answered as if you were trying to explain to a 10 year old:

What is the point/purpose of the Cold Air Intake?

I went back and forth [only because I hear it's only around 2 HP added], and still don't really know what it does or why people like it.

Searched the forum but most all seem to be in the know, so consider your answer as if a quick tutorial.
Thanks! :twisted:
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it allows more air to flow into t/b b/c you do away with the restrictive factory airbox. alot of times getting a CAI will relocate the filter and pipe where it can also receive cooler air which in turn helps performance.

See if this helps, assuming you have some idea as to what the injection process is about.

STOCK CAR INTAKE. Because of noise restrictions, and various other reasons, the intake ( where outside air ) enters the engine is restrictive and cumbersome. Most new car have a box that is full of baffels, to help keep noise down. This causes turbulence in the Trottle Body and on into the engine. When you step on the pedal, the Throttle Body opens and allows more air into the engine. Works great for stock.

MODIFIED AIR INTAKE. aka Cold Air Intake. By removing the resinator box with the baffles, and smoothing out the inside surface to the throttle body, mean less resistance. If you add in a better air filter, which allows for more air to enter, this also helps. Now, if the C.A.I. is done right, it will route the filter to a place in the engine where it can get the coldest air possible ( the colder the better, cold air fires better in the cylinders ). One side affect is a difference in sound while accelerating, kinda of like a growl. This sound is the air being sucked in with out anything to block its path to the throttle body. One good side affect is better throttle response, esp from a dead stop.

Think of it like this .... remember those crazy bendy straws from like 15 years ago? The ones with all the loops and zig-zags? Remember how long and hard you had to suck ( easy there guys ) to get the soda out of the glass? It was a hell of alot harder the just the plain ol straight as an arrow white with red and blue stripe straw, this one required little effort to get a drink. Same principal, the more direct the route, the better.

WEll SAID!

Hello there fellas. Just thought I would poke my head in here and elaborate on a couple things.

CBSIMONSEZ was correct when he said "the colder the better, cold air fires better in the cylinders" , but many people don't have the first clue why.

Without getting all techincal, in a nutshell, colder air is more dense than warmer air therefore far more cold air can be pushed into a cylinder than warm. Cold air = more combustion = more power.

This is the principle behind turbos and superchargers. The only advantage to having CAI over turbo or SC's is nothing else has to be modified to use them. Turbo's and SC's usually require some type of custom fabrication and require a higher octane to run, not to mention the drastic difference in $$$$$$.

In short, an engine that breathes better performs better.

G

Best explanations I have read, so far. Thx, guys. :D

Hello there fellas. Just thought I would poke my head in here and elaborate on a couple things.

CBSIMONSEZ was correct when he said "the colder the better, cold air fires better in the cylinders" , but many people don't have the first clue why.

Without getting all techincal, in a nutshell, colder air is more dense than warmer air therefore far more cold air can be pushed into a cylinder than warm. Cold air = more combustion = more power.

<snip>
G

To elaborate on this...most newer cars have various sensors that monitor engine performance. Some of these sensors directly regulate the amount of fuel squirted by the injectors to maintain what's known as a stoichiometric mixture -- the air/fuel ratio. For most normally aspirated cars running on gasoline, that A/F ratio is 14.7:1. At 14.7 parts air to 1 part fuel, in theory the engine should be able to combust 100% of the A/F mixture which by extension, constitutes maximum efficiency.

Without veering too far off the mark, let's say one changes their stock air filter for a cold air intake. By design, the CAI positions the filter element in the flow of cold air. Temperatures inside an engine compartment can reach double the ambient temperature outside. With a stock air filter located inside the engine compartment, the air that's drawn into the engine -- the intake charge -- is less dense than the outside air because air molecules move faster in heat which means that the molecules are *not* tightly packed. In cold air however -- in which the molecules are moving slower -- they're more tightly packed which in turn increases air density.

Getting back to engine management with sensors...if you increase the air density of the intake charge, you're in effect increasing the amount of oxygen entering the engine. If the engine monitoring sensors detect a more oxygen rich environment, they're going to tell the injectors to squirt more fuel. MORE AIR + MORE FUEL = MORE POWER with an internal combustion engine. So it's not just that the air is cold, it's because the engine sensors detect a lean situation and correct it by dumping more fuel in. Now you might ask: "Won't this hurt gas mileage?" Not necessarily...or not unless your foot feels heavy all of a sudden. Why? Generally speaking and only in the context of a CAI, if an engine is creating more HP, it requires less throttle opening to push the vehicle with the same velocity than it did prior to the HP increase. IOW, your engine has the ability to do more work with less effort.

How else can a CAI affect performance? Depending upon design, a CAI can also increase the velocity of the incoming air. Think velocity stack. If you've read any of the comments from users of "short runner" CAI's, most seem to swear that they're generating double the HP than that generated from say and "long runner" AEM. What may in fact be happening is that an increase in intake air velocity is making the throttle more responsive, which obviously feels like more power. Yet when one dyno's the various intakes, they all seem to very close in overall performance.

The very same principles behind a CAI are also applied to turbocharger intercoolers. Whether air or water cooled, an intercooler reduces the temperature of the intake charge to create a more dense environment, thereby forcing the fuel system to squirt more fuel and increase the volume of the combustible mix in the chamber...thereby increasing HP. Now let's talk volumetric efficiency... 8)

your car works like an air pump.

man's ultimate goal is to get greatest efficiency out of their car.

basically, the more air you have coming into the car, the less restrictions in air flow, and more room for air to leave the better the car will run. by that meaning, getting more air = intake, less resistance to air flow = ported / polished head. more air out = headers, high flow cat, and cat back exhaust

okay ill try to explain it the same way you actually asked.

there is only two ways of extracting more power from any given engine.

give it more air (if air is cold there is more of it in a given space)

give it more fuel.

an intake simply gives it more air. :lol:

How difficult is the stock CAI to install? Can a couple of guys handle it? Any drilling required?

How much are the replacement air filters?

Looking mighty hard at an xB and this may be the only mod I'd use.

Thanks.

well there is no "stock" cai since "stock" it comes with a standard airbox.

if you mean an aftermarket intake. well ive only had experience with the injen.
yeah its not a true cai (im not sure why) but its essentially the same. it took about an hour to install but it only would have been 35-40min had the instructions mentioned taking the battery out. if you have even a modicum of mechanical skill you can do it.
and for $150~ its hard to go wrong. if you want to pay $400+ you could get the aem at the dealer.

Most any aftermarket intakes are user freindly. When they are designed, they take this into mind, that the owner is going to try and save a buck and install in their driveways. If your patient, and follow the directions, it should go in easily. Even my Iceman install on my NEON only took about an hour, with no drilling or modification, they just design them that way.

Amazing guys, thanks for the wealth of info.

If you had your druthers, which CAI would you recommend? I just don't know why I'd put in the AEM if it only adds 2 HP [just what I've been told].

Thanks! :twisted:
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thats a big cans of worms on this board so dont ask anybody to open that up. just check this forum and make your decision. im very happy with the competitively priced injen personally.
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=6
just go through and check out threads.

Me personally, i like the sound of them, and the little added boost. IMO the best bang for your buck ... InJen. You can get them as low as $140 shipped.

funny how no one has mentioned harmonics...

funny how no one has mentioned harmonics...


While harmonics may make somewhat of a difference, there are many other mods that will make more of difference and cost less than the harmonically tuned AEM intake.


Has anyone dyno'd their xB? What kind of power are seeing at the wheels? How much of an increase in power are you seeing from various high-flow intakes (CAI and the like).

$400+ for an intake is insane if you ask me. Evern $200 for some bent metal with a filter on the end is damn expensive. What kind of sensors are inline on the stock intake? I'm coming from the motorcycle world - our fuel injection is 10 years behind automotive fuel injection. Every engine modificaiton I do requires the FI to be remapped.

What aftermarket intakes are available for the xB?

funny how no one has mentioned harmonics...


While harmonics may make somewhat of a difference, there are many other mods that will make more of difference and cost less than the harmonically tuned AEM intake.



Like...

funny how no one has mentioned harmonics...


While harmonics may make somewhat of a difference, there are many other mods that will make more of difference and cost less than the harmonically tuned AEM intake.



Like...


How much power do you actually see on a harmonically tuned intake over a similar non-harmonically tuned intake?

If it were me, I'd rather purchase a CAI tuned to increase the velocity of the air and lessen turbulence by tuning by length and pipe diameter and then spend what I saved on remapping/retuning the ECU - maybe to run on premium fuel.

There are plenty of intakes on the market. Here are a few and what I thinks about them. I hope this helps.......

AEM- The biggest waste of money for our cars. At $300+ its about double the price of the other intakes and about 2 times less power. But looks the best in my opinion, and has a filter to prevent hydrolocking your engine. So if money is no option and you dont care about power, and just looks then the AEM is for you. I wouldnt spend my money on it.

INJEN- From what I gather the most popular. Among the top dyno prove intakes, as well as the most simple to install. Although not a CAI the simple straight short ram design alows good airflow. Being able to order it in different colors adds a good option for customizing and $130 isnt bad if you ask me.

WEAPON R- Havent heard alot bad now good things from them, all I know is that its about as cheap as the Injen and adds about the same horsepower. They're a company thats been around for a while,and have had a proven product for quiete some time.

K&N TYPHOONE-My choice as the best Intake. I have it on my car. At $160 shipped its amongst the cheapest. Its A CAI system which utilizes the K&N' new technlogy. Your not going to get a better filter on the market. You can get it in different colors. The only draw back is the install time which took my 2hrs, jacking up the car to install and intake isnt my idea of time but, proved to be worth the 6hp gain @wheels that I got from it. I would recommend it to anyone.

Of course there are many other intakes I just chose the more popular ones to give some info on. Research is the key, like the guys on the forum have said before, its all trial and error see what power guys are geting from the different intakes. Let them be the guinny pigs the you can purchase the one that suits your needs and budget. I Hope this helps!!!! -ScionPimpN- OUT!!!!!!

ScionPimpN -

Thanks for the info, it's very helpful. Your opinion on the AEM intake further backs my opinion that they are a waste of money. As I stated before, the "harmonic tuning" may make a difference, but it's minimal and when you consider horsepower/buck, it's definitely not a good deal. I agree though, they do look great.

Street price on the AEM just dropped to about $200 ... just not at dealerships.

I've also seen a GReddy intake advertised in the $110 range.

Leprechaun- Glad I could help :wink:

Street price on the AEM just dropped to about $200 ... just not at dealerships.

I've also seen a GReddy intake advertised in the $110 range.


200 bucks for the AEM??? where??? Ive seen pics of the AEM for 200, but it doesn't seem to be the one with the air bypass and stuff....

http://www.hopupracing.com/scion.html

^^^ the AEM there looks short ram.....???? no ????



i'm confused now...

Is hydrolock really that big of a problem?


I guess it depends on exactly where the intake is placed. But do you really think that if you don't have that air/water bypass valve that you have a significantly increased chance of getting hydrolock?

I'm new to this, so I may be full of crap, but from what I've been reading so far, the AEM intake is one of the more expensive intakes and it doesn't see as big of a power increase as some of the less expensive intakes. I guess if you're buying on looks alone and money is no barrier for you, then go for it. But it seems to me a differnet intake is a better choice.

Street price on the AEM just dropped to about $200 ... just not at dealerships.

I've also seen a GReddy intake advertised in the $110 range.


200 bucks for the AEM??? where??? Ive seen pics of the AEM for 200, but it doesn't seem to be the one with the air bypass and stuff....

http://www.hopupracing.com/scion.html

^^^ the AEM there looks short ram.....???? no ????




i'm confused now...

That's not the same one Toyota sells. This is xB only.

ScionPimpN -

Thanks for the info, it's very helpful. Your opinion on the AEM intake further backs my opinion that they are a waste of money. As I stated before, the "harmonic tuning" may make a difference, but it's minimal and when you consider horsepower/buck, it's definitely not a good deal. I agree though, they do look great.

Both AEM intakes are tuned differently. The one that is sold by Toyota has safety over horsepower. Tuning is sacrificed in the design to allow for a bypass valve and proper routing of the stock hoses.

Hydrolocking has been a subject of debate for sometime. But for such , one would think a serious problem. Who would of thought that AEM would be the only one to take notice and offer a bypassvalve for there intake systems. Now ive never hydrolocked my engine before, but i had a coldair intake on my focus and never had a problem with rain or water. I believe in someways a myth something to bring up and seel a product. Now not to say that hydrolocking hasnt happened but unless your in a flood I dont see a bypass valve a nesecity. Like I said 30+ intake companies make intake systems for cars and 1 has a bypass valve you be the judge if you need it :wink:

AEM’s patented air bypass valve virtually eliminates the chance of hydro-lock in the event the filter of your AEM Cold Air induction system becomes submerged in water.

...

The bypass valve may cause a slight loss in power due to the interrupted wall section created by the internal shape of the valve. In dyno testing we have found that the power loss is minimal. The bypass valve offers great security against hydro locking the engine in rainy conditions. If maximum power is the requirement, we suggest that the bypass valve be used in the rainy season and when racing use a coupler hose to make a smooth section where the bypass valve goes.



Ok, so unless you're going to take your xB underwater or ford rivers, you're not gonna need this bypass valve.

Also, for people with the bypass valve installed, your intake is not harmonically tuned. The bypass valve would disrupt the harmonics of the intake.[/quote]

Hydrolocking has been a subject of debate for sometime. But for such , one would think a serious problem. Who would of thought that AEM would be the only one to take notice and offer a bypassvalve for there intake systems. Now ive never hydrolocked my engine before, but i had a coldair intake on my focus and never had a problem with rain or water. I believe in someways a myth something to bring up and seel a product. Now not to say that hydrolocking hasnt happened but unless your in a flood I dont see a bypass valve a nesecity. Like I said 30+ intake companies make intake systems for cars and 1 has a bypass valve you be the judge if you need it :wink:

Hmm maybe there is a patent...I have know at least 9 people who have hydrolocked their motors. $40 saves you $4000 do you really have to think about it? People don't purposely drive through puddles but they don't purposely drive their cars into trees either, ____ happens.

Hydrolocking has been a subject of debate for sometime. But for such , one would think a serious problem. Who would of thought that AEM would be the only one to take notice and offer a bypassvalve for there intake systems. Now ive never hydrolocked my engine before, but i had a coldair intake on my focus and never had a problem with rain or water. I believe in someways a myth something to bring up and seel a product. Now not to say that hydrolocking hasnt happened but unless your in a flood I dont see a bypass valve a nesecity. Like I said 30+ intake companies make intake systems for cars and 1 has a bypass valve you be the judge if you need it :wink:

Hmm maybe there is a patent...I have know at least 9 people who have hydrolocked their motors. $40 saves you $4000 do you really have to think about it? People don't purposely drive through puddles but they don't purposely drive their cars into trees either, ____ happens.


I don't know anyone that's hydrolocked a motor before. I've even driven a fairly low car through 3 feet of water and still have not hydrolocked the engine. Granted, it didn't have an aftermarket intake, but not many people drive their cars through 3 feet of water either.

I'm not saying hydrolock isn't possible, but the chances of it are not likely. The air bypass valve saps power and costs more. You can't use the harmonically tuned intake with it either.

I don't know anyone that's hydrolocked a motor before. I've even driven a fairly low car through 3 feet of water and still have not hydrolocked the engine. Granted, it didn't have an aftermarket intake, but not many people drive their cars through 3 feet of water either.

I'm not saying hydrolock isn't possible, but the chances of it are not likely. The air bypass valve saps power and costs more. You can't use the harmonically tuned intake with it either.

And buying a $40.00 part will obviously sap a lot of HP out of our 300HP vehicle. Come on man, do you really think it will take a lot of HP out of our cars? :? Well, if you are that stingy, we can't really judge you. But be sure to post up your hydrolocked motor when it happens. :D

I don't know anyone that's hydrolocked a motor before. I've even driven a fairly low car through 3 feet of water and still have not hydrolocked the engine. Granted, it didn't have an aftermarket intake, but not many people drive their cars through 3 feet of water either.

I'm not saying hydrolock isn't possible, but the chances of it are not likely. The air bypass valve saps power and costs more. You can't use the harmonically tuned intake with it either.

And buying a $40.00 part will obviously sap a lot of HP out of our 300HP vehicle. Come on man, do you really think it will take a lot of HP out of our cars? :? Well, if you are that stingy, we can't really judge you. But be sure to post up your hydrolocked motor when it happens. :D


I'm not saying it's going to sap a lot of power out of the engine. But seriously, be realistic. You're buying a cold air intake to get more power out of your engine. Why would you install a part that limits it's ability to free up power?

I drive my motorcycle in the rain all the time. The actual intake track to the engine is a hell of a lot shorter than a cold air intake on an xB. My intake is much more susceptible to taking in water with the air. However, I still have yet to hydrolock my engine.

Your filter will have to be completely submerged for you even to suck up enough water to make hydrolocking a possibility. Even then, much of the water will evaporate on it's way to the engine.

Why is AEM the only supplier that markets the air bypass valve? I'm not saying it doesn't work, I'm just saying that it's not necessary unless you have huge potholes in your area and it rains all the time or you're gonna ford a river.

thats what I said! one company makes the valve. Atleast someone has some sense to agree with me

thats what I said! one company makes the valve. Atleast someone has some sense to agree with me


Just restating your point :wink:


Also, form what I've read, the injen short ram air intake is cheaper, makes more power than the AEM intake, and has a substantially smaller chance of hydrolock than the AEM. Yet, the Injen intake is cheaper.

I'm not attacking the AEM intake here, it's a great looking intake and is manufactured well. But the whole purpose is to gain horsepower with this. Why pay more to gain less power?

[quote="Stylis"][quote=TheLeprechaun]

Your filter will have to be completely submerged for you even to suck up enough water to make hydrolocking a possibility. Even then, much of the water will evaporate on it's way to the engine.

Why is AEM the only supplier that markets the air bypass valve? I'm not saying it doesn't work, I'm just saying that it's not necessary unless you have huge potholes in your area and it rains all the time or you're gonna ford a river.

To hydrolock your engine you have to completely submerged the filter. No the water will not evaporate on the way to the engine. There have been a few companies that have tried to copy design, but like I said its got a patent. So other companies recommend AEM's bypass valve since they can't copy it.

Hmm maybe there is a patent...I have know at least 9 people who have hydrolocked their motors. $40 saves you $4000 do you really have to think about it? People don't purposely drive through puddles but they don't purposely drive their cars into trees either, ____ happens.

The concept cant be patented. The design, yes, but not the concept. If it were so important, another company would release one.

I also highly doubt you know anyone that hydrolocked their engine... They'd have to submerge the filter almost ENTIRELY to get enough suction to move a large body of water into engine!!!

Any droplets that DO make it into the intake tract will be evaporated by the heat before they do any damage... atleast this is what I've come to believe.

so.. back to the subject...


the link i posted.... the AEM there is a short ram??? Does anyone know if it performs better than the dealer installed?

I'm getting an intake with my tax return money.. But I cannot decide between the Typhoon and the Injen..... hmmmm..


Think it would be nice for a new dyno shootout.... with new intakes...

Injen..Spfr...AEM (dealer and short).. Weapon R... K&N.. and any others i left out??

so.. back to the subject...


the link i posted.... the AEM there is a short ram??? Does anyone know if it performs better than the dealer installed?

I'm getting an intake with my tax return money.. But I cannot decide between the Typhoon and the Injen..... hmmmm..


Think it would be nice for a new dyno shootout.... with new intakes...

Injen..Spfr...AEM (dealer and short).. Weapon R... K&N.. and any others i left out??

No short ram, but 2 cold air intakes. IT's powerpage should be out soon for the xB with that intake, header and exhaust for your dyno results.