What are the advantages of each? and is one "better" then the other?

 

cold air pros: sources air from a location further away from the engine. this way it sucks in cooler and denser air allowing for more power.
cons: a common location for a CAI is in the fender or by the bumper. this location is prone to sucking in water during the rain (puddles or a soaked filter). this causes hydrolock where the water which cant be compressed like air nor ignitable like fuel it will create enough pressure to bend connecting rods..

short ram pros: usually takes in air from the stock filter location. by using a bigger diameter pipe and using a more efficient filter it provides better flow. placing the filter in the stock location shield the filter from the elements and shouldnt suck in water like the cold airs.
cons: the source of the air is close to the engine bay and therefore taking in hotter air compared to the cold air intakes. depending on the design of the stock air box, a short ram may only provide as much power as a replacement high flow filter.

the safer choice is the short ram but it for sure wont make as much power as the cold air intake. as for the cold air intake you can prevent hydrolock with a bypass valve. it has a flap that opens when air cant be sucked through the main filter like when submerged or soaked. or you can just disconnect the pipe at the throttle body or any breaks in the pipe.
a rule of thumb that i was told was that if you have to use more than the first speed level of the wipers you should be fine to drive if you have a CAI without the need to disconnect it.

like any modification you do to your car, there are risks and advantages to everything. the "best" all depends on what you view as a pro and what is a con. good luck on whichever you go with.

 

I was just wondering this as I want to buy a Intake in the near future... So basically wat ur saying is that if you just want a intake with some added hp and MPG go for the short ram (K&N Intake) Or if you want more power and mpg BUT have to remove it when it rains go for CAI (Fujita)...

Ahhh I want CAI with more power and mpg but I know im gonna be lazy 2 remove it if it rains >.<

 

you absolutely do not have to remove the CAI when it rains, that is taking the idea to the extreme. many CAI's can be fitted with a bypass valve, and only if the water reaches the height of the filter, then you have to really worry about hydrolock. that's like if you plan on driving through huge puddles and rivers.

 

Sweet so I guess since i live in hawaii and we like never flood im going with CAI! Woot!

 

^ except the last time i was in hawaii, there are random showers..

and what i meant about removing it wasnt actually replacing it back to stock. just to reveal the throttle body or disconnect a break in the pipe ( where there is a rubber piece to connect two pipes) just by doing that the intake would not draw air from the filter but from a location not as revealed to the elements

 

I've always done short ram cause they sound sweet and I was always super worried about Hydro-lock-But now they have bypass valves and stuff to fix that. But I'm pretty sure you are supposed to get more power from a CAI.

 

I have a TRD CAI for my 1gen xB. My motor failed and even though the TRD has an air bypass valve, they are still trying to stick me with hydrolock. BTW, the roads were dry when it failed.

I think you'll be alright with a CAI with the bypass valve and maybe a waterproof boot over the filter, but if things go wrong with your engine expect the dealer to point the finger at the intake, even if they are supposed to prove it caused the failure under the Magnasun Moss Warranty Act.

The 2006 TRD cold air intake is not a warranted part, but it appears the 2008 TRD CAI is, so maybe it won't be an issue for you.

My car's been down a month now and I'm still in arbitration with Toyota. Had I known it would be this much of a pain, I would have left the stock airbox and used just a TRD filter. The gains have not been worth the headache.

 

http://www.outerwearsracing.com/ ??????

 

So basically if you dont wanna have any problems with toyota and them pointing fingers at ur intake and NOT have a chance at them voiding your warranty... Go for Short ram...

Correct?

 

no. any modification you do, they can subjectively say, hey that screwed up your car, we're not honoring warranty.

 

So bascially put it back to stock if you can before you take it in...

 

you could. or you can wait until the warranty is up and then install everything. but really, if you have an aftermarket intake, i don't really think the dealer will really care unless they're very harsh. which some are.

 

With my ZIO MOD you get the best of both worlds- cool air and a short ram.

Zio

 

Ok so after alot of thinking i am still torn between the Tenzo-R CAI and the Weapon R Secret Weapon short ram...

And from reading this thread https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...=asc&&start=20

It seems the short ram is safer and better for Automatics/Low end power...