Hi,
CAI question…I searched all the forums, gathering tons of great info on CAI’s. Noticed a few people stated that they lost power with a CAI. I’m deciding on what type of intake to get on a 2005 G35 6mt (waiting for delivery).
I can probably get an AEM CAI for a good price, but if it’s going to reduce HP, I’ll stay away from it. I just want to poll the CAI people: How many people w/ CAI’s have lost power or regret the purchase…compared to gained power & luv the mod.
Thanks in advance!

 

Just so you know, most people haven't done a baseline run and then a dyno run with just the intake. So you may get answers like, "I definitely felt power above 5k rpms" which is BS because even if it gives you like 5rwhp you wouldn't feel it. Most likely the sound difference it makes gives the illlusion of more HP.

 

mine is louder

check sig

 

agreed. the notorious "butt-dyno". personally, i considered a few CAIs, including Injen, AEM, and K&N. After scouring this forum, i came to the conclusion that the jury is still out on HP gains, so i went with Z-tube & K&N air filter just for the sound improvement.

of course, then i found this: http://www.intensepower.com/g35dynochart.html claims a 14.2 HP gain, plus 11.6 ft-lbs torque gain with the Injen CAI.

 

I saw that too jayco. Does anybody here know if the above link is valid? Have there been any other tests? Does this thread belong somewhere else (j/k ).

I'm quite interested in doing the Nismo CAI. Would love to hear the opinions.

 

BS....you never trust a manufacture's dyno.

 

well I can't give a baseline from stock, but I can tell you the difference in my car currently (with the other mods) obviously the intake stuff effects the other breathing mods.

I have a difference of 1/10 of sec 0 - 60 stock (stock airbox and stock intake tube) vs a z-tube (plastic nissan from the Z) and a Stillen High Flow CAI Box (sealed to prevent hot engine air.

I don't know how many HP that is, nor how much it would matter if everything else was stock... I couldn't measure any real diff when they were only two mods (in the 3/100 of sec range 0 - 60... which is weel in to the noise/accuracy range... so ...)

They will make it louder

Some have shown dynos claiming ~5HP with just a z-tube. I don't know how well controlled those dynos were.

The next time I dyno I will be doing the test.

 

ummm....how did you measure 0-60....dare i say GTech?
I guess you could use Gtech just for comparison purposes, but 1/10 of a second is very slim, maybe you launched a little better...seems to be too many factors involved that could give you a better time. I'm not sure how true it is but I heard you can usually shave off 1/10sec on your 1/4mile time for every 10whp

 

I have been running the K&N Typhoon CAI on my coupe for 6000 miles or so,
and it still sounds great. Happy with the mod, now I am waiting for
Magnaflow to come out with their exhaust

 

I did a baseline before I put my AEM CAI on. It made a 3hp difference. Baseline was 242rwhp, 245 after the install.

 

I'd have to agree. As much as all of us would love to believe that these things add HP, we have to think pragmatically here. To accurately determine a .1 sec change would mean the need for an extrememly controlled test. Windspeed and direction, relative humidity, temperature, the amount of fuel in your tank, the octane rating of the fuel (that may alter timing), tire spin, and the list goes on and on of factors that contribute to times. Believe me when I say I hope you're right that it really was a .1 sec gain, but with so many variables how can you be sure it was because of the mod?

 

The stock intake is actually a great design and hard to improve on. I had the Injen CAI and then I switched to the Z-tube/K&N combo. I kinda miss that hissing sound from the Injen, but I love the Z-tube. Performance wise, it's negligable.

 

>Most likely the sound difference it makes gives the illlusion of more HP.

I agree. CAI's replacing restrictive factory intakes with resonators will improve
even on a NA car, but on the G's... I doubt it. I don't care to make my G any
louder.

 

ChazM,

I use a G-Timer from Escort to measure times. Of course you claim accuracy of the device. But my results tend to be very consistant.

I use it only as a gauge, of course launch can effect it.
I generally do multiple runs. If I can't do the same thing 3 out of 4 times it isn't valid.

The G-Timer is a lot more accurate than the G-Tech(I have been told, no personal verification)

At any rate with the current mods, it 'seems' to zip through the upper RPMs faster, this may be where the slight difference is being picked up.

 

I don't think there's a question of rather an aftermarket CAI makes power, but rather how effective it is in controlling heat soak. I've seen enough dynos to believe the Z-tube/pop charger combo makes 5 rwhp, but it's not the best option in the summer. I had this setup during the winter and the car pulled so strong. However, this combo is not effective in controlling heak soak. It's warming up, so I switched to the Z-tube/K&N.