When comparing oem boxes with aftermarket, it's important to use either a pretty new oem paper filter or a K&N, Amsoil etc...

The oem paper filter will start to show flow degradation(but not filtration) as it gets older. As per Hydrazine.

I had a new oem and an old Z panel filter sitting here. I tried both and I could tell the old Z filter was slightly hindering performance. (butt dyno impression)

I don't know what Hydrazine recommends for filter replacement but I'd say at least every 10,000 miles. Probably less if you want to keep your performance at peak.

 

I used brand new Napa gold OEM panel filter then a clean newly oiled JWT w/Stillen...

 

I've noticed that a very newly cleaned K&N panel / cone will feel really good too. But good thoughts though. I still have my stillen and might throw it on there.

 

Up in the NW, we are having record high temps here. Might top 100 deg F today. One thing I've noticed is that the performance hasn't dropped off nearly as much as I would have thought. Don't know if that's because of the oem box or not. If I get a chance, I'll throw the stillen back on before it cools off.

 

hmm so does this mean that the stock coupes with the revup box(06) is louder than the stock coupes without it such as the older models(03-04)?

 

I don't think it's louder so much as it's different. There might be a decibel difference, but it's microscopic. The rev-up airbox seems to enhance the whistling/intake sound more than anything.

 

can i use this revup air box on a 03 sedan? and how do i know what motor i have? sorry new to the game !!

 

^^^^
yes you can

and no you dont have a rev up motor, only 05 and up 6mt's

 

question guys. is there a difference between the stillen z-tube and the oem z-tube. im planing to buy the stillen intake and its cheaper in a stillen z-tube/stillen intake package. should i do that or buy the oem z-tube seperately with the stillen intake.

 

First, yes there is a difference between the 2 tubes, but the end result is effectively the same. The OEM Z-tube replaces the entire stock intake tube from Mass Airflow Sensor Housing to Throttle Body. The Stillen only replaces the center section, the piece with the baffle setup on it. There's an accordion-like piece at each end of the stock setup that need to be moved over to the ends of the Stillen tube.

Second, I think you should reconsider whether to get the Stillen intake package. The stock airbox is a very efficient unit, and is as good as or better than any aftermarket intake short of FI or SC. It's one main advantage is that it's not susceptible to heatsoak like the Stillen or POP Charger intakes. The Stillen's intake sound is different than stock, but don't expect any performance gains, and you may actually have a drop in performance (although I doubt you'd be able to tell either way without a precise dyno). Buy the OEM Z-tube and spend the other money towards a plenum spacer.

 

^^ thanks for the input but i want the stillen more for sound then anything. do u think the revup,ztube/k&n filter combo will get more mpg then the stillen or it would be pretty much the same?

also i have a 06 so theres no point in buying plenum spacers if i dont have the mrev first

 

I think if anything you'll get slightly worse mileage with the Stillen intake because of potential heatsoak issues. And have you heard either setup in person? If you're doing this for the sound, then know what you're getting. The Z-tube changes the intake sound in a pretty big way, so you may be happy with it like that. I just don't see the point in improving the sound at the expense of performance. But, I'm a function first, appearance second kind of person.

The year has nothing to do with it, only the transmission. A 6MT from 05+ is a rev-up, and thus would benefit from the Mrev2/spacer combination, but a spacer will still give you real benefits.

 

Intake issues are very subjective...

FWIW, I have run Stillen with Z tube for years... and have also run OEM with non revup and rev up air boxes.

#1, I have zero difference in mpg with any configuration

#2, I have ditched the OEM box and will continue to use the Stillen set up with OEM Z tube

On my car, the Stillen set up is notably different (better) - I feel snappier acceleration and a bit better trq (the OEM box makes it slightly sluggish).

Many people would probably not notice the difference with one or the other (if they didn’t know which one is installed)... Its likely that many people recommending OEM wouldn’t be able to tell you what air box they had in their car if they did a blind test.

Its possible that with the intake and exhaust configuration I have (which is extensive and not what many people run) that my impressions are different that what would happen with others - but there is no denying that blanket statements like "Stillen causes lower mpg due to heat soak" and “OEM is the way to go, there is no better” are completely unfounded and should be reconsidered.

 

Luckily, that's not what I said. As for the OEM comment, I guess all I had to do was say "On my car" first, then I could make blanket statements like you did about the Stillen being better. That's also completely unfounded. Unless you've got some independent analysis that supports it, it's just your opinion.

The Stillen is susceptible to heatsoak moreso than the stock airbox, and heatsoak can rob you of power, which could definitely lead to lower gas mileage. For the money spent on the Stillen, any power gains, real or imagined, are so small that you probably can't measure them. If he wants that setup for sound, that's one thing. But as for power, nobody has shown that any NA intake setup is measurably better than the stock airbox.

 

Really??? How am I misinterpreting this from post # 238?

and where did I make a "blanket statement about Stillen being better"?...

I made it VERY clear that while I agree the OEM box will probably show moderately lower intake temps, on my car it was notable less snappy than Stillen and actually felt a bit sluggish in comparison.

Initially I had planned to data log intake temps with both setups and also do back to back dyno comparisons... but after concluding what I have (for myself) I'm not going to bother... and thankfully I made that decision because I don’t want to waste my time debate with certain people out here about outcomes.

I've come to realize that sharing the info about what works for my car is completely pointless because it ends up in worthless debates... ironically there hasn’t been an NA VQDE that has beat my car - yet I'm always debating simple mods with people like you that just isn’t worth it.