Intakes and filters

[TJ213]

What is the advantage of a high performance air intake or air filter? More Air. Getting more air into your engine gives you more power. A modern Internal Combustion Engine runs off of controlled explosions. Getting more air into the piston when that explosion happens allows you to get a larger explosion which means more power.

*I will be using a few acronyms in the article; they are SRI – Short Ram Intake, CAI – Cold Air Intake, and OEM – Original Equipment Manufacturer

Air Intakes and Filters are one of the cheapest modifications you can make to your car. In addition to providing a few extra horsepower, air intakes usually result in a louder, more aggressive sound. This is caused by the increased volume of air going into the engine, and is usually amplified by the removal of covering, and the removal of the resonator, which is a part installed by the factory to reduce engine noise.



High Performance Air Filters
Air Filters are easy to install, just remove the stock filter and install the new filter. Most will not void the warrantee, and just fit into the place where the OEM filter was. Many OEM filters are high friction paper filters that have to slow down the air in order to clean it. An OEM filter is an easy way to help your engine breath a little better, and give you a slight power gain across the power band. Although high performance filters are more expensive, they are cleanable, and reusable.

Pros-
Cheapest
Easiest to install
Provides gains across the power band
Reusable

Cons-
Usually does not provide a significant increase in power
Most will not significantly change engine sound

*note, SRIs and CAIs will come with a high performance filter



Short Ram Intakes
Short Ram intakes are easy to install, and they provide more power than the stock air box. They are more expensive than filters, but they also give your car a greater power increase. SRIs also give the greatest increase in power in the lower end of the power band because they use shorter piping than the other intakes.

The biggest downside to SRIs is that they can have problem known as “Heatsoak” Notice in the picture above how close the intake is to the engine, and the location of the filter. Due to it bringing in air from near the engine (which produces a lot of heat) the SRI will bring in hot air on hot days. Hot air takes up more space than cold air, so less air can get into the engine, therefore resulting in less power.

Pros-
Good increase in power in the lower range of the power band
Cheaper than CAIs
Easier to install than CAIs
More aggressive sound than stock system

Cons-
Less power gain at the higher end of the power band
Heatsoak



Cold Air Intakes
Cold Air Intakes are the hardest to install out of these three systems, but they provide the greatest overall power gain. Cold Air Intakes usually run away from your engine and down. In this location the filter gets more air, and colder air than in other systems. CAIs also tend to increase the “VTEC Effect” since they provide more power at higher RPMs, like VTEC does.

The downside of a CAI is that since the piping is longer, there is not much of a power gain at lower RPMs. Since the filter is much lower than in other systems it may become submerged if driving through deep water. If this occurs the engine may suck in water, this is called hydrolock. Since water does not compress this can result in a bent piston rod or some other form of engine damage, using the AEM air bypass valve or other similar products can prevent hydrolock.

Pros-
Amplifies “VTEC Effect”
Greatest power gain
Aggressive sound
Brings in colder air

Cons-
Less of a power gain at low RPMs
Hydrolock

All three of these choices are relatively cheap ways to give your car a boost in horsepower, as well as a more aggressive sound if you choose a CAI or SRI. The SRI is not recommended if you live in a warm climate, and if you purchase a CAI an air bypass valve is a good part to have as added insurance.

If you have more questions or want help choosing which intake is best for your car please post at HondaClub.com

TJ213