chefx312 Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 I've been wanting to get a cool air intake for awhile but have always heard mixed reviews. Does it add much HP? And does it help gas mileage or take away from it? I had a guy at the Subaru dealership tell me that it makes gas mileage worse. Give me any info you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkOblivion000 Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 I don't know too much about it so let the rest of the members on this forum correct me if I'm wrong but from what I understand... CAI's or cold air intakes tend to improve power at higher RPM's by anywhere from 0-15+hp, but usually somewhere in the low teen range. However this is offset by a slight reduction in torque at low RPM's. So taking into account the fact that you are adding a CAI for power gains, I assume half the time you are going to be revving high, which then will reduce your gas efficiency. If you are driving around under 2k RPM's all the time... idk, it seems like you might get the same or better gas efficiency. Typical rule of thumb... if it increases power, it will decrease gas efficiency. This is logic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfdrumr Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 incorrect... if it increases power it USUALLY increases efficiency which will increase milage if you drive the same...but whats the point of power mods if u drive the same? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkOblivion000 Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 I don't think that's true... If you get an intake, it allows a faster flow of air into the engine. However to match that and to simultaneously prevent from running lean, you have to also input more fuel, thus using more gas, at higher RPMs. You accelerate faster but use more gas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfdrumr Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 no...intakes do not necessarily allow faster air but colder, more dense air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkOblivion000 Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 Ah true. Right, it does increase the efficiency of the engine... Gas mileage still depends on how you drive it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfdrumr Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 but your going to loose low-end power with an intake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow05gtRI Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 depends which kind of intake. short ram intakes are designed for high end power, longer cold air intakes are better for low end. it has to do with the resonance of the pipes. if you get an intake, get a tune for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max713 Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Why? Go with a drop in panel filter and just as good if not better results... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow05gtRI Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 btw you're not getting much HP out of an intake on the stock turbo. it is hard for it to flow enough air to max out the stock box. panel filters are a decent option....read around, though. nothing is perfect without a tune, including panel filters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skiWA Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 Hey quick question: I'm still relatively new to the "modding" world, but I'm ready to learn! I drive an '09 NA Legacy and I took off the bottom half (silencer/resonator w/e you call it) of my stock air intake. It sounds like it is sucking in more air from underneath, giving more air to the engine and giving it a louder sound already. Is this bad? I know it means the air/fuel mix will be running leaner, but is that bad? I like the sound and it feels like there is more power in the upper RPMs (3000+). Will I see any changes in HP or gas mileage? Anyone have any advice? Please advise. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caramall2 Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 On the original question...CAI... I installed an AEM CAI. It did increase my MAF a small amount and decreased my inlet temps slightly (also a good thing). The AEM draws from way down in the front well, way away from the engine bay; I also insulated the intake pipe (yes, the stocker also draws from "outside" the engine bay (front of car)). Only drawback is the intake can be more susceptible to water ingestion in an extreme case (I haven't had any issue yet). I'm a little past Stage II, so I don't know if a stock car would see the same or not, as pointed out by another post. You do need to be able to tune for it (change the MAF scale). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryN Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Hey quick question: I'm still relatively new to the "modding" world, but I'm ready to learn! I drive an '09 NA Legacy and I took off the bottom half (silencer/resonator w/e you call it) of my stock air intake. It sounds like it is sucking in more air from underneath, giving more air to the engine and giving it a louder sound already. Is this bad? I know it means the air/fuel mix will be running leaner, but is that bad? I like the sound and it feels like there is more power in the upper RPMs (3000+). Will I see any changes in HP or gas mileage? Anyone have any advice? Please advise. Thanks I think that is correct. CAI will definitely bring in more cold air (hopefully). Cold air is more dense than hot air. Cold air (dense air) will also make combustion better since there is more oxygen present. This will in turn lean your fuel out in the combustion chamber. So you may have to richen the fuel a tad to avoid backfiring...or was it misfiring. I do not remember. All in all, when you get a CAI make sure you tune the car properly. And no, it will save you gas as the same amount will still be pissed into the chamber. The only difference with a CAI is the fuel will burn more efficiently and slightly earlier. I can be wrong here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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