Been on the fence forever on this one. Fighting the mod itch is a hobby of mine, lately I'm losing. Started to think about the temp of the air where the CAI pulls from. Yes it's away from engine heat soak but not blocked from it. Then I thought about how hot the body gets in the summer on my black car, so hot that some days the power window motor will overheat until it gets some cool air and works again. So the filter is down in the fender area technically sharing the same air as the engine, rad, pavement and sun soaked body panels. Does the air by the time it hits the intake really any cooler or we just getting gains because of flow improvements at the otherwise pinch in the intake?

Seta

 

Even though your points against a cai are reasonable, it is still a much better system than the stock setup. I think it is also important to relocate you IAT sensor to take full advantage of the cai. I rewired mine to plug into a hole I drilled in the bottom of my Moroso cai filter. I also cut out a u-shape in the plastic on the bottom plastic in front of the wheel to make an air scoop allowing fresh air to circulate freely in the filer area. The only real disadvantage I can see is collecting very hot air from a sun baked blacktop surface in the summer. Probably nothing to worry about there either as the increased airflow will still outperform the stock setup.

 

Any CAI is better than the OEM setup. In addition to cutting a scoop into the splash guard you might also consider creating a heat sheild between the radiator and ABS assembly.

I did this using a custom cut aluminum sheet with 1 layer of pipe heat insulation material on each side. You can definitely feel the difference when you pop the hood between the sheilded area from where the CAI draws air and the other side of the sheild.

 

Just think of this........how how do you think the air from the CAI is?? And do you think it's warmer then the air that could go straight in the engine? However hot the engine gets, I think the outside air would be cooler.

 

Actually I've measured the temp of the air both at the stock location and down below. They're the same but more importantly the intake and CAI grab air from below. One does it using atmosphere and lowest path of resistance, the other inside a tube that has no other choice. Either way the flow of air to the intake is coming from the inner fender. I also don't think heat is that important in a heatsoaked intake situation. Look at the LS1, it pulls air directly from the gap between the rad and bumper, same is true of 3rd gen. That area is much warmer than the fender area but no one makes a system to move it over.

What I've always wondered is why we don't have a similar aftermarket setup, nothing beats a straight shot whether it be exhaust or intake.

Seta

 

I think you're going a little overboard here. It's just a CAI. The air flow is smoother inside than stock, they're larger, flow more cfm, and the air is somewhat cooler. The more you mod, the more it helps.

 

that or get a ram-air hood

 

If you're so worried about it getting cold air, it's soooo easy to fabricate a small scoop to fit that plastic splashguard panel. Just get a clothes dryer vent from Wal-Mart for 4 bucks, trace the opening onto the panel (the portion the dryer's hose connects to), cut the hole (I used a Dremel), drill and mount. It'll be slightly blocked by the factory airdeflector and you have to be aware of any large bumps and curbs or you'll crack it, but it does get fresh air towards the filter for cheap.

 

I think the CAI does a pretty good job. I have the SLP and after driving down the road for a while, I can get out pop the hood and the CAI will still be cool to the touch, while the rest of the engine bay is hot as sh*t.. I think its doing its job just fine.

 

I dont know about the science of it....but its been known as a good mod for 10 years....they claim 19rwhp w/ it, I dont know where they get that #, more like 10.

 

exactly my thoughts...it might be hotter than in february, but its hotter right on the engine from the heat on the hood than it would be in february also....EVERYTHING gets hotter, not just the part where the CAI is

 

Has anyone done a before/after of the IAT readings when adding a CAI?? I think that would prove if there was a difference.

 

I installed the K&N FIPK and a ram air scoop and you can feel it pull harder..the car use to shift at about 5,500 rpms, now it shifts closer to 7,000...do i know why?? no ...but i am going to get that reprogrammed in a jiff lol.