Intake????
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Seattle, WA
Vehicle: 2003 Turbo Tib
Intake????
I've been looking at different intakes and it boils down to two. MHP's CAI or Dragon Intakes Reg Kit. My question is, Is CAI always the better choice or would I be just as happy with the gains of a regular aftermarket intake? Any help with this question is greatly appreciated. Thanx smile.gif
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As has been said in other posts, why not just wait for the SR CAI? It appears that it will be pretty nice. Also, to answer your question, a CAI is better than just an under the hood intake because a CAI takes cold air from the fenderwell or under the engine bay, and regular intakes such as the weapon-r ones suck in the hot air from the engine compartment. Hope that helps, but like I said, why not wait for the Shark Racing CAI? 
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Run a search in this area of the forum for "intake" and "random special" as your search terms. You will find TONS of information in those threads that answer any question known to man on the matter. There's quite a bit there!
In short, to answer your questions, you always have the option to fabricate your own CAI out of regular automotive supplies. It takes a little work, and might not look as pretty, but it certainly gets the job done!
Regarding an aftermarket intake versus a true CAI, you want to be drawing air into your engine that is as cool as possible. The regular aftermarket intake will be drawing in warm air from the engine bay. A true CAI will be pulling in air from outside the bay, which is much colder by comparison. Cold air is denser (more oxygen molecules per square inch) than hot air. When the engine is breathing in cold air, the ECU dumps more fuel through the injectors into the cylinder. The ECU always tries to strive for a consistent oxygen/fuel mixture. Put more oxygen into the cylinder through denser air, and you will get more fuel added to the mix to meet that ratio. More air + more fuel = more bang when the spark plug lights the mix.
The converse of this is pretty direct. Hot air, like the air in the engine bay, is less dense than the ambient temperature outside the car. Less density means less oxygen. Less oxygen means less fuel is needed to make the right ratio. Less air + less fuel = less power per stroke.
Hope this helps!
In short, to answer your questions, you always have the option to fabricate your own CAI out of regular automotive supplies. It takes a little work, and might not look as pretty, but it certainly gets the job done!
Regarding an aftermarket intake versus a true CAI, you want to be drawing air into your engine that is as cool as possible. The regular aftermarket intake will be drawing in warm air from the engine bay. A true CAI will be pulling in air from outside the bay, which is much colder by comparison. Cold air is denser (more oxygen molecules per square inch) than hot air. When the engine is breathing in cold air, the ECU dumps more fuel through the injectors into the cylinder. The ECU always tries to strive for a consistent oxygen/fuel mixture. Put more oxygen into the cylinder through denser air, and you will get more fuel added to the mix to meet that ratio. More air + more fuel = more bang when the spark plug lights the mix.
The converse of this is pretty direct. Hot air, like the air in the engine bay, is less dense than the ambient temperature outside the car. Less density means less oxygen. Less oxygen means less fuel is needed to make the right ratio. Less air + less fuel = less power per stroke.
Hope this helps!
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Hey,
Frankly, I ordered the weapon R intake and was so disgusted witht he quality and looks I returned for a full refund that hour. No BS. I then purchased a Ractive Heat Sheild Filter (Between $35-55 depending on where you buy it) and a Ractive cold air intake attachment (Approximately $60-100 depending on where you buy it). So for less than the Dragon you can own a CAI that is a true CAI. Romve the old airbox, the Ractive filter literally bolts right onto the end of the MAF tube, re-locate the air temp sensor to the MAF tub (watch where you drill)and locate the snorkel tub right don to the front of your car or the fender and boom...CAI..for less than the cost of a Dragon.
I must say that I love my setup, it uses mostly stock parts, and flows damned good. It looks like the SR CAI will flow more air and I might just swap off. But if you are in a hurry...order the parts and make it yourself. smile.gif
Later,
Jeremy
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Frankly, I ordered the weapon R intake and was so disgusted witht he quality and looks I returned for a full refund that hour. No BS. I then purchased a Ractive Heat Sheild Filter (Between $35-55 depending on where you buy it) and a Ractive cold air intake attachment (Approximately $60-100 depending on where you buy it). So for less than the Dragon you can own a CAI that is a true CAI. Romve the old airbox, the Ractive filter literally bolts right onto the end of the MAF tube, re-locate the air temp sensor to the MAF tub (watch where you drill)and locate the snorkel tub right don to the front of your car or the fender and boom...CAI..for less than the cost of a Dragon.
I must say that I love my setup, it uses mostly stock parts, and flows damned good. It looks like the SR CAI will flow more air and I might just swap off. But if you are in a hurry...order the parts and make it yourself. smile.gif
Later,
Jeremy
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From: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Vehicle: 2008 Toyota Prius 2006 Suzuki SV650S
DO NOT buy the Weapon-R. I don't care if you make your own, or buy KORE, MHP or SR's, but do NOT buy the Weapon-R. That thing is complete crap.
That being said....MHP, KORE and Speedstate all make CAI's. Shark Racings should be out within a month or two, the prototypes are on the way to the USA from Korea now. Or build your own to suit your own tastes.
That being said....MHP, KORE and Speedstate all make CAI's. Shark Racings should be out within a month or two, the prototypes are on the way to the USA from Korea now. Or build your own to suit your own tastes.
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QUOTE
Originally posted by Random:
DO NOT buy the Weapon-R. I don't care if you make your own, or buy KORE, MHP or SR's, but do NOT buy the Weapon-R. That thing is complete crap.
DO NOT buy the Weapon-R. I don't care if you make your own, or buy KORE, MHP or SR's, but do NOT buy the Weapon-R. That thing is complete crap.
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i own a weapon R,... but random is right it sucks and its design is crappy.
You can modify it to work good and be a good CAI, but it will still look like ****.
its not worth it
just get a nice looking Intake at a cheaper price.
just incase your hard headed.
JAWS 021=1st member of the intake anonymous sad.gif
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by the way,... that was before it was redesigned
someone that lives by my house thats REALLY smart and even designs his own intake helped me out wink.gif
once redesigned it gets you PURE cold air, and its a big upgrade from the weapon R design
the intake kicks ass now, but it still looks like crap
just save yourself the trouble and get something else.
someone that lives by my house thats REALLY smart and even designs his own intake helped me out wink.gif
once redesigned it gets you PURE cold air, and its a big upgrade from the weapon R design
the intake kicks ass now, but it still looks like crap
just save yourself the trouble and get something else.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Seattle, WA
Vehicle: 2003 Turbo Tib
Well, Thanks for the advise. I'm about to buy new rims and tires, so that'll let me wait until the SR CAI comes out. You know, FUNDS and all. Once again thanks, and RANDOM.. What happened with the races? you didn't miss much. Peace.