AEM CAI vs. Generic Short Ram

[EJX_Michael]

yes, the aem is 2.5", but so are the intakes off ebay.

Mine is 3"

[d112crzy]

It's hurting your performance. It's like having an overly huge throttle body.

[bcjammerx]

You tellin me there is no HP difference between the cooler air vs the hot air from the engine bay? I find that hard to believe....

you need to learn to read better...I never said that.

since you lack reading comprehension i will spell it out statement by statement for you.

they are both tubes...I fail to see any difference.

Here I am comparing two intake systems...one being AEM and one being "generic" I am making the assumption that the ID and lengths and bends of these two tubings are the same or very similar in the two. In such a case...there will be no difference between the two tubings. I not ONCE mention stock tubing or lack of tubing

If the bends are similar then there will be no difference.

here I point out that some intakes have different bends...but as long as they are close that won't matter.

a 3" metal tube is a 3" metal tube...the main difference will be in the filter.

since most folks tend to buy 3" tubing I used that size as reference, it's popular...and easy to grasp the size. Here I am saying that there is no difference between TWO identical or VERY similar metal tubes when the only noticable difference is the brand name.

Don't spend $300 on AEM...spend $14 on generic and then

here I am saying you should not buy any intake tubing that is over $20 or you are wasting money...now the filter is something different...

spend 50 on a good re-usable filter.

here I am saying that arguably the only weak link in the "generic" intakes are the filters...be it low air flow or poor filtration or a combo. Go buy a good flowing, good cleaning, re-usable air filter.

my .02

here I am saying that all of the above is my advice

so, 91lxf22a1, thus ends our lesson in reading comprehension...follow what I'm saying now?

d112crzy,
How would a large intake and large TB hurt performance? I mean I understand to a point of course...so maybe I should ask it like this.

My setup is this, 2.5" lower cai tube, 3" upper half tube, h22 tb, h23 plenum, f22a6 runners...? Even if I eventually go for higher n/a power or keep 'er around 150-160 n/a...how would 3" intake matched with..say...70mm tb hurt performance? Or are those not what you meant by too big?

[91lxf22a1]

bcjammerx. I understand what you are refering to now, BUT my question still remains would a true CAI be worth switching to vs the short ram i have now would the CAI vs the short ram give me a power increase?

[deevergote]

A proper CAI (such as AEM) will give a slight power increase... but honestly, it's not worth the money. The only time you would ever really care about every last horsepower would be in a truly serious build... and for a serious build, ITBs are the way to go.

[91lxf22a1]

A proper CAI (such as AEM) will give a slight power increase... but honestly, it's not worth the money. The only time you would ever really care about every last horsepower would be in a truly serious build... and for a serious build, ITBs are the way to go.

So just keep the short ram with a good filter? Is that the best way as far as power AND saving money? What about the generic CAI's? I still havent really gotten a straight answer on that....

[EJX_Michael]

It's hurting your performance. It's like having an overly huge throttle body.

What about with a tune? Would the size matter then?

[bcjammerx]

the stock intake is restrictive and small...get something around 2.5"...I got a 3"...so I wouldn't stay with the stock...but I have nothing to back that up.

I would really like to know if it (3") is hurting my performance by having the larger


there is a post discussing tubing length and resonance and having a longer tube gives better flow...I dunno where it is but it was in response to someone saying "just put a good filter right on the tb"

[hella_fresh]

like i said in another post just like yours. why does everyone think a intake makes you faster since it gains 5 whp? put your money elsewhere

[bcjammerx]

every little hp gain can count...and one of 5whp is significant. This IS a better place...not every mod gives you 10+ or 20+ hp...many only add 5hp..it all adds up.

[EJX_Michael]

like i said in another post just like yours. why does everyone think a intake makes you faster since it gains 5 whp? put your money elsewhere

Haha! Seriously?

$20 for 5 hp?

Thats pretty cheap considering people will pay $1500+ for a 75-60 hp increase of an H22.

[91lxf22a1]

like i said in another post just like yours. why does everyone think a intake makes you faster since it gains 5 whp? put your money elsewhere

If i had a lot of money i would.....but i dont.....do you have money to share with me???

[Brandoncb7]

every little hp gain can count...and one of 5whp is significant. This IS a better place...not every mod gives you 10+ or 20+ hp...many only add 5hp..it all adds up.

X2 It may not add much but it's damn sure helping your engine breathe better so it's a start. Hell almost everyone starts out with intake/header/exhaust. It can inhale better but needs to be able to exhale better too. Also while the intake alone may only give you 5hp and the exhaust might do the same when you combine both of them they work even better than what they would by themselves.

[bigbadnothing85]

it mostly has to do with your air fuel ratio... at the lower rpms there aint much fuel being delivered but you're hoofing in all that air so it kind of takes away till you hit your powerband, which is where you will notice the difference...

if you run a true cold air intake system i would also suggest wrapping it in heat wrap, like what you see on exhaust mani's... the engine temp will raise the temp of your intake tubing... every degree you can get the air temp down makes a difference

engines are just combustion assisted air pumps... you need to up the air it breathes out, to match what it sucks in... upping the fuel pressuse a lb. or 2 wouldn't hurt... that and some nice high sparking plugs with some matching wires...

[RiceKillinSi]

Don't spend $300 on AEM...spend $14 on generic and then 50 on a good re-usable filter.

my .02

Unless you need to pass California emissions.