AFE Stage 1 Intake Installed

[DC Commuter]

Purchase: I used "autoanything.com" for the purchase:

2006 Honda Ridgeline AFE Intake Systems, AFE Intakes, AFE Cold Air Intake Stage 2, Stage 1

Here's a link to AFE's Ridgeline product page:

Advanced FLOW Engineering

The price was reasonable, I thought. There are two versions of the actual filter available, one is an oiled version, the other a "synthetic" type that never needs oil. I went for the synthetic, which was a few dollars cheaper.

Ordering from autoanything was painless, and delivery took about a week (and free!). However, it took several days for them to give me a tracking number and fill the order.

I bought this type of intake because it has a cover over the top, I was thinking it might help prevent hydrolock, and also because of the price. It uses the stock intake tube, which is straight and in my opinion doesn't need to be changed anyway.

Installation: The directions were not very good, leaving out some little steps like installing the lockwashers on the bolts. But with only 3 main parts to the unit, I got it done on about an hour (I later took the unit back out to install the lock washers!). Also there was one odd step, to loosen the bolt holding the air intake tube, but with no instructions to re-tighten it later. I saw why when I installed it, as that tube needs to move a bit as you are installing the new box, and then its useless to try and re-tighten the bolt, because it out of reach.

Performance: The sound is similar to what is described by the ROC members who installed the other cold air systems. It's hardly noticeable until you apply serious throttle, and then when the VTEC kicks in the sound instantly doubles after that point. The horsepower added is probably not that much, and so my expectations were low. However it does seem to help. I wanted it to help in hot weather (the truck seems to be temperature sensitive and require much more throttle to move away from stoplights when the outside temp is above 80). I also like doing sensible, economical mods just for fun. On two of the highway on-ramps that I use daily, I have noticed that the truck doesn't downshift at the usual points, but stays in the same gear and accelerates - I know this doesn't make sense because the additional power is only supposed to help at high RPM, but its the feeling I get that it is helping at lower rpm's as well. Also, I have driven the truck in rain requiring the use wipers on "low", but not heavy enough to require the wipers on "high". So far no problems.

I'm posting pictures. You'll see that even with the aluminum cover, there is still an open slit down the side next to the fender, and that it's open on the back side as well. In addition to that it utilizes the stock tube that brings in air from the front of the grill - in other words, it receives air from multiple points.

Hope this info helps!

Please excuse any errors in my posting of this thread - its my first!

[vman71]

DC Commuter,

Thanks for posting your recent AFE installation and pictures. Please let us know if there is any improvement in your mpg. BTW, how much was it?

I've had my AEM CAI in my Ridgeline for a month now and love it. The more muscular sound is very nice. After a few tanks now, post AEM CAI installation, I'm seeing (roughly) 20 more miles per tank. Nothing to mention in terms of Hp increase.

Mike