Cold Air Intake Systems and Low-Restriction Air Filters: A Word to the Wise

[typesfanatik]

Originally Posted by swampler

Except that those shows are just a half hour advertisement for the products they're using. Of course they're going to show an improvement.

so you too are saying cold air intakes dont do anything as well ?

its simple. colder more dense air in more bang and more hp what is so hard to understand? I cant post videos if you'd like. shoot if u want i can post the link to have 500000000000000 forums that will tell you otherwise.

[fredridge]

[quote=typesfanatik]

Originally Posted by fredridge

power block on spike tv.

Power block rocks, still not sure about the new trucks guys, but love the block.

It is also funny to me how people can read or see articles about the benefits of a cold air and then be so critical of the results sometimes to the point of conspiracy theory and then whe Honda puts out a notice it is just taken so easily. If you read the Honda notice, it is vary vague in some areas and then even contradicts what you are saying. One of the sentences says:

"Popular among the import tuner crowd, these items may improve engine performance by letting the engine breathe more deeply, reducing the intake air temperature, and cutting down on weight."

"Although cold air intake systems and low restriction air filters kick up engine performance a notch"

I am all for reading and seeing things and being critical, but lets also be consistent

[swampler]

Originally Posted by typesfanatik

so you too are saying cold air intakes dont do anything as well ?

I'm saying that you can't believe advertisements.

I'm also saying that I don't believe they make that big of a difference. I'm sure it depends on how well the stock system is designed, but I'd like to know the downside of doing this as well. They systems I've seen for the RL pull the air from the same spot the current filter does, so I don't see how it would be any cooler. I'm also not sure 7 HP (being generous) would be noticeable, nor worth $200+.

If you want to send me one with an oil free filter, I'd be glad to test it and report back.

[typesfanatik]

Originally Posted by swampler

I'm saying that you can't believe advertisements.

I'm also saying that I don't believe they make that big of a difference. I'm sure it depends on how well the stock system is designed, but I'd like to know the downside of doing this as well. They systems I've seen for the RL pull the air from the same spot the current filter does, so I don't see how it would be any cooler. I'm also not sure 7 HP (being generous) would be noticeable, nor worth $200+.

If you want to send me one with an oil free filter, I'd be glad to test it and report back.

understood. but keep in mind that although yes the RL is prob gettin cooler air who nows how restrictive the stock system is.

with regards to advertisment i never buy based on advertisement i NEED TO SEE DYNO'S or it be a past performer for me. and 7 whp is a big deal for guys who tune or track thier vehicles or who are in to offroading and performance. Im sure in the truck world and seeing the average age of owners on this board its not much of a concern. Being a Big Injen fan as soon as thier CAI is released Im on it. even If i get 6whp and better throttle response it will be worth it to me because this truck is just too underpowered. ( which is the only complaint)

My last set up was a cold air intake, cams ecu tune exhaust race cat header and intake manifold. i went from 178whp to 215 whp.

[hrtbrkridge]

CAI is beneficial if you are running a high boost turbo and replacing your MAF with other type of inlet sensors, our Ridges have none of that so in my opinion CAI mods is not a priority. I just hope that there is a "dry drop in" filter that would replace the stock paper that's on there now.

[Hennie]

Hey everyone,

I just posted this link on another page dealing with cold air intakes. You might find it interisting.

http://home.tampabay.rr.com/redroby/3liter/exhaust.html

Enjoy,

Hennie

[alexander]

look this is all that matters

intake 200 bux exhaust 400 bux JET ecu 350 total under 1K = 50 hp My truck ran a 15.9 before the ecu upgrade so we'll see but with intake and exhaust it was almost a full second faster than stock. you do feel the intake. But get AEM

[Kodiak]

Not this again.......

The Ridgeline is already equipped with a "cold air" intake system from the factory. Hours upon hours of testing has been done to validate the performance under a variety of conditions in sand, dust, snow, and 680mm of water. You do not need to modify this system. It is a pointless waste of time since the base unit has been engineered for you.

Any significant gain in engine power must be achieved by a significant gain in air flow through the entire system. this includes the throttle body, air intake system and exhaust. Improving the air flow in the current Ridgeline requires modifying the ENTIRE system to achieve any significant benefits.

Your simplest gain in horsepower can be achieved by using premium fuel. This also improves your torque margin which can result in real word improvements in fuel economy - depending on the terrain (more in hilly regions, less in flat terrain). Most of the claimed improvements are a result of the fuel upgraded, not a significant gain in air flow.

Re-Mapping the EC to improve the ignition timing can improve horsepower and drivablility. The system is already applying the max fuel flow at WOT. However, the system is mapped to prevent pre-ignition which causes engine damage. There is no free lunch here fellas. Sorry.

As already stated, if you want acoustics - change the exhaust. If you want a boost in the seat - buy premium.

If you want to line the pockets of snake oil salesmen - please send me your money instead . I will invest it in real hardware.

K

[csimo]

Originally Posted by Kodiak

Not this again.......

The Ridgeline is already equipped with a "cold air" intake system from the factory. Hours upon hours of testing has been done to validate the performance under a variety of conditions in sand, dust, snow, and 680mm of water. You do not need to modify this system. It is a pointless waste of time since the base unit has been engineered for you.

Any significant gain in engine power must be achieved by a significant gain in air flow through the entire system. this includes the throttle body, air intake system and exhaust. Improving the air flow in the current Ridgeline requires modifying the ENTIRE system to achieve any significant benefits.

Your simplest gain in horsepower can be achieved by using premium fuel. This also improves your torque margin which can result in real word improvements in fuel economy - depending on the terrain (more in hilly regions, less in flat terrain). Most of the claimed improvements are a result of the fuel upgraded, not a significant gain in air flow.

Re-Mapping the EC to improve the ignition timing can improve horsepower and drivablility. The system is already applying the max fuel flow at WOT. However, the system is mapped to prevent pre-ignition which causes engine damage. There is no free lunch here fellas. Sorry.

As already stated, if you want acoustics - change the exhaust. If you want a boost in the seat - buy premium.

If you want to line the pockets of snake oil salesmen - please send me your money instead . I will invest it in real hardware.

K

Kodiak,

I'm glad you've got the motivation to reply to these subjects. I read them, shake my head in disgust, start to reply, then decide it's not worth the time and effort.

People have to justify their purchase of these intake systems in their own mind. They want to think the vehicle is faster, and since it sounds faster it must actually be faster. Wrong.

The most popular of these intake systems replaces the factory cold air intake with one that sucks hot air in from the engine compartment. What a joke. The manufacturers make wild dyno claims that can not be consistantly reproduced. I can take an unmodified vehicle and show 10% difference in dyno HP on the same dyno on the same day.

I am not saying that the factory intake is perfect. You may be able to replace it with one that provides a few extra peak horsepower, but you'll give up low and mid-range horspower as a result. The overall drivability of the vehicle is worse (a race car is not much fun to drive on public streets).

I had nothing to do with the development of the Ridgeline, but I do know the industry. Could Honda squeeze a few more horsepower out of the Ridgeline by making changes to the intake and exhaust system if sound and drivability (not to mention exhaust emissions) were not factors? I'm sure they could.

Did Honda intentionally make the intake / exhaust system restrictive to the point they gave away free horsepower? Not a chance.

As for the ECU upgrades... I'm skeptical and suspect that some of these companies do absolutely nothing to the programming.

[xridgelinex]

Originally Posted by csimo

Did Honda intentionally make the intake / exhaust system restrictive to the point they gave away free horsepower? Not a chance.

Then riddle me this... Why is the 2006 MDX with the same engine with dual exhaust produce better torque and a few more ponies?... Kodiak did mention that using premium fuel in the RL will provide better torque and better HP, and this is what Acura says is required for the MDX....

Glad to have you knowledgeable and helpful types here on ROC to deal with these questions…