Intake vs. switching to K&n filter

`I have a 1998 accord 4-cyl and I have heard that changing to a cold ait intake system didn't really help all that much. So i'm wondering if I should just change my filter to a K&N filter and save a whole lot of money. I DO NOT plan on changing my exaust in the future. Thanks.

switching to a k&n filter will definitely not see as much gain as say an AEM or iceman cai

first thing you need to do is find the guy who said it wont make a difference and hit him in the face with a brick. then tell him he's stupid. an intake will always get you more hp than just switching filters.
the stock intake can only flow so much air, no matter what you have in it, even if you dont have a filter.
an intake will flow more because it is designed to flow more air faster than the stocker... faster air is cooler, as well as more dense.

compare that to stock... dyno both... get the intake... go home happy
and it even looks cool!!!

just buy an APC or Ractive pipe & then trash the filter they give ya...then buy a K&N filter to top it off, all for under $75. you will get 4HP & a better power curve, that's better than just a drop-in filter.

I'm going to disagree on the basis of my SiR. I didn't make any power when I added a CAI (off a VTiR hatch- dummied up with conduit) even though it was pulling air from under the front bumper. This is compared to a Jamex and a Finer Filter (custom made) insert. Both saw equal gain. Now the SiR has a snorkle that pulls air into the box from the front of the car, not from the side so that might be the difference. This was tested on a dyno, so it doesn't really apply to the real world. We flow tested the filters - CAI was 10% better flow over the stock filter, Finer Filter was custom built and flowed 7% better than the standard filter and the Jamex flowed 7% as well. Is 3% worth the money? No IMO.

The car mentioned in the original post was a '98 Accord - I'm guessing with no other mods. In which case a CAI is not going to give you a noticible increase until the rest of the engine is breathing a lot better. You will not notice any improvement with a CAI other than it sounding louder. Even if you get 3-5bhp (*cough* bullshit on a stock Accord), that is at the flywheel. Add in drivetrain loss and it's not the best use of money.

I'd go the K&N and put your money into something else for the car unless you are planning to really work on the car's breathing

Just my $0.02 :)

If i remember correectly the CAI affects your High RPMs more than your low, and the drop in will give you better bottom end will sacrificing little top end.

I Did what VTECseoul VTECseoul suggested. I got an APC short ram pipe and then went and got a K&N Filter For it.

Import Tuner mag, published couple months ago...'98 Accord 2.3L SOHC
not IE6/56K friendly, so bear with

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