intake system

i know this has been asked a lot of times before but i didnt really get a clear answer. i cannot decide whether to get a cold air intake or warm air intake. i have read that with warm air intakes, the heat from inside the engine bay doesnt do good. and with the cold air if you get water in it you have problems. for now the temps are in the seventies here in upstate new york. but come winter it get pretty damn cold. so what kind of things would happen if i had a cold air intake and it is below zero weather? would that do good or bad? we also get quite a bit of snow around here so would that play a factor also? please help me decide...thanks a bunch!

The cold air intake is the intake of choice. It will give you more power than a warm air intake. I suggest that you keep the OEM intake and put it back on for the winter and use the cold air intake in the summer. (Although with computer controlled cars you shouldn't have any issues running the CAI all year.) As for water, it is highly unlikely that you will get any water up to the inlet so I wouldn't worry about that.

okay i have been reading more and more and it seems as though people are modifying their WAI's. some people have used a WAI and used tubes and whatnot to direct cold air from behind the left front fog light to the intake filter. and that is supposed to be better than a CAI. if anyone has done this please tell me what else to buy beside the WAI. also if i did do this then what kind of tubes would i need to use to direct the air from the fog light? thanks a lot i sppreciate the help.

What year and model Grand Am is this? Engine size?

Many '99 and up Grand Am and Alero owners with the 3400 V6 have done warm air or cold air intake mods. IMO the best one to use is a CAI/FWI (fender well intake) which is a true cold air intake since air is drawn in from the high pressure area behind the driver's side headlight and foglight. Supposedly this will give the highest hp increase of these type intake systems. The cone filter is located under the driver's side front fender. This is one we installed from MP Racing. It is a custom unit. A clear plastic shield protects the cone filter from any possible direct water intrusion even though the cone filter is under the fender. There should be no issues for winter use and this particular Alero is now located in New York state.

Also, throttle bodies are heated since coolant is flowing through them which helps out in the winter.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/DSC02684.jpg

i think im going to get a WAI and modify it. i was planning on buying the one on ebay from chromeintakes. but which one should i get? i seen one that has this chrome heat shield thing. would that be good?

I have one of those CAI from chromeintakes and its an OK kit for the price.

If you do experiance problems during the colder months you can always take your cone filter off and install it directly onto the MAF sensor and thats a WAI.

Once in a while I have got frost build up in my CAI ( when its -20) but it doesnt realy effect driveability.
And as long as you dont run thru water thats 1-2 feet deep it doesnt usualy get to wet.
Rain and stuff isnt a big problem that I have ever noticed. But sandy stuff off wet roads can get onto the cone if its not up high enough, you just would have to clean it more often. :2cents:

i think im going to get a WAI and modify it. i was planning on buying the one on ebay from chromeintakes. but which one should i get? i seen one that has this chrome heat shield thing. would that be good?

i got one with a shield on it,

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c83/Jmoney3318/100_0332.jpg


Ive enjoyed it ever since ive put it on. i like it better than the cold air intake. but hey everyone is entitled to their own opinions

Everyone is entitled to their opinion for what it is worth but sometimes you have to put your money where your mouth is and opinions do not matter. The fact is overall a CAI/FWI is superior over WAI......period! The superior performance increase in a head to head comparisons is well documented. Technically, the stock air box does a better job of getting cooler air versus a WAI system especially with the stock GT Ram Air system. The heat shield on a WAI like the Doctorspeed is a joke and as seen ineffective. As you can clearly see it does not keep hot air from getting drawn in to the intake system especially from the HOT! engine compartment. What good is a mod if you do not get any real performance increase from it other than noise. Waste of money :2cents:

Here is a better pic showing the main input tube going into the inner fender apron.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/DSC02607.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/DSC08153.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/DSC02676.jpg
Pacestter Monza CATBack Exhaust System (2.5")

Yes a CAI is far better!!!
The Ram Air system was a good idea but not enough air through those small tube and the duct work is shabby(leaks), and not as good as the CAI. :grinnno:
The SE stock air duct is silly small also and it just doesnt allow enough air in. :gay:

I always looked at those shields as more of a water shield, cant keep that heat out no matter how hard you try.
In the winter I've had snow up in there. :eek7:

But I see why some go with a WAI, it's cheap, and sounds badass.

I always looked at those shields as more of a water shield, cant keep that heat out no matter how hard you try.
In the winter I've had snow up in there. :eek7:

I agree JC but even as a water shield maybe not too effective. However, a WAI makes sense if you live in areas where it gets real cold and rains/snows a lot or stays that way most of the year. BTW - the DHP PCM programming helps when it comes to using a CAI all year around. Plus remember you da man that recommended the MP Racing CAI/FWI to me. Install wasn't too bad either. Expensive but worth it. :wink:

I agree JC but even as a water shield maybe not too effective. However, a WAI makes sense if you live in areas where it gets real cold and rains/snows a lot or stays that way most of the year. BTW - the DHP PCM programming helps when it comes to using a CAI all year around. Plus remember you da man that recommended the MP Racing CAI/FWI to me. Install wasn't too bad either. Expensive but worth it. :wink:

And the CAI is the cheapest of MODs , next would be the exhaust, and DHP pcm. :grinyes:

My GT needs one but I hate to loose my Mpg. :dunno:
I didnt think the MP racing was to expensive.
The one I crashed on my SE cost over $350... for pipe! :banghead:

Edit..
Here is what your stock intake looks like, the part on the right is the "snorkal" that sets behind the headlight, pretty small... I dont think I could breath thru it. Or want to for that matter. lol
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Cold%20Air%20Intake/DSC00155.jpg

This is what you get from chromeintakes- with the cheap filter, I already had a K&N cone. :D
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/xeroinfinity/Cold%20Air%20Intake/CAI000.jpg

yep now i am going to rethink. i have read so many positive remarks about the CAI. but then again there are benefits with a WAI. i will make my choice tomorrow and order a kit from chromeintakes from ebay. i was jsut wondering too how your car is in the winter when its really cold out. does that make it run better with the CAI? and i think i read somewhere too that when it was really cold out that it even sounded better. thats pretty damn cool.

I havnt noticed anything unusuall when its been -20 to -30.
You might get TB frost when you first start it at those temps but soon melts from the coolant passing thru the bottom of the TB.

I dont even have a coolant line running thru either of my GA's Throtle bodies and I have no problems with cold, and it does sound crisper but thats from the cold.

The MP Racing CAI/FWI costs more than the EBay ones and ran around $150.00 so it is more expensive. Excellent quality though. Plus it has a S&B Powerstack K&N cone style filter. See link below. Up to claimed 15 hp and what I can say is no loss of fuel economy. The power increase with this CAI coupled with the RSM Racing 62mm throttle body was definitely noticeable. On fuel economy on the trip back to New York from El Paso - 2300 miles one way he averaged 29.8 mpg which is with all mods applied to date. This car turns 14.3 @ 96 mph in the 1/4.

We'll see how it works out with the New York winter.

http://www.mpracing.org/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=19

RSM Racing TB and DHP v1.0 PCM

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/DSC08242.jpg
Stock and RSM Racing 62mm TB


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/DSC07159.jpg
DHP v1.0 PCM

yeah im gonna get the CAI today. probably just the one with a chromeintakes filter on it. then i can just buy a K&N. what is the difference between the 2?

yeah im gonna get the CAI today. probably just the one with a chromeintakes filter on it. then i can just buy a K&N. what is the difference between the 2?


quality of a filter basically, I have a K&N on mine, lot better filtration than the cheapo filter

I too have the cold air intake, loving every second of it :tongue:

I also have a aeroforce interceptor gauge that tells me my IAT (intake air temp), and basically... 80 or below I can start feeling the difference from the cold road. Winters are amazingly fun, but I dont see snow much, just cold cold weather and lots of wind.... fun for me :)

CAI / Catback exhaust
DHP PCM 1.0
RSM 62mm TB
iridium plugs/ taylor spiro pro 8mm wires / MSD Coilpacks (GM-II)

188fwhp on a mustang dyno :)

ok then. now which would be wiser, to get the 2pc or 3pc?

Could I have a 3 piece please! :D

The 3 piece fits better IMO.

I've been considering a foam wrap for my K&N to see if it'll keep the large debrie out, sand, sticks leaves.
I know my dirt bikes and mowers use them and the filters stay relativly clean. :dunno:

I agree better off with the 3 piece CAI/FWI. :grinyes: You'll see why during installation. The MP Racing unit came in 3 pieces but I can see why.

On the issue of K&N cone filters. Although some of them have it many of the CAI kits do not have a name brand K&N air filter. Most are aftermarket clones. The S&B Powerstack is actually better than the K&N equivalent. If you ever need to replace it cheaper. Plus the filter recharge oiling kit is cheaper and more useful.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/DSC08896.jpg

Well guys time out. I just got a phone call from my son in New York. Tons of rain from the hurricane I guess. Bad news but not with his Alero. Good thing we added the special custom plastic shield at the area of the cone filter where it sits under the fender and behind the headlamp. His friend just hydrolocked his engine in a 2008 MazdaSpeed3. He had recently installed a CAI/FWI from an aftermarket company that specializes in riceburners.

I advised him what to do to overcome the hydrolock condition but it is a DOHC engine and not that easy like the 3400 V6. The cone filter to include intake tubes were saturated with rain water and after he had run through a puddle. My son went through the same puddle with no problems.

Anyways, this is one documented anecdotal reason to exercise caution with custom intakes.

yeah it can happen Bob ! Glad your shield is helping!!

I've had my SE gurgling in water before and I was shocked when it didnt get waterlocked, I just got lucky. :grinyes:

I've been thinking about adding a short curve to raise my filter up higher just havnt had time to experament with it.

Btw a good shop vac can clean that water out. :thumbsup: