Whats the best air filter for the most hp?

[Jas1721]

Hey. I've got a 1998 Civc EX and I want to put in a cold air intake but I'm not exactly sure what type is the best to put in. I've heard a lot about K&M and AEM, and I'm wondering what really is the difference. If anyone out there has nearly the same car as me and has put in one and knows that it has had a good performance increase I would really like to know what you used. Thanks

[BullShifter]

Intakes are intakes, the only difference is short-ram, cold-air, ram-air. The filter matters more than the brand or type of tubing unless you have a full out race car & in that case, the intake would be custom built. K&N filter is the only way to.

The reason why some intakes are cheap and some are expensive is because of the CARB approval, R&D not copied(like APC), & quality of filter.

[90gs]

correct me if im wrong but doesnt the type of intake you have (cai/rai vs stock) have little to nothing to do with your emissions? why do you need a damn carb approval sticker thats so

[BullShifter]

A CARB sticker/approved part(s) are required in some states that are very strict on emmisions & will open your hood during inspection. Also if a cop were to stop you, he could fine($500) you for not having "legal" parts, but what are the chances? I aint worried here in IL, now if it was CA it would be a different story.

Im not sure on the exact reason for CARB approved intakes, seems like it would be better, but what the hell do I know. One thing I can think of is that the breather connections are not possible & that could be an emmisions thing. Also noise is a problem - only a certain dB is allowed.

[CivicSiRacer]

As someone stated an intake is an intake. Short intakes help low end torque, but lacks high end power. Cold Air Intakes help high end power but kills low end torque.

Most intakes might vary about 1-2hp but it's nothing you can feel or see.

[eckoman_pdx]

Here's how it works with intakes. SRI and CAI both will flow better than stock, so that will help. The main diff between the 2 is the filter placement. You get a 1% HP gain for every 11.1 degree's you lower the intake temp. So in this example, if the underhood temp is 100 degrees (thats the air temp the SRI would ingest) and its 50 outside (thats the temp of the air the CAI sucks in from near the wheel well), that comes out to be a 4.5% HP gain, or a 5.7 HP gain with the CAI vs the SRI. Really, with the intakes, it about filter type and where the filter is placed. A K & N filter is the way to go for the 1st one. For the second part, the SRI sucks in the hot underhood air. The CAI places the filter near the wheel well, where it can suck in cold outside air. Since you get an 1% increase for every 11.1 degrees the intake temp is dropped, the colder the air outside, the more power result, in general (as the example shows). I hope this helps.

[krnboy817]

thats true... i mean... cold air intake is the way to go if yOU ARE IN A DRY AREA... but i noticed that RAM is just as good on cars like... 97 and up prelude because the air is coming into the hood anyways and filter isnt set next to the engine... so its all up to the owner on what to get.

[xproductionz]

hmmm... does anyone have a 7th gen civic with a cold air intake.. for some reason i dont think its a CIA cause it locates the air filter directly behind the radiator which gives off heat???...

[eckoman_pdx]

Okay, to the 2 people above who posted in this thread recently and anyone ese thinking about it. Check the thread dates people, and try not to post in dead threads. This thread had been for almost 6 months before it was brought back to life. Check the dates.

[2002Drew]

Originally Posted by krnboy817

thats true... i mean... cold air intake is the way to go if yOU ARE IN A DRY AREA...

OR......you can get the emergency bypass thingy from AEM, so you won't hydrolock....

on the air filter question, the K&Ns that i've had were fine, but i prefer the HKS filter, mushroom-style, that i had on my first car.

[Beastiek2]

Originally Posted by xproductionz

hmmm... does anyone have a 7th gen civic with a cold air intake.. for some reason i dont think its a CIA cause it locates the air filter directly behind the radiator which gives off heat???...

its off to the left of the radiator but its got air flow there i would say it has more cool air then having it in the mid of my engine bay
its all the same shit i guess on our 120+ boxes

[xproductionz]

you know what sucks is everytime i clean the filter one side of it is all full of dirt.. its like after i clean it i have to rotate it so the other side gets some use.. haha.. i was thinking about getting a custom bent mandrel pipe to reroute the pipe more to the wheel and to the front

[Beastiek2]

haha i rotate that shit all the time
i was thinking of taking my fog light cover off to direct air but i havnt looked in the engine to see if that will work

[xproductionz]

someone said in another post that the injen is directly in front of the right wheell.... i think i should get that.. especially since moving it away from the radiator should get better results

[eckoman_pdx]

Originally Posted by 2002Drew

OR......you can get the emergency bypass thingy from AEM, so you won't hydrolock....

Did you not reads the enitre thread? The AEM by-pass valve ONLY KEEPS THE MOTOR FROM HYDROLOCKING IF THE FILTER IS COMPLETLY SUBMERGED...I.E...you drive it through a 15" deep puddle. This is due to the resulting pressure drop.

NOW...

Okay, SINCE NO ONE LISTENED THE FIRST TIME, i WILL SAY IT AGAIN....

Originally Posted by eckoman_pdx

Okay, to the people above who posted in this thread recently and anyone ese thinking about it. Check the thread dates people, and try not to post in dead threads. This thread had been for almost 6 months before it was brought back to life. Check the dates.

It is commen forum policy to not post in dead threads. Posting in a old thread moves it back up to the top of the list and bumps the new threads down the list.