AEM V2 Intake

[rickyrickster25]

Here is a dyno chart of the V2 vs a regular CAI. It doubled the gains of a normal CAI when they tested it. Im glad i ordered one...


News and PressBack to Article List...
Turbo Magazine's Exclusive First Test of AEM V2 Intake System
5/22/2003 You’d think the high-flow intake has reached the pinnacle of its evolution. A mandrel-bent tube is a mandrel-bent tube, right? Wrong.

When AEM debuted its V2 (Version2) intake at the 2002 SEMA show, we had to test it out. We know AEM diligently tests different tube lengths when its R&D department is developing a new intake to find the length that delivers the most power and still fits in the engine bay. But for the V2, AEM went inside the tubing.


The AEM V2 Cold Air system starts out like a conventional system with a low-mounted air horn AEM filter and inlet pipe. But from the filter, the pipe is big, in some cases 4 inches in diameter. Before heading to the throttle body, the pipe reduces to a more conventional diameter.

Inside the pipe, the conventional-sized pipe runs back toward the filter. The place along the intake tract where the step occurs and the length of smaller pipe running inside the bigger tubing are where and how the system is tuned for max power.

“The tube overlap length has an amazing effect on the performance of the engine. It’s crazy to watch on the dyno,” says AEM’s Chief Engineer John Concialdi. “As far as the step goes, just where it happens, but the difference or ratio between the tubes. By manipulating the overlap length and diameter ratio, we can move the power gain anywhere in the powerband.” The company also claims the V2 outperforms the AEM cold-air intake. Great. Send us one of each and we’ll make a dyno appointment.

Exclusive First Test
AEM V2 Intake System
1996-00 Honda Civic EX
Turbo Magazine, April 2003, VOL. 19, NO. 4


The V2 comes with all the mounting hardware and brackets—including soft mounts—needed for an easy, bolt-on installation. Currently, the V2 is offered in a titanium-look, zirconia-based powdercoating that AEM says reduces heat soak and enhances the appearance. The units are awaiting CARB approval.

On the Dynojet, our Civic EX baselined at 106.8 hp and 93.8 lbs-ft of torque. With the CAI in place, peak power scooted up to 108.3 and torque followed suit, but an odd hump in the curve threw off the peak readout. With the V2 installed, power was up noticeably throughout the curve with enhanced power production noted from 6,000 rpm to the end of the pull. Peak horsepower checked in at 112.4 and the torque curve was up as well, and the engine seemed to hang onto its torque output better at the top end.

Image captions:

1- The V2 system we tested was for 1996-00 Honda Civic EX vehicles with the 1.6-liter SOHC VTEC powerplant.

2- Here we see where the unit steps down. The difference in diameter of these two pieces and where they step down has a profound effect on where in the rev-range peak performance is realized. Also, how far into the big tube the smaller tube penetrates (known as overlap length) is a key tuning element of V2 performance.




3- HORSEPOWER: At the top of the curve, V2 (green) is making great strides compared to the CAI. (red). Peak output is 112.4 whp, but the V2 makes viable gains at about 4,600 rpm on up.

4- TORQUE: The torque curve reflects the power curve. The V2’s dual chamber works.



5- This snapshot shows how close to the throttle body the step down (arrow) occurs on a 1996 to 2000 Civic EX.

[Thor06]

Yay, $300 intake for 5.5 hp.

Sorry guys, but anyone that justifies a $270 plus shipping or sales tax by netting them 5.5 horsepower is either crazy or retarded.

[SilvrEclipse]

Originally Posted by Thor06

Yay, $300 intake for 5.5 hp.

Sorry guys, but anyone that justifies a $270 plus shipping or sales tax by netting them 5.5 horsepower is either crazy or retarded.

I personally think the electric supercharger is a better investment. I wouldn't trust that dyno chart unless done by third party. I dont trust AEM to give an accurate dyno sheet. There are so many different factors that would come into play that can effect hp. All they had to do was test the AEM intake first, then do all the others. I did 3 dyno runs back to back and only the first one was worth a damn.

[NOFX0617]

Yeah. I agree...even if you do go by their dyno charts, a regular CAI got 4.5 and the V2 got 5.5 hp so you are paying an extra $200 for a whole 1 hp. Not worth it to me.

[gthompson97]

Well, I guess you can say that they got their money's worth out of you. That marketing scandal will pay off after all.

Not worth the investment IMHO.

[rickyrickster25]

I was just trying to show the differene between the two since so many people have been asking, plus i got mine for $140 so i figured i would try it out... you would think a 4 inch inlet would gain you something over the normal CAI's...

[rickyrickster25]

Originally Posted by SilvrEclipse

I personally think the electric supercharger is a better investment.

That bitch actually works, lol I took a ride in my friends car to see if it made a difference and it actually did, he hooked it up to a switch and when he was accelerating, he turned it on and you could feel the car launch a tiny bit harder... i wouldnt buy it, but i thought it was funny that it actually worked... I suppose that when it was off it could of been blocking the intake somehow or something so when he turned it on it felt like a pull but i didnt care enough to look into it.

[defiancy]

Originally Posted by rickyrickster25

That bitch actually works, lol I took a ride in my friends car to see if it made a difference and it actually did, he hooked it up to a switch and when he was accelerating, he turned it on and you could feel the car launch a tiny bit harder... i wouldnt buy it, but i thought it was funny that it actually worked... I suppose that when it was off it could of been blocking the intake somehow or something so when he turned it on it felt like a pull but i didnt care enough to look into it.

I've actually seen some guys on homemadeturbo put some of those electric boat motors in their car and dyno them. One guy got 5hp more from his 1.6 civic!

[Cavalier9696]

Well hell I always look at it as "it's the driver". I bet you get a cheap intake from ebay vs a V2 and if the guy that got the intake from ebay is a better driver out the hole and a better shifter will come out on top. That is if they are both stock and both just have and intake.

It also has to do with tire size. I can tell a HUGE difference since I went from 17s to 18s. My 18's LOVE to hop.

[Cavalier9696]

Plus if your going Turbo, you wont even need the intake.