CAI vs normal pop charger

[jalterio]

I am looking to purchase a intake for my G20, but I would like to hear from the members which they prefer. Also from what manufacture?

[b-b00gie]

Well the CAI (I like the Hotshot one since they support the SR community more than other brands) will net you double the HP. You'll see around 7 or 8HP to the wheels.

The POP charger (go w/ JWT) will get you about 3 or 4HP to the wheels.


It mainly comes down to whether your area floods much and whether you're willing to cut a hole in your chassis to fit the CAI.

[p_r_i_m_e_r_a]

There is a little bypass filter that costs 20$ or less for CAI's.

It eliminates water getting sucked up.

[b-b00gie]

Originally posted by p_r_i_m_e_r_a
There is a little bypass filter that costs 20$ or less for CAI's.

It eliminates water getting sucked up.

I have one fitted ($40 actually, although I got mine free) but I wouldnt really depend on it.

It only opens up if the filter is completely submerged. Its better than nothing, but I wouldnt exactly charge at water worry free.

[p_r_i_m_e_r_a]

40$ for a little plastic ring and some foam? Thats overpriced.


I got a chance to test it recently, my friend removed all the plastic from his inner fender.

Why, so he could dump his civic on the ground.

In the end this just caused his CAI to suck up water lol.

It would almost kill the engine when driving in the rain.

He then bought the filter and his honda ran like a good 1.6 should.

[b-b00gie]

Originally posted by p_r_i_m_e_r_a
40$ for a little plastic ring and some foam? Thats overpriced.

Its actually more than just that.

Most people do not understand how the AEM by pass valve works, its more than just foam and a plastic ring. Water does not get sucked up to the valve and then drain out through the foam as some people think...


There are rubber flaps (the valve) which are normally closed. As your intake sucks in air the flaps stay closed and NO air enters through the BPV, only through your filter at the end of the CAI.

If you hit a puddle, some water will splash onto your filter. It wont get sucked in because there is still a lot more air being easily sucked up the CAI. Most little splashes or drops of water will never pass through your filter.

Lets say you drive into a deep puddle, say a 1 foot flooded area on a street. Your filter will be totally submerged in water.... Now the BPV does its job. (cross your fingers)


When the filter is totally submerged there is no air available to be sucked in, only water. Your engine will be straining and desperately trying to suck up air. When this happens water begins to flow up the intake pipe instead. Since the engine is now producing such heavy suction in the CAI to pull up the heavy water, the "rubber flaps" on the BPV get sucked open and air enters through the valve.

Now your engine can breathe and hopefully no water made it up past the BPV. The water that did enter the CAI should hopefully just fall down and exit through your filter.



Its actually a pretty clever device, but again, I would exactly want to prove it works on my car