Do cold air intakes really make a difference?

[tk2010]

I was just wondering because I'm getting one for my 2008 corolla, and I'm pretty excited to put it in. Will there be a noticable difference? I usually drive the car pretty hard if you know what I mean. After all it is 5 speed.

[Sundance_XR]

Originally Posted by tk2010

I was just wondering because I'm getting one for my 2008 corolla, and I'm pretty excited to put it in. Will there be a noticable difference? I usually drive the car pretty hard if you know what I mean. After all it is 5 speed.

Will it make an actual difference in performance numbers? No. If you got the intake, full exhaust and maybe pulleys you will see a difference in numbers, but with just an intake, all its going to do it make it sound a lot better. So there will be a notable difference in sound, and it will seem faster because it is louder!

[MR2Jedi]

Agreed.^
You might pick up 1 HP-which will not be noticeable. But you will have a little better throttle response and it will sound throatier.
If you combine the CAI with a header and a freer flowing exhaust, you can get
7-15 HP.

As far as pullies go, they don't actually add horsepower, but free up HP to the ground by reducing the rotational mass that the engine has to turn. For every lb of mass reduced, approximately 2.5 more HP will reach the ground. And you will rev up faster.


Real Horsepower is not cheap.

[PhatRoyale]

There will be a noticeable difference in sound.

[silver04rollas]

Depends on the engine as well. Some engines come with highly restricted factory airboxes (much like my 2ZZ-GE had that breathes from an inlet the size of a straw, which is inadequate for 8400 rpm).

As a result, putting an Injen intake allows the engine to breathe freely at high rpms so most difference (proven in before and after dynos) is all at high rpms (over 6000 rpm).

Originally Posted by MR2Jedi

Agreed.^
You might pick up 1 HP-which will not be noticeable. But you will have a little better throttle response and it will sound throatier.
If you combine the CAI with a header and a freer flowing exhaust, you can get
7-15 HP.

As far as pullies go, they don't actually add horsepower, but free up HP to the ground by reducing the rotational mass that the engine has to turn. For every lb of mass reduced, approximately 2.5 more HP will reach the ground. And you will rev up faster.


Real Horsepower is not cheap.

[MR2Jedi]

Companies usually exagerate HP gains for marketing purposes. Yes, alot depends on the engine, but reving to 6000-8400 RPM to get those few extra horses is not practical in everyday driving.
Any real gains from a CAI needs to be coupled with a performance exhaust system.
Real Horsepower is not cheap.

[Kiwi-Corolla]

Originally Posted by tk2010

I was just wondering because I'm getting one for my 2008 corolla, and I'm pretty excited to put it in. Will there be a noticable difference? I usually drive the car pretty hard if you know what I mean. After all it is 5 speed.

Apart from a placebo effect, no, not really. You may notice a slight increase in throttle response, but in terms of actual horsepower gains, you're not going to notice it unless you take the car onto a dyno. It looks and sounds great however, and as others have said, you'll notice more of a gain when you pair it with other mods, such as the exhaust system. Have fun!

[Dave-o]

here's a thread i really like >>>> http://clubsciontc.com/forums/produc...n-injen-20919/

guy used his scion tc to install 4 different intake products, all dyno'd

[MR2Jedi]

There's a noticeable difference on forced induction engines. Not really a good comparison for an N/A.