anyone tried 1 of those low cost CAI's

[guruinblue05]

I saw several cheap (i.e. < $70) cold air intakes on ebay lately. I was wondering if anyone has tried any of them and what their thoughts are on those. Pros / cons

Also was wondering if I could fit a K&N or similar quality filter on one.

Call me a skeptic, but outside of the filter quality and the MAF sensor port, I just don't see why a tube with a shield has to cost 200-300.

I guess I should clarify that I am not going to race and I would just like to get my machine breathing easier and squeak out a few more HP.

thoughts comments????
thanks,
Steve

 

[Jenns01TA]

Hi Steve,

Edit Change: Is it this one?

If not, send me the link and I'll take a look at what you are contemplating.

If that is the product you are looking at, after reading the customer comments the seller has a good feedback rating and most folks appear very pleased with that short ram air CAI, only a Lexus IS owner posted a negative comment stating the filter was too small ID for the tube. Aftermarket filter like K&N should fit using an adjustable hose clamp.

Here is a link to a good tech thread that, although in the GT section, is applicable to the 6s as well. The MAF/AF/PCM calibration items and issues are the same irregardless of engine displacement.

http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=690600

~J~

Good Luck. My pop always told me that sometimes, you really do get what you pay for. Then again in the CAI world, old school used to be a plastic or aluminum pipe clamped on filter, so I understand where you are coming from.

 

[guruinblue05]

Hey, thanks for the reply.. that's the one I was thinking about.. there were one or two more but that's the one.

-Steve

 

[rygenstormlocke]

That looks very similar to the AEM design. I know the AEM showed no gain over the stock airbox, both being dyno tuned.

 

[guruinblue05]

I think it is an AEM knock off... Really no gain over the stock air box??
hmmm....
So that makes me wonder... It does look like it has a lot of curves, like the stock tube... So I wonder what kind of filter element they use.... and if a K&N or similar higher flow element would be better.
It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.. I R an engineer and it just makes me think....I guess I'd need to look at the tube design for each one... to see why taking off the air box and using a conical filter wouldn't gain anything on this design.. and it does on some of the others...
oh well... I wish I could weld. I'd just have to make one...
Thanks...
Steve

 

[Glacial]

I've been running a cosmodynamic / k2motor eBay CAI, and couldn't be happier with it. It's a shameless clone of the AEM job, with a standard K&N-type filter. One drawback: No instructions -- I had to search around for pics of peoples' AEM installs to figure out how the heatshield should mount!

Anyway: Noticeable SOTP gain, 3-4mpg on the highway, better throttle response, well worth the $70 measly bucks it cost. Last time I checked a CAI's a CAI -- they all dyno within a whp of each other, and the primary gain is from eliminating the restrictive stock lid setup.

I couldn't see the point in paying $300 for a bent piece of pipe either, no matter how fancy!