intake temp reduction = Hp. Misbelief about cold air advantage comes from dyno runs, where air feed "test conditions" do not represent driving conditions. Cheap bastard intake is a low cost effective intake mod, can use with stock or K&N flat filters

 

What exactly is "Superheated engine air".

When the car is moving down the highway I would not call the air under the hood "Superheated". I would call it warmer than the outside ambient air but NOT "Superheated".

Get what you can afford and what fits physically under the hood with your mods. I like the Pettit system. It takes up less space than some of the others and allows for my huge intercooler. Air from the nose of the car gets to them from underneath when moving down the road.

 

I find the best intake 'bang for the buck' to be 'Jpandas' solution. The 'cheap bastard' setup works well too and maintains a stock look but I wanted to go after the Pettit setup. BTW, dont buy a premade intake kit for our cars, they are the biggest rip ever! Example being the Pettit which is a aluminun heatshield (POOR fitment, even worse with a larger radiator) two K&N filters, 3/4" metal pipe that draws together the emissions and BOV/CRV into one small PCV style K&N filter, plus couplers and clamps.

Thes parts could be had for about 120$ if you shop around and put the stuff together yourself. Pettit charges 400$, GOOD for them, I'm glad they can make money, gotta love a free market -- however it is still a rip. I got the ebay hardpipes (which improve intake sound more (The ribbed rubber lines create air turbulance to lower intake noise) as well as some clean K&N filters. My car doesnt have an airpump and I vent my BOV/CRV so no need to bother with the extra 3/4" piping or 'PCV' filter...

For those maintaining a stock look, plan to keep the factory SMIC or have emissions testing the cheap bastard intake is best, bar none! Affordable, effective and offers no negatives... I'd still suggest getting the hardpipes if you want to hear a little more turbo spool.

~Kris

 

Hows about when the car is not moving down the highway, and is instead travelling 5-15mph? The air is superheated because it must pass through the radiator/intercooler. In addition, the turbos and engine itself heats the air and there is little air flow through the engine bay. Doesn't the pettit have a heat shield that blocks the "warmer than the outside ambient air " as you call it.

If you have a huge intercooler as you put it, it matters less whether you have an oai verses a cai IMO. I think it matters more if you have a small - medium SMIC.

Exactly. Why bother with opening the hood and running the fan on the car if it doesn't make a difference. (The other benefit is preventing motor from overheating)