Need4SpeedXD
11-20-2004, 01:18 AM
Everyone wants to makes their car faster. One popular mod is changing your air intake. It's cheap, and can change how your car sounds and performs. But which intake is right for you? If it even worth it for you to change your intake? I'm been experimenting for the last 2 years on Different Air intakes and I have come to my own conclusions. I hope this guide is helpful, and answers questions that some of you have had.
The stock intake is designed to be quiet and give your engine adequate airflow. If you combine this with a aftermarket K&N airfilter, you will be running a very quiet and effecient air intake. Please note, the K&N DOES NOT increase HP power in our cars. So what's the point of using one? You'll want to use it because over time airflow will remain constant. For example if you are using a paper filter, when it gets dirty performance will suffer, in comparison if the K&N gets dirty to the same degree as the paper, performance shouldn't be effected as much if any at all. This is because the stock intake doesn't max out the K&N filter. For some drivers the STOCK intake is the best choice for performance. If you live in a Hot Climate where it is a average 65F degrees or more it provides the best performance with the lowest noise. Some people have removed part of the intake, the part called the resonator. This will give you a different tone, and a slight and I do mean SLIGHT throttle response difference, but overall it does nothing. Please everyone, don't confuse noise with performance. The Stock intake has good low end torque in low RPMS, but High RPM performance suffers because the stock setup can't provide the extra airflow needed to squeeze out that performance available at High RPMS. No, the K&N air filter will not help, the intake itself is the limiting factor.
The Short Ram intake can either be better than the stock intake or the WORSE intake choice out of the three I will discuss. The short ram intake can provide the engine with air on depend, with excellent throttle response, and a aggressive sound if that's what you want. But ONLY if you intall it correctly. If you just remove the stock intake tube and air box and throw in a short ram, you're basically making your car a whole lot slower. The short ram with be sucking in hot air from the engine bay the whole point of changing the intake is gone. Of course if all you want it noise, then just do that. First I recommend the short ram intake to those people in COLDER climates. Below 65F. If you want to get the MOST out of your short ram intake REMOVE the ENTIRE stock intake system, this includes the resonator. This will let some cooler airflow into your engine bay via the hole by the fender wall where the resonator enters the engine bay. If you really want the BEST out of your short ram, but the opening as big as possible, but will being able to support the battery tray. This will give you VERY GOOD airflow into your engine bay. And if you live in a climate that's colder, your intake filter tip should be cool to the touch. You will see gains throughout the RPM range, buy mainly in the higher RPM range. Your engine will scream. HUGE difference between this and the stock intake. If you live in lets say a climate that's like 80F or more daily, your overall peroformance will suffer, you will will see a difference in the High RPM performance though. Removing the entire intake and opening the hole mention above is key to getting the most out of this mode. Also the Short Ram intake is the safest bet, if you live in a area prone to flooring, or extreme rain fall that has you driving through very deep puddles. Remember getting more air intake your engine means nothing if it's as hot as the engine.
The Cold Air intake, this is the BEST overall choice whether you live in a hot or cold climate. It ensures unrestricted airflow to your engine. The Cold intake provides the engine with more airflow than it can use, which is a good thing. (I have the 3" piping) The best part is the air you are sucking in your engine will be the coldest possible depending on the climate. You see getting more air into your engine isn't the goal, the goal is to get the best air quality. Your engine will run smoother throughout all the RPM range. From low to High. Throttle response is greatly improved, and the car feels like it has power on tap. Basically there is no wait for that burst of power, unlike the short ram where you MUST be in the High RPM range to get the power. I also must mention it the cold air intake sounds the best overall, it just sounds so nice, but it is loud. I recommend when you install the cold air intake, make sure the filter is NOT directly in front of the fog light whole. Why? because if you are caught in a huge rain storm you don't want your filter to get soaked. Install it slightly to the side more towards the fender. Don't worry this will have no effect on performance, and it will ensure you engine is safe from water or anything else than can splash on to it through the fog light hole. The final thing you will want to do is to but some come of heat resistant wrap on the piping in the engine bay, you don't have to wrap the whole intake. Why? Since metal is a excellent conducter or temperature, the heat from the engine bay will slightly heat up the intake pipe in you are not driving or driving very slow. And we don't want the pipe to get hot. Of course as soon as you accelerate full throttle, it will cool off, but a slight be a low end will be lost if you were just idling for a few minutes before you hit the gas. If you don't like noise, then this isn't for you.
The final option some might of head of is swapping your intake depending on the season. For example in the winter you can put on the short ram intake. and in the summer you can put on the cold air intake. Personally, I see no point in swapping out the cold air for the short ram in the winter.
When thinking of changing your intake, think will it be worth it for me. Pick what best fits your climate and noise levels. Remember all things mentioned in this page are my own results with my Own Hyundai Elantra 2001. All feedback is welcome, thanks for you time.
The stock intake is designed to be quiet and give your engine adequate airflow. If you combine this with a aftermarket K&N airfilter, you will be running a very quiet and effecient air intake. Please note, the K&N DOES NOT increase HP power in our cars. So what's the point of using one? You'll want to use it because over time airflow will remain constant. For example if you are using a paper filter, when it gets dirty performance will suffer, in comparison if the K&N gets dirty to the same degree as the paper, performance shouldn't be effected as much if any at all. This is because the stock intake doesn't max out the K&N filter. For some drivers the STOCK intake is the best choice for performance. If you live in a Hot Climate where it is a average 65F degrees or more it provides the best performance with the lowest noise. Some people have removed part of the intake, the part called the resonator. This will give you a different tone, and a slight and I do mean SLIGHT throttle response difference, but overall it does nothing. Please everyone, don't confuse noise with performance. The Stock intake has good low end torque in low RPMS, but High RPM performance suffers because the stock setup can't provide the extra airflow needed to squeeze out that performance available at High RPMS. No, the K&N air filter will not help, the intake itself is the limiting factor.
The Short Ram intake can either be better than the stock intake or the WORSE intake choice out of the three I will discuss. The short ram intake can provide the engine with air on depend, with excellent throttle response, and a aggressive sound if that's what you want. But ONLY if you intall it correctly. If you just remove the stock intake tube and air box and throw in a short ram, you're basically making your car a whole lot slower. The short ram with be sucking in hot air from the engine bay the whole point of changing the intake is gone. Of course if all you want it noise, then just do that. First I recommend the short ram intake to those people in COLDER climates. Below 65F. If you want to get the MOST out of your short ram intake REMOVE the ENTIRE stock intake system, this includes the resonator. This will let some cooler airflow into your engine bay via the hole by the fender wall where the resonator enters the engine bay. If you really want the BEST out of your short ram, but the opening as big as possible, but will being able to support the battery tray. This will give you VERY GOOD airflow into your engine bay. And if you live in a climate that's colder, your intake filter tip should be cool to the touch. You will see gains throughout the RPM range, buy mainly in the higher RPM range. Your engine will scream. HUGE difference between this and the stock intake. If you live in lets say a climate that's like 80F or more daily, your overall peroformance will suffer, you will will see a difference in the High RPM performance though. Removing the entire intake and opening the hole mention above is key to getting the most out of this mode. Also the Short Ram intake is the safest bet, if you live in a area prone to flooring, or extreme rain fall that has you driving through very deep puddles. Remember getting more air intake your engine means nothing if it's as hot as the engine.
The Cold Air intake, this is the BEST overall choice whether you live in a hot or cold climate. It ensures unrestricted airflow to your engine. The Cold intake provides the engine with more airflow than it can use, which is a good thing. (I have the 3" piping) The best part is the air you are sucking in your engine will be the coldest possible depending on the climate. You see getting more air into your engine isn't the goal, the goal is to get the best air quality. Your engine will run smoother throughout all the RPM range. From low to High. Throttle response is greatly improved, and the car feels like it has power on tap. Basically there is no wait for that burst of power, unlike the short ram where you MUST be in the High RPM range to get the power. I also must mention it the cold air intake sounds the best overall, it just sounds so nice, but it is loud. I recommend when you install the cold air intake, make sure the filter is NOT directly in front of the fog light whole. Why? because if you are caught in a huge rain storm you don't want your filter to get soaked. Install it slightly to the side more towards the fender. Don't worry this will have no effect on performance, and it will ensure you engine is safe from water or anything else than can splash on to it through the fog light hole. The final thing you will want to do is to but some come of heat resistant wrap on the piping in the engine bay, you don't have to wrap the whole intake. Why? Since metal is a excellent conducter or temperature, the heat from the engine bay will slightly heat up the intake pipe in you are not driving or driving very slow. And we don't want the pipe to get hot. Of course as soon as you accelerate full throttle, it will cool off, but a slight be a low end will be lost if you were just idling for a few minutes before you hit the gas. If you don't like noise, then this isn't for you.
The final option some might of head of is swapping your intake depending on the season. For example in the winter you can put on the short ram intake. and in the summer you can put on the cold air intake. Personally, I see no point in swapping out the cold air for the short ram in the winter.
When thinking of changing your intake, think will it be worth it for me. Pick what best fits your climate and noise levels. Remember all things mentioned in this page are my own results with my Own Hyundai Elantra 2001. All feedback is welcome, thanks for you time.