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CAI vs. AAI

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Old Sep 15, 2018 | 12:24 AM
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Default CAI vs. AAI

Cold Air Induction vs. Ambient Air Induction.

Pros and cons of each system?
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Old Sep 15, 2018 | 01:46 AM
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Those are the same thing...a true CAI is one that ingests ambient (outside) air. An open element intake will ingest hot under hood air if it’s not isolated from that hot air, which will result in elevated IAT’s, which then causes the car to pull timing and subsequently a reduction in power.
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Old Sep 15, 2018 | 09:44 AM
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I agree... go with a VARARAM, its the only true CAI that pulls in ambient air from in front of the car as most of the others pull air from the area between the shroud and the radiator ...

you will be surprised at how much timing starts to get pulled by the ECM above 85 degrees

Dave

Last edited by Dcasole; Sep 15, 2018 at 10:55 PM.
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Old Sep 15, 2018 | 10:17 PM
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Very well then...but it seems that even with stock system (albeit in a Camaro) IAT temps seem to go down..

Anyway, could someone explain why AFR goes as low as 10 in this comparison for some of the CAI kits? Cat overtemp protection or hugely positive LTFT's perhaps?

It would have been nice to see HPTuners logs in this comparison, I guess..



http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/100...amaro-intakes/
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Old Sep 16, 2018 | 05:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Pekka_Perkeles
Very well then...but it seems that even with stock system (albeit in a Camaro) IAT temps seem to go down..

Anyway, could someone explain why AFR goes as low as 10 in this comparison for some of the CAI kits? Cat overtemp protection or hugely positive LTFT's perhaps?

It would have been nice to see HPTuners logs in this comparison, I guess..



http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/100...amaro-intakes/
Easy to explain, since dyno comparisons of CAI systems has about the same validity as shock absorbers on a dyno. The car must be moving, not sitting still.
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Old Sep 16, 2018 | 05:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Dcasole


I agree... go with a VARARAM, its the only true CAI that pulls in ambient air from in front of the car as most of the others pull air from the area between the shroud and the radiator ...

you will be surprised at how much timing starts to get pulled by the ECM above 85 degrees

Dave
Halltech with a beehive pulls air through the NACA duct on front of the car for the z06 and GS. Pretty sure that is on the front of the car.
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Old Sep 16, 2018 | 06:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Sox-Fan
Halltech with a beehive pulls air through the NACA duct on front of the car for the z06 and GS. Pretty sure that is on the front of the car.
if u think that little duct is doing anything then ok ....lol
have you ever logged IAT's with it ??

I have with my VARARAM ....

Dave
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Old Sep 16, 2018 | 07:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Dcasole
if u think that little duct is doing anything then ok ....lol
have you ever logged IAT's with it ??

I have with my VARARAM ....

Dave
Yes, It reads a degree or two over ambient as long as I am moving. That duct moves more air than I guess you give it credit for.

Last edited by Sox-Fan; Sep 16, 2018 at 07:15 PM.
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Old Sep 16, 2018 | 07:36 PM
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Maybe so ,thank u !!

it is the first time I have heard that someone has logged IAT's with another brand , and most other brands are pulling air from between the shroud and the radiator ... some really hot air ...

Dave
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Old Sep 17, 2018 | 01:28 AM
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The factory NACA duct can be opened up as well. So much so, that I’ve read it can cause MAF turbulence.
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Old Sep 17, 2018 | 02:57 PM
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Originally Posted by MTPZ06
Those are the same thing...a true CAI is one that ingests ambient (outside) air. An open element intake will ingest hot under hood air if it’s not isolated from that hot air, which will result in elevated IAT’s, which then causes the car to pull timing and subsequently a reduction in power.
But what about when the car is in motion? Wouldn't being in motion cause cooler air to flush the under-hood area?
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Old Sep 17, 2018 | 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by SivaSuryaKshatriya
But what about when the car is in motion? Wouldn't being in motion cause cooler air to flush the under-hood area?
Sure, and it'd be the same with the OEM housing after driving a short way. The whole point of a CAI is to get ambient air to the engine from a dead stop to WOT without having to suck in hotter air first, which pulls timing and reduces power. If you never go WOT at less than 30 mph, a CAI is nearly useless.
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Old Sep 17, 2018 | 05:33 PM
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Originally Posted by HOXXOH
Sure, and it'd be the same with the OEM housing after driving a short way. The whole point of a CAI is to get ambient air to the engine from a dead stop to WOT without having to suck in hotter air first, which pulls timing and reduces power. If you never go WOT at less than 30 mph, a CAI is nearly useless.
Well, it wouldn't be useless compared to a stock box past 30 MPH right? I'd imagine if it has more surface area it could pull in more air quicker.
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Old Sep 17, 2018 | 05:53 PM
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The stock air box is actually quite good at flowing air. At least on an LS3. At 660+ rwhp, it shows 0 vacuum between the filter and the throttle body running full tilt. Intake air temps are what you need to be concerned with. Not how much flow is available.
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Old Sep 17, 2018 | 06:09 PM
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Not to hijack the thread, but if that's the case, would a heat-shield such as the following help:

https://www.halltechsystems.com/Hall...beehive400.htm
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Old Sep 17, 2018 | 06:59 PM
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Originally Posted by SivaSuryaKshatriya
Not to hijack the thread, but if that's the case, would a heat-shield such as the following help:

https://www.halltechsystems.com/Hall...beehive400.htm
It'd be better than nothing. The Halltech CAI draws air from the bottom unless you cut holes in the shroud like they suggest. The Vararam works best, because it draws from the front, before there's any opportunity to acquire heated air from any other source.
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