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Modifications |
 
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AEM Cool Air Intake - Removed and Sold |
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Purchase Location:
A&H Motorsport
Cost: $262 / Sold used for $125 Installation Date: June, 2000 Removal Date: January 1, 2001 February 17, 2001 - Product Review after Removal Roughly seven months after driving with the AEM CAI I decided to reinstall the stock air intake system. I installed the CAI at around 6,000 miles and had it removed at 14,000 miles. After going back to the stock intake the car does not feel any slower. I defiantly enjoy having the car quieted down, especially during longer trips. It was fun to hear the "sonic boom" when the larger cam lobes engaged but the every day noise was too obnoxious. The excessive noise was not the primary reason I chose to remove this system. The minimal to no gain in performance was the primary factor. Many dyno tests of other Type R's equipped with just the AEM CAI usually demonstrated a loss of torque below 4,000 RPM. This aspect basically negated the benefit of the few additional HP the motor could produce near peak RPM. It is important to realize that the stock Type R intake system is different from the units found on other Integras. The Type R's air induction location is within the front right quarter panel of the car. This design is technically a cool air intake system since it does not draw in the warm engine air, like other Integras. Consequently, this modification may be more advantageous for other Hondas. The threat of ingesting water during heavy rain/flooding was another consideration of mine. I have heard of several people in my home town that destroyed their Integra/Civic motor by driving through standing water with this intake. The risk of destroying a B18C5 motor for some noise and 2 HP at peak RPM is not worth it. June 2000 - Original Product Review (some opinions have since changed) The AEM CAI intake is widely considered the best first modification for the money. While I find it hard to believe the manufacture's claim of a 15 hp boost there have been many dyno tests that indicate a notable hp and torque improvement. Another positive of this intake is simply how it compliments the cars appearance under the hood. The matt aluminum finish, instead of the black plastic air box makes things more attractive. One drawback of this intake design is the increased risk of drawing water into the engine or otherwise known as hydrolock. Since the location of this intake inlet is positioned just above the splash guard and not higher up in the fenderwell, like the stock air box, one needs to avoid driving through standing water. I would imagine that this risk is extremely low considering the fact that hundreds of customers have avoided complications for years. Another characteristic of the AEM intake, good or bad depending on your perception, is the increased noise during heavy acceleration. If your perception of the Type R is obnoxiously loud stock I would not recommend this intake. Plain and simple this intake increases engine noise from loud to booming during full throttle acceleration. In my opinion the beauty of this system is that during normal driving there is hardly a noticeable increase of noise. But when the pedal is to the floor and VTEC engages it's an entirely different story. Why does this product allow for more HP? For starters the stock air box is more restrictive than the AEM intake. This means that the air has a more difficult and lengthy path to follow before entering the throttle body. If you look at the AEM intake you can see it is mostly strait with smooth flowing corners. Why would Honda design a restrictive intake? The designers created an intake that would sacrifice a little performance (and I do mean a little) in order to reduce engine noise. The baffles and chambers within the stock air intake system help minimize vibrations therefore minimizing noise. The designers of the AEM CAI intake had only one goal in mind; design an intake that maximizes performance without a concern of noise production. For this reason the AEM intake is very loud by many peoples standards but it does free up a few extra horse power. The other reason this intake allows for more horse power is because it utilizes air that is found outside of the engine bay. This air is cooler than the air found in the engine bay, hence the name cool air intake (CAI). So why is colder air better for performance? Cold air is dense air meaning that it contains more oxygen. More oxygen means that the engine will compensate by added more fuel and more fuel means more power. Engine output will increase by about 1% for every 10 or 11 degrees Fahrenheit drop in air temperature. |
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