I've done seaches and I haven't been able to anser my questions with the threads that I've read. So please don't tell me to do a seach before I post please.

I currently have the K&N drop in filter. It is a nice increase but I want more (I'm greedy). I've looked at RRM's SRI and CAI. With the SRI aren't I pulling in mostly hot air since the intake is situated right by the engine? With the CAI what is the chances of me pulling in water? I live in Ohio right in the middle of the snow belt, so winters get pretty bad here. Should I steer clear of the CAI because of this? That brings me back to the SRI. If I don't want the CAI is the SRI really worth the price vs power increase?

I know there are stats on the SRI but did they test it on a cold car or on one that had been driven around town for an hour.

Thanks for the help.

 

i have the rrm sri... its great...

sri is more for mid range power (3500-5000 rpms)

while cai is more for high end rpms and top end power...

i got sri because i live in ct and theres so much crap on the roads (leaves, water, snow, small children... etc)

 

Im ordering a SRI tomorrow ,i preffer the mid range power

 

My take on open element (non-CAI) vs factory box in general:

I don't see any significant gains.

I had K&N cone filters in my 99 GSX and 97VR4, but on my 99VR4 I decided not to put any. If anything, I'd just get a K&N drop-in.

Why? I don't want to be sucking hot air from the engine. If I were to go the open element route, I'd still put some form of heat shield. What is the difference then between having an open element filter w/ a shield to a hacked airbox (you know, cut out some of the stuff to allow more air but still keep some heat shielding)?
Unless you can funnel some cold air in the engine compartment, don't even do it.

But that's just me.

 

That's what I've been starting to think too, but everyone talks about these things like they are the best thing since sliced bread. I know it's gonna give you more power, but I'm starting to think that for the average driver using his car for work and such maybe this isn't a feasible upgrade.

 

why do people think that cai is for high end power? a cai just makes more power than a sri but it's actual power characteristic is that it's lazier on the top end but beefier in the midrange. people just think that sri is more powerful at first because of the throttle response, but overall it's not true. if you fed some cold air to a sri, you' have a much more noticeable top-end.

actual performance between the two are just pennies, but people are getting it wrong.

if you're not getting a bypass valve or can't convert the cai to sri, then you probably shouldn't get it if puddles get deep where you are. i've had a friend who got hydrolock and there are some threads here where people had got a little water in the engine.

 

I would go with the Injen CAI. It can be either Short ram, or cold air, cause it's 2 pieces, plus you can fit the bypass valve if you're worried about hydro locking your engine.

 

Ralliart86 - i got sri because i live in ct and theres so much crap on the roads (leaves, water, snow, small children... etc)

Are you worried about sucking up small children?!?!?! ( sorry, im bored and i could use a laugh )

 

yeah... that would suck... (PUN INTENDED)

 

heres a copy and paste from an old post on the SCLC forum that might be helpful:

http://www.sclc.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=61

Ah yes the age old question. The question every tuner thought about atleast once in their quest for performance. CAI or SRI?

I've owned a Injen CAI for a year and a half now and I'm pretty happy with it. My only gripe is after I installed it I noticed a slight loss in torque in the low end gears 1-3. Almost as if throttle response had a little delay. I did notice smoother acceleration all the way through and a longer power band in every gear. RPM climb was nice and gradual and the car had better top end acceleration for gears 4-5. The RPM climb remained steady through 4th and 5th gear and the car still had alot of pull.

So as an experiment I modified my CAI to an SRI by removing the lower piping and attaching the K&N cone filter to the MAS adapter. I've been driving with this setup for 2 days now and here are my findings. Between SRI and CAI there was a big difference, like night and day. With the SRI the car became an uncorked beast, it was obviously louder. The short ram gave the car quick and snappy throttle response. The car had alot of torque and pulled strong through gears 1-3. Acceleration was much quicker but the power bands were alot shorter due to the RPM climbing too fast. Going through 4th and 5th gear the car wasn't pulling as hard. The acceleration gradually slowed and power began to taper off.

I was talking to urbanknight(Brian) the other day to discuss my theory which was CAI reducing throttle response and torque because air has to travel longer to get to the TB. Brian auto crosses so he definately knows the importance of powerband, acceleration, and torque in each gear. He currently uses the RMR SRI setup and now that I think about it makes alot of sense. He probably doesn't see 4th and 5th gear when he makes his run.

conclusion:
After putting the Injen back into it's original CAI setup I can say that CAI setup is what I'll be using from now on. It has a nicer, smooth and gradual curve when it comes to acceleration. Though it wasn't as punchy on on the lower gears I really missed the top end pull on freeways.

Plastik

 

Your best bet is to get a 2 piece CAI. In the summer, a SRI suffers from heat soak, which causes significant loss of power. A 2 piece allows you to run in a SRI config during the wet months, and then during the dry months you can put on the CAI extension.

Your other option is to do what I did, install an AEM bypass onto a 2 piece CAI, then you don't need to worry about hydrolock.

 

I have the RRM SRI on my SPortback and I love it, has a nice tone to it with a subtle hiss....goes great with a Magnaflow exhaust.

 

The bypass valve really isnt going to do too much unless your driving through wading deep waters. Also living in Ohio we get alot of snow and **** over here too, alot of my friends have cai's and usually keep theirs on all winter. If you are really worried about it, or just want to go the safe route, which can never hurt, go with the bypass valve or maybe look into the new sleeve that k&n has made to fit their new cone intakes. It fits right over and is supposed to keep all the bad stuff out. (yet I havent heard a review of it yet..so do some research..)
I have tried the short ram and the cai in my boyfriends eclipse, the cai sounds better and though it can usually not be felt, has alittle better numbers hp wise..your call.
Just a couple thoughts..

 

That's the point.

 

Thanks guys for all the imput. If the main reason not to get the CAI is because of driving through wading waters than I'm thinking that I'll go with the CAI. Snow and rain is bad here, but I've never had to drive through waters that high. The two piece option sounds pretty good too.