Hey everyone. Ive been trolling the internet looking for some info on these products. Please feel free to move this thread if I posted in the wrong place.
I just picked up my new Lancer a few weeks ago now and I've been looking around to see what I can do to her without risking TOO much on my warranty. My lancer is an 08 GTS CVT with the PZEV Emissions, yea I know... in Ohio?; long story short - I believe its originally from Cali.

I decided that I like the Injen (CAI and Exhaust) products from what I've read about them, but I haven't really found any good information from people that have actually been using them.

Has anyone here installed the Injen CAI or the Injen header-back SES exhaust? I'm getting close to buying them, but I just want to hear what they're like from someone else that has one or both of them.

Here a few questions and bits of info I've gathered from my reading, please correct me if I'm incorrect about something.

The Intake - Ive read that this is the best performing intake available as of now, and the only available CAI for an 08 lancer. My main concern is water, I know they make the hydro shield, but living in Ohio, the weather can be unpredictable at times. I don't want to get caught in a sudden downpour and have my car start sucking up water. Does this thing actually work? I'm tempted to buy one and run it under the sink or a hose to see if it actually blocks a significant amount of water.

The Exhaust - This is the only available, and best performing, full header-back exhaust available for now. What I'm looking for here is a power gain, but i don't want it to sound too loud. From the video clip on youtube of it, I do like the way this sounds, but its hard to tell how loud they actually are from a camera. The WORKS Exhaust sounds pretty good too, but with no muffler that has to be pretty loud, plus not as much power gain being an axle-back. I realize the power difference from a header-back vs an axle back isn't THAT much (With This car, AFAIK), but I just want to squeeze out as much power as I can with each part I buy, even if its only 2 or 3 hp, it all adds up. I may just wait to see what the Magnaflow exhaust is like, I've always liked the way their exhausts sound.

Any input is much appreciated.
Thanks
-Bob

 

if you're concerned about the CIA picking up water (rightfully so in your area where you get more than 2 table spoons of rain fall a year), look into the SRI's that are available. Many people on these boards argue that they will deliver pretty damn close to the same amount of performance (if not the same) without the risk of sucking up water.

On the Injen SES exhaust, if you plan on getting a performance header for your car to eke out even more performance, that Injen SES will be LOUD and ricey.

Just something to keep in mind.

 

I just went from injen prototype exhaust (ca spec) to rrm axle-back. I liked the exhaust until I purchased rrm's header. Waaaay too annoying for my taste. I'm very happy with my new set up. Not ricey, but you know its there.

I'm still on the fence with intakes. Tried the rrm shortram then wanted the injen cold air. I'm using the injen now, who knows if that'll change.

 

PZEV - seeing where you're from, you probably got a PA model. They seem to use PZEV models for some reason...

CAI - your car WON'T suck up water unless you drive through a 2' river and submerge the filter. The hydro shield is mostly just to keep the filter from getting wet and ruined (hard to suck air through wet cotton).

Exhaust - I really don't think the "butt dyno" could tell the difference between an axleback and a catback. Get whichever one you can afford and prefer.

 

Thanks for the quick responses.

Yeah, more than two table spoons... thats quite the understatement Its been raining almost every day since I got my car. Ive almost forgotten I have a sun roof.

I like the way the RRM axle-back sounds as well. But after I saw the thread here about it rusting, that kinda turned me off towards it. I know for sure rust happens really quickly out here in Ohio, everywhere you look you see people's exhausts rusting, almost seems inevitable.

Yeah, you're probably right about the PZEV blacksheep, I do live pretty close to PA. But either way, I checked the model number with the references on RRM's site, its definitely a PZEV.

I do plan on getting the header at some point, probably after they figure out the CEL on the PZEV models, so thanks for the heads up on that. An axle back would be easier to take off anyways, in case I need to bring it in for service, or if I don't like the way it sounds. Definatley dont want it to sound ricey either, so I guess ill stay away from the injen.
I'm pretty anxious to hear what magnaflow's ends up sounding like though. I could always take it to a muffler shop and just have them fab one for me, probably would be cheaper too.

 

Another thing to keep in mind: Every muffler shop I've been to uses "aluminum" coated piping. So, it's a lot more resistant to corrosion than just plain mild steel piping. I'm sure the muffler shops in your area will have similar exhaust piping options for an exhaust should you decide to go that route. Of course, the material of the piping you select will have an effect on the over all cost of having it made. Still, if you don't like what you see in the ready made market, it's always a viable option.

 

Rust is inevitable, yes. That's why they call it the "Rust Belt." So don't really concern yourself with it. But it couldn't hurt to give any new exhaust parts you purchase a nice shop of paint to help it a bit.

PZEV isn't anything to worry about. Lots of people on EvoM are crying about it, but I bet you could drive your car and then my car and not tell the difference.

Muffler shop is ALWAYS the best option. You get exactly what muffler you like, and it's going to cost roughly half what an aftermarket model costs...

 

im living in vancouver and it rains a lot, my CAI is still working well...I've had it on for about 4 months. Just go for it!

 

I also have the Injen CAI, and I'm on Vancouver Island (lots of rain). I haven't noticed a significant power increase, except a little top end HP. I like the sound, as it isn't particularly loud until the higher end of the rev range. It then gets quite loud, which I don't mind since I'm not revving my car out when I don't want it to be noisy. I also went with the Hydro Shield, but haven't done any testing to see how it works.

 

I know this is from the Injen Intakes... but I looked into the Fujita SRI. I overlooked it before for some reason, but it actually seems pretty nice. The dyno sheets available show pretty much the same power increase. Plus an SRI is easier to install/uninstall and costs about 100$ less, also like the sound.

Im guessing you guys with the Injen CAI didnt bother with getting the hydro shield then?

Yeah, im not really worried about the PZEV, its what... 8-9 base horsepower difference? So the actual horsepower to the wheels is probably not noticeable to the driver. The fact that it has less aggressive cams kind of bothers me, but I'm not sure that was an actual confirmed difference between the two.

As far as an exhaust goes, I'm leaning towards the custom made one with a Magnaflow universal. I think ill go to the same shop that did my dad's car (69 Firebird). They did a good job and it sounds awesome, although its loud as hell .

 

I can NOT agree with the people that say that are getting the same gains from a CAI, than with the SRI.... Specially with the current SRI's that have been offered for our lancer, that suck hot air straight from above the header. Now with RRM's V2 it might be another story... That i would have to wait and see what people say.

Also you guys have to remember that the diff. between the pzev and the fed is the exhaust setup... so once you get the header for your car, you will be even better than the FED...

If you wanna go mildly wild, go with the header (RRM is the only option right now) and get a custom muffler........ and the CAI... i can bet whatever you want that you will NOT suck water thru it in a normal, or even heavy rain... now dont drive it thru floods or rivers...

 

This is totally derailing this thread.. but...
From what ive seen, the argument between SRI and CAI on the 08 lancer, AS OF NOW, (meaning the available aftermarket ones) is almost negligent.

The CAI Brings colder air, yes, but it also has much longer tubeing with a lot of bends, and a further distance to travel into the engine. A lot will argue that because of this, the air looses its velocity and has a harder time getting to the engine in comparison to an SRI. At least off the line, it probably works better once the car is moving and gets into the powerband, but the same thing can be said about an SRI.

In the same case, because of where the filter sits on the current SRI's, people argue that its bringing in air thats too hot, because its so close to the manifold. Ive seen some people even say that SRI's like these actually reduce performance over the stock air box because of heat, although I find that hard to believe.

So honestly, until we see some better designs for the lancer intakes, I don't think there will be much of a difference at all.

Obviously on other cars, I would agree that a CAI is better, but from whats available now, there cant be much difference besides the cost.

Is RRM developing another intake? I hope this one will call for removal of the entire stock intake(not just the air box), so it can bend towards the front of the engine compartment. I was wondering why they didn't do that in the first place though.

Edit: One of you mods can change the name of this thread to something like "Intakes and Exhausts" if you want. So it wont be so off topic from the Injen stuff .

 

They've already made it, and they're selling it now on their website. It does not change the location of the filter by much (if at all), but it does include an integral heat shield. It looks a lot nicer than the old one...

 

definetely on my "to get" list.