AEM Cold Air Intake

[frank51]

I've done some research and think that for the money ($200) an AEM 21-505B Cold air intake is good, what does everyone else think, can I expect an extra 15-20 HP for a 5spd base.

[Peking]

15-20 HP, no. Intake good, lots of stickers and light up crap bad.

[AcuraRacesRSX]

Well yes AEM CAI is great but u can expect about 7-9 WHP Gain. But the cai is the best bang for ur buck. If ur looking for real power get a JR Race Header. Sure its 700 bucks but its worth every penny. Yes I also agree with the last comment stickers are bad. Very very bad. I don't need to know u got aem or dc or tein. In my opinion that just cheapens up our car. Poll up next to someone and suprise them then after u beat him u can poll over and show him what's under the hood. More satisfaction that way I believe.

[frank51]

Do you have to switch to a higher octane gasoline when you get an air intake? I would think that you don't because you are not increasing the compression ratio but then again I might be wrong!

[frank51]

Anybody?

[James S]

No, you won't need to go with a higher octane. You can stick with the factory recommended octane unless you get Hondata or Forced Induction.

[Peking]

Originally posted by James S
No, you won't need to go with a higher octane. You can stick with the factory recommended octane unless you get Hondata or Forced Induction.

Correct, but I use it anyways. Chevron baby, frank51 do you have a base or Type-S? If you have a Type-S then premium is a way of life.

[frank51]

I have a 5spd base, I put like half a tank of premium every 3 times I fill up.

[snt302]

I've never used less than 91 octane on my car since i bought it. I thought we weren't supposed to use anything less than than that for our cars.

If there was 93 octance around where i live i would probably try that too.:thumbsup:

[James S]

Base RSX (automatic and 5spd) only require 87 octane because of the lower compression ratio of the engine. There is a negligible difference in using higher octanes. If you plan on red lining it then you might want to bump it up to 89 just to guarantee that the engine doesn't knock at the higher RPMs as the knock sensor cannot detect knocks when the engine becomes too noisy.

[Jermyzy]

how does torque respond to the AEM CAI?

[frank51]

The factory (AEM) says that the torque increase is about 10-12, this is what they claim anyway!

[1acura]

For what it is worth I just had the AEM CAI installed yesterday (along with a Stainless Borla Exhaust system). I can't attribute any of the following to one or the other since it was installed at the same time, but maybe this will help. My RPM's rev much more freely now, it is almost seemingless to go from a dead stop to 5K - 6K rpms. The power band feels much more smooth (acording to the but-o-meter) it pulls throughout with no signs of stopping. I haven't redlined it yet, but from what I feel it just keeps on pulling up until about 6K (when I usually let off the gas). Highway driving has become a "try not to get pulled over by the cops" game as the same amount of pressue that I used to put on the gas pedal now sends the car speeding up instead of maintaining current speed. Not sure if all that made much sense (or helped) but I'm just telling ya how I "feel" it. Have plans on a racing header and then a trip to the dyno within the next month.

[frank51]

Thanks for the info, by the way have you noticed a change in the fuel economy? and how much did you end up spending?

[RSXshift]

I wouldn't do aem cai again, be careful of going thru any puddles no matter how deep you may think they are, make sure you get a Breather for it. You have to buy the aem universal one, but its not a direct fit, but you can make it work. Just make sure you know the risk of the cai.

[1acura]

Yea, I've already been warned about "vapor lock" on this type of intake. Where can I get the "breather" for this intake? I've never heard of such a thing. The guy was telling me there is some sort of "flap" inside the tube that protects any moisture from getting into the engine, but am not sure if that is the same.

One other question. When and how do I change the filter that is on my AEM?

[RSXshift]

Most performance shops sell the breather (also called a by-pass valve), call them up they know what it is. Its something like 30-40bucks. The thing is.. you have to cut your intake tube, to place the breather in the middle of the tube. heres what it looks like,
http://www.splittingimagez.com/aemairbypassvalve.htm
Like I said you can get one at most local performance shops.

[1acura]

Great, thanks for the "breather" info. I'm beginning to second guess my purchase of the AEM CAI. How unsafe are these intakes anyway? I just don't want to end up damaging my engine over a cai.

[2SwiFt29]

Juss wonderin, but how do your AEM Cai sound? Mine used to sound kinda like a swish sound when i shift or gas it, but now it stopped, but i still hear a deep sound... This happened when the dealer had to change my Throttle Position Sensor cause they said it was low...

[1acura]

Yea, it does make the "swish/suction" sound you describe when I gas it (I have an auto, so no shifting for me....long story, the wife can't drive stick so I had to get the base in case of an emergency...either that or a new wife). It also makes a weird sound (kinda swishy) when I turn the car off.

Speaking of the dealer. Did they give you a hard time when you took it back for anything? I'm just worried that they are going to tell me to take a hike if I ever take my car back for service b/c of the aftermarket intake and exhaust. I'm not sure if I voided my warranty or not.

[frank51]

This has been discussed before, theoraticly the dealer can't void your warrenty unless the aftermarket part has caused the problem. But basicly it comes down to the dealer if they are strict it can be a pain in the ass.