k&n cold air intake

[solsticeguy07]

system good or bad? They say it only gets out 6hp. Has any one done this and if so what kind of power did u get out of it? Thanks.

[lowNslow06]

+1 on the curious side. Anyone get anything good out of it other then a louder intake sound

[BuzzardT]

Here I think they say no HP gain, only noise gain.

[solsticeguy07]

thanks i keep away from that and just bye the k&n air filter. witch will not void the warranty

[aday63]

I'm sure someone will chime in soon and blast down that warranty statement. I'll give you a preview, installing a CAI doesn't mean your warranty is voided.

["Maine"-iac]

If I recall properly, a while back someone on this forum provided the real math for how colder air affects hp...it's somewhere along the lines of for every 10 degree drop in air temp you get around 1hp more in engine output given all other parameters remain the same. Point being that "cold air" intakes are over rated. Although there is some benefit to having some slightly cooler air (air that is not heated by the engine before entering the intake), more than likely the greatest hp benefit to adding a CAI to your car is that it probably breathes a lot better than the stock configuration which tends to be restrictive in nature due to its design. Save your pennies and buy a turbo or supercharger if you want real hp gains.

[BuzzardT]

Well, I would hope that spending $4k on an up grade would gain you more HP than a $300. Up grade. Come guys not everyone wants a T/C or S/C car. Just a little more than what they have.

[RevmanII]

Most of the "CAI"'s for the na Solstice are a misnomer. They are taking the air in from the same place as the stock intake. The AEM CAI I had on mine came with a dyno chart that showed a peak hp gain of less than 1. It was something like .4 - .6. Although the butt dyno had it at 2 - 3 . With the SQR-II catback I did not notice any noise from it, but it did look very sharp under the hood .

[PAO]

others will also say to complete a system you should also have the CAI, shorty headers, free flow cat, and improved cat back exhaust as well to all the engine to full breathe....the CAI alone doesnt do much if anything....

[MARVIC 1]

Originally Posted by PAO others will also say to complete a system you should also have the CAI, shorty headers, free flow cat, and improved cat back exhaust as well to all the engine to full breathe....the CAI alone doesnt do much if anything....

I notice no-one mentions anything about the weight lost difference between the existing air box and the GM CAI upgrade..... I'm going to remove my air-box and install a GM CAI, will put them on a scale and report back within the next week or so....

[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by MARVIC 1 I notice no-one mentions anything about the weight lost difference between the existing air box and the GM CAI upgrade..... I'm going to remove my air-box and install a GM CAI, will put them on a scale and report back within the next week or so....

It's just allot of plastic parts. The stock plastic air box doesn't weigh much at all. You not going to loose much weight when switching them out.

[RedDevil]

The easiest and BEST thing to buy, or to make, is your own intake while retaining the stock air box and filter. Just buy a K&N drop-n filter and replace the restrictive stock tubing/with baffles.

A good smooth inside tube(less air turbulence from stock rubber flex tube) that is 2.5" or 3" wide with couplers will work just the same if not better than any aftermarket C.A.I. because the stock air box IS completely closed up from any outside heat. There is an opening at the front lower part of the air box that points directly out and towards the front of the bumper. It gets plenty of cool air form this location.

Here is one I made with parts from my local auto parts store. Noticed how I kept the stock air box in-tacked.

[Koobie]

I think you are better off just "gutting" the stock intake for more air. The airbox in these cars is pretty efficient. N/A or 2.0L Turbo.

[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by Koobie I think you are better off just "gutting" the stock intake for more air. The airbox in these cars is pretty efficient. N/A or 2.0L Turbo.

That's basically what I did. When you remove the side "noise suppressor/baffle" and stock tube, you are "gutting out" the poor air flow and replacing it with a more direct path with smoother insides when using a solid long tube.

[JRinKY]

All of the CAIs are of similar design, basically a straight-ish tube with an air filter stuck on the end of it. None of them provide any appreciable performance enhancement over the stock intake. Why would you think that modifying the stock inake is going to do any better ?

If you prefer the look or sound of a CAI or a modified stock intake, go for it, but don't expect any better performance.