Your experiences= opinion for me (exhaust and intake)

H

henrybeckham

Member
Hello everyone,
I have been searching the post in the forum and they don't really help me out
I want to get an exhaust and intake for my mazda 3 07 4 door.
Have been spending 3 hours on youtube listening to maganflow, HKS hi-power and greddy. Greddy is a little pricey for me, so I gonna get either HKS cat or magnaflow cat, sounds and price are pretty much the same. Mangaflow probably just a little bit better (just a little bit)
I am looking for a better, louder and more attractive sound but still want to keep around the same fuel burn.
Anyone can give me some opinions

Beside, what is the different between cool air and short ram intakes? Which one is better in Florida (very hot in summer) and any suggestion of brand? AEM?

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Well the SRI / CAI has been beaten to death on these forums but here it is:

Short ram has the air filter in your engine bay (like where it is already). A CAI has a longer tube with the air filter usually down by the wheel. People claim that CAI's take in colder air which equates to more power. SRI's obviosly breathe right next to your engine so the air might be a little hotter. Honestly however the difference is minimal at best. Nobody has yet proven a big difference of one over the other. SRI's are beneficial in that they won't hydrolock. That means they won't suck up water. CAI's are near the wheel so if you hit a huge puddle or deep water you might end up sucking some water up which is never a good thing. I live in florida too even though I have a water shield on my CAI, im always thinking about it in heavy rains. Colonial flooded a few weeks ago during the heavy rains and I had to make a 1.5 hour detour because I was scared shitless. If I were to go back in time I would have bought an SRI.

As for brands anyone should be fine. AEM, K&N,Injen . . .

Im not THAT familiar with the mazda 3 but a catback shouldn't make a big difference in fuel / performance. Magnaflow is a reputable product and are generally cheapest. Just comes down to sound really. Pick the one you like. I doubt the differences in performance among the brands is minimal.


Anyway back to studying molecular cell bio /:. All nighters ftmfw
 
I have a magnaflow catback and the sound is definently good, its low and not ricey, and as far a cai and a sri, the cai sits farther down and get "cooler air" but they both do when your driving, I think this just applies to idling.
as far as performance they dont do alot that ive noticed. you lose low range torque.
 
henrybeckham said:
So is it not a good idea to get CAI in Florida? Tornado and thunderstorm state...
Click to expand...

Its pretty hard to hydrolock your car. They have special covers called hydroshields that are water impermeable that go right over the filter. I have one but its still possible to hydrlock. You can drive in rain no problem but you just have to make sure you don't smash a huge puddle going fast or something alonge those lines. Peace of mind is a good reason to get an SRI imo.
 
Another pointer is to let off the gas if you're going over a puddle so the throttle plate will be closed and the CAI won't suck in anything
 
haha.....I still have no idea.....some said Cold air okay in Florida as long as not smash in a water paddle.....some says extremely no good .....omg

However, I did some price searching on ebay....
Here is the price list for different intakes and exhausts that I can get, please give me some opinions comparing the quality, price range and the water suction issue:
(The price I listed are out the door price, with shipping. taxes etc )

- AEM cool air intake 488 red $ 238
- F5 Fujita Mass air cold air intake (#MA 2502) $ 175 <----cheapest
- Injen short ram intake $ 273 (# RD6061P)
(made an offer with lower price around 250-260, waiting for the seller's response)
- Fuijta short ram intake $210 6061 T6 Aluminum Intake Tubing
- HKS hi-power Catback exhaust $520
- Magnaflow exhaust system (# 16786) $435 <------best price I have ever seen, other are selling for like $535

here you go.....what do you think guys.....

Thanks everyone
 
Hydrolocking your car is very difficult. You have to be unlucky. You hit a pothole filled with water at the wrong angle and boom. You have to get a LOT of water up there. 99% Chance you will be okay. Still a risk though.

Just get an SRI and be done with it. Same power, cheaper , easier install, hydrolock free . . .
 
Thanks coyfish.
I noticed you gave me two different opinion...in your first reply you said you lived in FL and you always worry about the engine due to the heavy rain, but now you said it is hard to get hydrolock unless I am very unlucky....
But I kinda get what you tried to say...

Is there any studies comparing the power output of CAI and SRI ?
some said CAI gain better power, some say they are so so .....lol

Can you pick an exhaust and an intake for me as your choice from the price lists above...?

Thanks!
 
A Sri is way easier to install, the kn cai comes with a protective cover that repells water and doesn't restrict airflow, it's called a dry charger. Get the magnaflow exhaust
 
a motorshop quote me $200 to put BC coilovers on with lowering and stiffness/damper adjustment. and extra 80 for putting the magnaflow exhaust and short ram air/ cool air intake.
How is that sounds guy?
 
Seems like a fair price but I would do the exhaust yourself if it doesn't include welding / cutting.

At least do the intake by yourself. Its good to learn how to do it and its easy. Comes with instructions.
 
The motorshop suggest me to get coolair intake and a bypass (he still charge me the same labor for installation cai with bypass or sai)
So, I should go for CAI intake then?

I am still struggling for HKS or Magnaflow exhaust, they both are good. but price are different, $85
but the shop suggest me to get HKS......
Damn, I have no idea.
 
Catback Exhaust comes down to sound. Both will give the same performance. Pick the one you think sounds best. Listen to them both on youtube.
 
For intake temperatures, cooler is better and it's been dyno proven a bajillion times.

CAI are perfectly safe with a bypass valve. Even driving through a fish tank:
http://www.modified.com/tech/0104scc_aem_air_bypass_valve/index.html

If you still want to use a short intake setup, take the time to build(or buy) a heat isolation box around it. Plumb in a source of cold air and you get the best of both worlds. Like this:
http://www.vertexauto.com/UserData/Images/Large/253524.jpg

For exhaust...I try to find a nice middle ground of performance improvement without audibly assaulting my neighbors every time I drive through the neighborhood. I've gotten the best results when I end up piecing together my own parts and having a local performance muffler shop weld it all up.
 
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