Mazdaspeed CAI installing

[mortimersnerd]

Just picked up a Mazdaspeed CAI (used, sorry, not 2nd gen). Trying to decide between setting it up as a CAI (a tiny bit more power) and SRI (less risk of hydrolock, easier install, more cool noises). It doesn't rain here much in Colorado, but when it does it does it right. Advice? Also, any tips for the install?

 

[bigdaddy]

cant really give you install tips, because I bought mine used and the car came with it. But I have it set up as CAI, and I love it. Sounds cool, and you can really hear the factory BPV. It also adds a lot of power in CAI form, because after all, it is a turbo engine, and turbos benefit from the cold air that it sucks in. (the air is more dense...obviously). It also adds a nice turbo spool hiss, and I live in California, but we do get rain a fair amount in the winter, and I had no problems with hydrolock. Mine also came with a big metal shield around it, so that prolly helps a lot too.


goodluck! you made a good choice, it a solid piece.

 

[Darth Vader]

Do the up top install parts, to the downpipe part, turn the front wheels full left, jack the car up, undo the front few bolts and clips for the splash shield, pull back splash shield. Now you are faced with the ONLY significant challenge in a CAI install this way and, that's getting the air deflector out. The deflector is held in with a bolt facing forward near the top. Hard to reach but I got at it with a small wrench. Conversely, you could just rip it off, it's just flimsy plastic and it won't break anything else. Now install the lower part of the CAI, button it up and you're done. Took me about 1/2 an hour on my car, which already had an SRI so, no airbox to remove.

 

[MSMS3]

Good summary, Darth. I just took some snips and cut the internal air deflector away from the bolt, since it is a throw away anyway with the install.

 

[eg6motion]

Just picked up a Mazdaspeed CAI (used, sorry, not 2nd gen). Trying to decide between setting it up as a CAI (a tiny bit more power) and SRI (less risk of hydrolock, easier install, more cool noises). It doesn't rain here much in Colorado, but when it does it does it right. Advice? Also, any tips for the install?

you should be fine with CAI. I am in CO and have had no issues. I also run a Injen hydroshield on my filter though too, keeps the filter dry and much cleaner.

 

[MSMS3]

Just picked up a Mazdaspeed CAI (used, sorry, not 2nd gen). Trying to decide between setting it up as a CAI (a tiny bit more power) and SRI (less risk of hydrolock, easier install, more cool noises). It doesn't rain here much in Colorado, but when it does it does it right. Advice? Also, any tips for the install?

Install instructions from AEM (maker of the MS CAI), seem more clear to me than those from Mazdaspeed. Make sure you get an air straightener, if you do not have one with your 1st gen model. It is important to getting accurate readings from your mass air flow sensor.

AEM instructions are attached. Maybe they will be of some help.

I'm in Gulfport, MS where we get more than 60 inches of rain per year and, of course, that does not include the hurricanes and resultant flooding (my office went under a 28 foot Katrina storm surge in '05 - its not there anymore!).

Even so, my chances of getting hydrolock on this car are less than the chance of getting struck by lightening. Your filter would have to be under water. The engine would have to be at very high rpm, enough so that it would have to suck that water up vertically to a point very high on the engine, where the MAF is located. It would then have to pass through the turbocharger compressor side and then through the intercooler core and from there into the intake manifold and finally to the cylinder head and enter the combustion chamber through an open intake valve. Chances are great that even if traversing this long route were possible, the engine would have died from air starvation before the water got to something it could hurt.

I do not consider hydrolock to be a significant enough risk to move my filter up to an SRI mode and draw air that has already passed through a hot radiator. But that's just me.

 

[///M Compact]

I installed my MSCAI today and I was wondering how much stress should be on the rubber mount; what I mean is that I had to lift the CAI a bit-@.75"- to fit it over the threads on the mount. Is that normal? Thanks!

 

[Darth Vader]

Yeah, that's pretty normal, don't worry about it.

 

[Jared703]

I installed my MSCAI today and I was wondering how much stress should be on the rubber mount;

How do you like it so far? I have one comming my way shortly.

 

[MSMS3]

Here are the published dyno runs from Road and Track Magazine on the MS3. First one is pure stock. Second one has the Mazdaspeed CAI as the only engine mod.

24 whp and 28 lbs torque gains. Car and Driver also dynoed and got just about the same results.

 

[///M Compact]

Yeah, that's pretty normal, don't worry about it.

Thank you!

 

[///M Compact]

How do you like it so far? I have one comming my way shortly.

Don't know yet; I haven't had a chance to take it out. I'll keep you posted...