B
brennan
I want to know which is better for horsepower and all around performance aem or injen THank you
G
gene in cincinnati
And depending on what the best product is, would anyone be interested in a group buy?
J
jcilforever
Hot Air 
or CAI 
depends on future mods. If you want to do other engine mods in the future I would go with the CAI. The AEM short stack you would have to throw away and the Injen you could do some custom work and keep it, just a thought.
or CAI depends on future mods. If you want to do other engine mods in the future I would go with the CAI. The AEM short stack you would have to throw away and the Injen you could do some custom work and keep it, just a thought.
J
jcilforever
By the way I paid $230 for my Injen and $30 for the AEM Bypass because you do not want to suck water 
G
Greg S
Don't bother witha short ram set-up. If you check out RacingBeat's site you see that when they were developing the MP3 with mazda they were going to doa short ram set-up but discovered that the car's ECU can handle to change in temps that you get with the filter being in the hot engine compartment. always go with a CAI if you actually want to add power. The short rams are relaly only good for looks. If you do any coity driving you'll get heat soak pretty quickly. Had the same problems with my MX-6, just worse because of the V6 engine shoe horned int here.
S
sttl013
Good point, but just getting cold air won't guarantee more HP. Granted, yes, with a lot of slow and stop and go traffic, a short-ram will bring in LOTS of heat into the engine, but excepting that fact, there's the diamater and length of the pipe to consider: proper piping is crucial to tune the intake for max HP. Size and length must be correct for the best air velocity and smoothness of flow at the throttle body to create best HP gains. So it is possible that a properly tuned short-ram can give better performance with warmer air than a poorly designed CAI. Not knocking any names here, but I think that AEM, one of the better names in intakes, has done a little more research on what works best. I'm pretty sure that they would have done it CAI if they thought it would produce more HP. Also, improper tuning can result in a higher peak at certain RPM's, while actually losing power at other RPM's. I've read posts here and elsewhere reporting Injen loses power below 3000 RPM's. I don't have one myself so I can't back that up, but I've seen it more than a few times. I do have a short-ram style (custom built, not AEM) and it does just fine. No noticable losses, and a nice feel and great throaty tone.
J
jcilforever
I am sorry, I have heard alot of AEM this AEM that (not trying to offend anyone) why do poeple want to dog Injen by 
could it be the rumors from people who like AEM 
. Personally If AEM would get off their wallet they could have made a CAI and saw the benefit. Injen specilizes just in intakes could that count for something? I am in R&D and I actually used An Injen CAI with a AEM Bypass. What ever happened to making the best instead of bolting on what they sell me. Not trying to be rude
could it be the rumors from people who like AEM . Personally If AEM would get off their wallet they could have made a CAI and saw the benefit. Injen specilizes just in intakes could that count for something? I am in R&D and I actually used An Injen CAI with a AEM Bypass. What ever happened to making the best instead of bolting on what they sell me. Not trying to be rude
S
Shawn
Personally I don't want either. My research has made me decide that monsterflow makes the most beneficial filters. So I'm shopping around for the monsterflow that fits the Protege.
There are many choices for intakes, not just AEM or Injen. We have monsterflow, HKS, Ractive, MPH and maybe some others that I haven't checked out. Shop around, there are many equally good but cheaper intakes out there. For example, the monsterflow costs ~$120, the HKS ~$115. I'm positive these intakes will work as well as AEM or Injen but they are clearly less expensive.
There are many choices for intakes, not just AEM or Injen. We have monsterflow, HKS, Ractive, MPH and maybe some others that I haven't checked out. Shop around, there are many equally good but cheaper intakes out there. For example, the monsterflow costs ~$120, the HKS ~$115. I'm positive these intakes will work as well as AEM or Injen but they are clearly less expensive.
J
jcilforever
Aren't the ones you are refering to Short Rams except MHP which is over $300, Short rams require less parts and are therfore less exspensive
S
<Shawn>
Yup, however, the AEM short RAM is $200 while these other short RAM intakes are like $120. I wonder why is that Of course a CAI will cost more, I agree. But it isn't even known if that fender well is a good source of cooler air.
I think a short RAM is a cheaper(IMHO), less hastle(no bypass valve needed or splash guard), and possibly equally performance enhancing upgrade for our Protege's than a CAI. On many cars a CAI makes a better difference but they have much better locations for the filter than the fender well.
Of course a CAI will cost more, I agree. But it isn't even known if that fender well is a good source of cooler air.I think a short RAM is a cheaper(IMHO), less hastle(no bypass valve needed or splash guard), and possibly equally performance enhancing upgrade for our Protege's than a CAI. On many cars a CAI makes a better difference but they have much better locations for the filter than the fender well.
J
jcilforever
If you look under the car you can see that there is spacing for the air to enter the area where the CAI is also I made a custom air scoop to the filter.They do not sell a splash guard for an Injen, that is a heat shield. If they did you would not need it if you have a bypass.
