Cold air intake?

[bosox5530]

I just got a 2007 mazda 3 5 door touring galaxy gray and its awesome. I was looking at adding some hp to it, and was looking a cold air intake. which one should i get? I want to get the best one for preformance...and a noisy one..any suggestions or expieriences with colr air intakes? thanks in advance..mike

 

[mobomelter]

Personally I've been look at getting an Injen since it seems like they thought everything out. Everything looks like it bolts up even that extra sensor and the breather tube. The only thing i'm not sure of is any of the intakes will fit the 2007's.

 

[NOmz3]

I have an Injen CAI and Love it! Absolutely love it. The installation was a breeze, the only downside was removing the bumper, but it bolts on and off fairly easy. Took about an 3 hours, but we had to stop due to rain and the stock air box gave us hell till we figured you could just yank it right out with some force and not break anything.

There was alot more pep after the installation and the biggest difference being at 4k and climbing. The noise also is freakin' incredible. Couple the intake with an Exhaust and your set.

The only recommendation I would make for the injen intake is to get a hydrasheild with it, especially if it rains alot. I live in new orleans and it's always raining. Water tends to sit ontop of the filter sometimes after a good rain and if you get on it, you'll trip the CEL, it's nothing big, just let the MAF dry for a couple and it will go away.

 

[thebeansoldier]

NOmz3, have you had problems with the water collecting on the bottom U-Bend? I've read that it's a problem on sedans with the Injen installed.

bosox5530, if you take out your intake resonator [while you wait for your CAI], your intake will sound very nice. The link is: http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60565

 

[JRH1]

I'll reccommend my AEM intake. It makes a great sound, perks up the engine, and doesn't cause any problems.

Actually, about 400 miles after I installed it, I picked up a CEL. What happened was that after the intial break-in period of the parts heating and cooling and settling together, the MAF sensor had come loose and a small gap appeared through which air was being draw around the sensor. I tightened it back up about 1500 miles ago and it's been fine ever since. I'd suggest buying a little gasket paper from an auto supply store and fabricating a gasket for the MAF when you do the install (if your kit doesn't come with one). I didn't do it but I probably should have.

 

[keleko]

I'll reccommend my AEM intake. It makes a great sound, perks up the engine, and doesn't cause any problems.

Actually, about 400 miles after I installed it, I picked up a CEL. What happened was that after the intial break-in period of the parts heating and cooling and settling together, the MAF sensor had come loose ....

i haven't had a single issue whatsoever with my aem, nothing's come loose, and it didn't come with a "gasket"

maybe you didn't install something right in the 1st place?

 

[Kuro3]

I keep hearing that the AEM is the best. I have a simota sri, and i love it and don't ever worry about water problems, but if you are really worried about water and want a CAI then get the AEM and with the bypass valve and front a little extra $$ for the gasket and you'll be worry free.

 

[JRH1]

maybe you didn't install something right in the 1st place?

No, I installed it perfectly. The tiny little screws holding the MAF in place just worked themselves loose.

 

[NOmz3]

I've never had problems with water collecting in the u-pipe, it's incredibly hot here so it more than likely evaporates, or it just never ends up sitting there. It does like to collect on the groove ontop the filter and spill down when ever I takeoff, so I just went got a hydrasheild to prevent all that. Works wonders.

 

[Operator]

I keep hearing that the AEM is the best. I have a simota sri, and i love it and don't ever worry about water problems, but if you are really worried about water and want a CAI then get the AEM and with the bypass valve and front a little extra $$ for the gasket and you'll be worry free.

Only thing is that bypass valve makes the small gains you might gain even smaller. With that said go with the AEM and just don't drive into any lakes, or rivers. Going on 3 years and no problems with mine, rain or shine (I didn't mean for that to rhyme).

 

[sephiroth]

Only thing is that bypass valve makes the small gains you might gain even smaller. With that said go with the AEM and just don't drive into any lakes, or rivers. Going on 3 years and no problems with mine, rain or shine (I didn't mean for that to rhyme).

Unless you purposfully go into a rather large puddle and submerge the entire filter under water there's really very little chance you'll water lock your engine. Condensation and some water can get on the filter which can block air-flow and thus lag up the engine a bit, but if you're really worried about that, search for the injen or K&N hydro covers that prevent water from building up on the filter and you'll be free from that even. I think they're made from some sort of polyester/cotton mix, but I got mine for about $15 and it's helped with lag I previsouly experienced when driving in the rain.

 

[thebeansoldier]

Only thing is that bypass valve makes the small gains you might gain even smaller. With that said go with the AEM and just don't drive into any lakes, or rivers. Going on 3 years and no problems with mine, rain or shine (I didn't mean for that to rhyme).

Hi Operator

Also, the filter on the AEM can still get wet during light rain. The filter is right next to the wheel well ducts/vent (check your left wheel well and you'll see how many slits it has) so any time the tire goes on water, there's a big possibility of the water still going into the filter.

Never had problems with the AEM though. But every time I've checked the filter driving in the rain, it was always wet. Not enough to cause concern, but it gives you a good reason to get a splash shield for it.

 

[ZoomVT]

i woudl like to recommend the SImota CAI. Protephile who is an authorized vendor here gave me a great deal for it. These intakes are of very nice quality; i think you would be impressed and they are a fraction of the cost of an AEM, Injen or K&N. I dont care how much they upsell you; there isnt it a lot of "proprietary technology" in a CAI.

 

[Protephile]

Thanks, Zoom, I was just going to chime in with a little pimpin' myself.
I've sold a lot of the Simotas here, especially. Anyone who has one will tell you they are perfectly happy with it.
The link is in my sig; the price is $90.

 

[jhowey]

I have the K & N, orignally it was set up for the cold air, but I switched it over the the short air and I think it sounds better and performance is the same.

 

[ZoomVT]

haha you could smell it. like a shark smelling blood in the ocean. lol

 

[Protephile]

I just can't help myself. Anyway until I get enough money together to finish my website, I rely on this forum for about 50% of my sales.

 

[racerboy777]

Would it make a difference what brand I got as long as it was a CAI? I see the $50 kits all the time on eBay. what's the difference?

 

[goldwing2000]

I've had my AEM for 40,000 miles with no water issues, no MAF issues and no CEL issues. Driven through rain, snow, salt, etc and no problems whatsoever.

I clean the filter every 20,000 or so and my gas mileage always stays right around 30mpg.

The difference in the eBay tubes is R&D. Unless they've made an exact copy of somebody else's intake, then it's probably not designed correctly.
If they have made an exact copy of somebody else's tube, then it's your choice if you want to support industrial piracy or not.

 

[NOmz3]

well said goldwing. well said.