Questions about cobb

Haxir

Member
:
mazdaspeed 3 GT 2008 CWP
I kno there are tons of various threads about cobb intakes (refering to short ram), each with every ones opinion. Being good and bad. Now, an intake is pretty simple, just allows the motor to breath easier. With that said, why do people say it ***** with fuel or somthing. And some 1 said if you get it you have to reset your ecu and do a few things for the ecu to reset the fuel map? Whats that all about, i thought intakes were just bolt on with no tech work. I really wanna buy it but i dont want to if its gonna **** s*** up
 
The more air you have, the more fuel you have to have to make it combust efficiently. This is the air/fuel ratio. Resetting the ECU simply gives the computer a fresh start in determining the new A/F ratios. All you have to do to reset the computer is: remove the negative side of the battery, pump the brakes a few times and let it sit for 5-10 mins to fully drain the charge in the system, then reattach the negative terminal.
 
Uh . . . try doing a search. There's tons of info on the intakes, how they differ, what their plusses and minuses are. No way to touch this in a simple answer.

I can say this. The ECU expects to get accurate readings from the MAF sensor in the intake between the filter and the intake manifold. If you change anything that causes the air to flow faster, slower, with greater or lesser volume, or with more or less turbulence, it affects the accuracy of the MAF electric signal to the ECU.

The best intakes keep the diameter of the piping as close to original size as possible so that the air column is the same when it hits the MAF. The best intakes have one of several different ways to prevent turbulence in the air stream where the air is going to pass through the MAF sensor. The best intakes are going to have a high flow filter that allows maximum air flow through the standard diameter intake tubing while still providing good filtration.

That is why some intakes that went up in tubing diameter caused serious problems with MAF readings. That is why some intakes that produced turbulence at the MAF sensor produced problems. Any intake that fails to increase air flow at WOT is not worth the cost. Any intake that fails to filter properly is going to hurt your engine.

This is not as simple as your question. Take some time, search and read and then make your own choice.

Then there is the CAI v. Short Ram debate: plenty of opinions and plenty of valid points on both sides.

For me, I wanted a true CAI with cold air coming in from the fender well behind the left front headlight. I felt this would be quieter and would take in true cold air.

I knew that the original Mazdaspeed CAI produced great gains on the dyno as published by Car and Driver (20 whp, 20 more pounds of torque) but it proved to have a problem with air turbulence messing up the MAF readings and sometimes causing a dangerous lean condition.

Mazda withdrew it from the market. AEM then came out with an air straightener design that corrected the problem. Mazdazpeed is now selling their intake again with the air straightener. It as actually the same one as the AEM and made by AEM. The AEM is a bit cheaper and both will cost more than most of the Short Ram setups. So I have a 2nd gen Mazdaspeed CAI and like it alot.

I'm not endorsing a product, just reporting my personal experience. A good intake, whether SRI or CAI will produce nice gains. Just get a good one that has the proper design criteria I have generally described above and which you should acquaint yourself with by using the search function and reading carefully.

As to resetting the ECU, with just about any iintake nstall you are going to be asked to disconnect the battery before removing the stock air box. So you get an ECU reset without even thinking about it. As a practical matter, the ECU will automatically adjust, but this might take a few hours of variable driving at various throttle settings for it to "learn" and adjust to the change in air flow.
 
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yeah get an intake with air straightener and you will be set

cobb, cp-e, mazdaspeed, AEM, they all have air straighteners

injen, fujita, HKS, etc do not have air straighteners...you want to watch out for those

if you really want bang for the buck, go with Cobb...its $175 shipped...can't go wrong with the price and the performance....installation is a breeze too

if you want to step up to the big boys, get the cp-e cai...its about $320 shipped
 
i think im just gonna get the CAI from mazda's website, like 335 bucks
 

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