SRI vs CAI (from AEM question)

[boostaddict]

Newbie question: I understand the theory of what you guys are all saying on the SRI/CAI debate but, call me crazy, isn't it the *wastegate* that is limiting how much air our car is getting????

Why not just trust AEM knows what they are doing and that they'll find us the most power they can.... it'll sell more afterall and that's what they want.

 

[II-Savy]

Thanks for starting another thread because SOMEONE has the need to keep closing things.


"Why not just trust AEM knows what they are doing and that they'll find us the most power they can.... it'll sell more afterall and that's what they want."

I'm going to have to agree with this. Let's let AEM do there job and find us the most power. I would trust there judgement over people guessing and popping off on a forum about number and amount of bends.

 

[kazson]

im going to have to agree on this one. but the last post said AEM got the car they needed...only thing we can do now is wait

 

[Logan]

Nope, AEM will build a part that will sell the most. Marketing. I don't blame them.
Even if a SRI made more power than a CAI, I bet they would sell a CAI.
The "Sport Compact Car" generation has been convinced that colder is better when it comes to air, no matter what car is sucking up the air.

 

[boostisgood]

Nope, AEM will build a part that will sell the most. Marketing. I don't blame them.
Even if a SRI made more power than a CAI, I bet they would sell a CAI.
The "Sport Compact Car" generation has been convinced that colder is better when it comes to air, no matter what car is sucking up the air.

Got that right brother. It cracks me up, that in every single boosted car you see in a video or magazine either has an SRI or a FRIKIN FILTER BOLTED DIRECTLY TO THE TURBO, but everyone wants a CAI for thier MSP. Seeing as how everyone wants what they see.

This again goes back to the point that people need to learn more about forced induction, and ALL the characteristics regarding such a car.

(not flaming people, not trying to start a war, just stating my opinion.)

 

[NJMAZDASPEED]

Newbie question: I understand the theory of what you guys are all saying on the SRI/CAI debate but, call me crazy, isn't it the *wastegate* that is limiting how much air our car is getting????

Why not just trust AEM knows what they are doing and that they'll find us the most power they can.... it'll sell more afterall and that's what they want.

To answer your question, the wastegate is controlling the amount of boost that the turbo will push before it purges itself.Yes, in a way you r right, but the idea of a free flowing intake for fi isnt so much to add more air to the motor, but to make it easier for the turbo to get the air it needs(eliminating choking)so it can spool freely.

 

[jred321]

frequently debated (sri vs. cai), never a conclusive result shown, and i doubt there will be one any time soon.
and the wastegate limits how much pressure there is in the system, not actual amount of air.

 

[KyRaceFan]

TURBO CARS CANNOT RUN SHORT RAM OR COLD AIR INTAKES.

The pipe called an SRI, or CAI, on a turbo car is the TURBO INLET.
SRIs and CAIs hook up to the throttle body.. on a turbocharged and intercooled car like ours, the throttle body piping is charge piping.

And the wastegate has NOTHING to do with how much air the engine takes in...

NJMAZDASPEED said it very well, most turbo cars have the filter on a short pipe or the filter attached to the inlet to reduce restriction.

 

[NoVaMSP]

on this note a quik question , my stupid callaway snorkle broke off
i just left it off , and i havent noticed anything diffrent .
and that made me think a short ram wouldnt be that diffrent temp/ distance from stock snorkle location . i guessed a CAI might make the most sense because of a larger temp. decrease.
does this sound right?

 

[Black Majik MSP]

on this note a quik question , my stupid callaway snorkle broke off
i just left it off , and i havent noticed anything diffrent .
and that made me think a short ram wouldnt be that diffrent temp/ distance from stock snorkle location . i guessed a CAI might make the most sense because of a larger temp. decrease.
does this sound right?

Did you read ANYTHING in this thread? It's flow that matters more, not temp...it's gonna get heated up either way.

 

[kazson]

not trying to start a flame war here either but azian6er made the point i was going to post. the Injen Cold air showed gains up to 16whp which is pretty damn good.

but on the SRI's i have still yet to see a single dyno. and i know plenty of people are using SRI and bolt on filters.

And just because you see a magazine with it doesnt mean much. those guys are people just like you and me and just because they have a fast car doesnt mean they know everything.

Also all turbo cars are NOT created equal. for example on the WRX a SRI or CAI make almost no difference and in some cases LOST hp.

so to sum it all up. less bends, colder air blah blah it all sounds good in theory but it all boils down to what is going to get me to the end of that quarter mile quicker.

 

[Striker187]

for our stock ic's, it probably helps to have a cai since a drop in the intake temp will help out the ic. but if you have a large fmic, a cai is probably not needed cause the fmic will cool the intake temp much more efficiently.

 

[Larone]

This thread will potentially continue for a while .
The SRI is better for a turbocharged car. The CAI works and adds impressive numbers, but if you're a real tuner, with money, (meaning you'll be getting FMIC with hardpipes of course, and all the other necessities to safely up the boost level significantly), then it might not be the best thing for the compressor to be sucking air from a CAI when it is trying to compress 16, 17, 18 psi of air (heck, even 12) simply because the tubing is longer and it makes the compressor work harder...remember, work = force * distance. Don't worry about PV = nRT...the FMIC will take care of the T, to ensure you can have enough P and V. So bottom line, if you want to run 8psi daily at around 180-200whp, the CAI will be SUFFICIENT.....but start talking real numbers and IMO you'd be better off with the SRI.

 

[kazson]

This thread will potentially continue for a while .
The SRI is better for a turbocharged car. The CAI works and adds impressive numbers, but if you're a real tuner, with money, (meaning you'll be getting FMIC with hardpipes of course, and all the other necessities to safely up the boost level significantly), then it might not be the best thing for the compressor to be sucking air from a CAI when it is trying to compress 16, 17, 18 psi of air (heck, even 12) simply because the tubing is longer and it makes the compressor work harder...remember, work = force * distance. Don't worry about PV = nRT...the FMIC will take care of the T, to ensure you can have enough P and V. So bottom line, if you want to run 8psi daily at around 180-200whp, the CAI will be SUFFICIENT.....but start talking real numbers and IMO you'd be better off with the SRI.

ok ill take that

 

[MoSqUiTo]

ahh i dont know what to get...im on the waiting list for the billet sri...but i want my stuff now! and ye si am getting big fmic with hard pipes...so just wait for the sri? oo and quick question..is the ion performance fmic and 3' exhaust any good? or would i do better with getting a greddy fmic and fitting it in?

 

[jrodhotrod]

and quick question..is the ion performance fmic and 3' exhaust any good? or would i do better with getting a greddy fmic and fitting it in?

Nobody has the ION Exhaust yet, but if their FMIC is anything to be judged by it's going to be very high quality. My ION FMIC is sitting in my garage waiting to be installed. Very high quality, I am impressed with the parts. You'll be in very good shape going with an ION or Spool FMIC vs. trying to piece together a kit yourself. Both have been well designed and put together with top notch parts.

(all that and I just wanted to get a subscribe to see how the CAI/SRI debate shakes down)

Resume thread topic....

 

[1sty]

I love how when a subjedct turns to a mods usefullness the vendors are NO WHERE TO BE FOUND!!!
(rofl)

Now post something like, "Thinking about a FMIC" and your will be harassed to no end.

 

[Mario]

Intakes

Does anybody have any dyno numbers on a SRI. If so, can someone let me know. All I know about is the Injen CAI.

 

[scoobiesport]

Also all turbo cars are NOT created equal. for example on the WRX a SRI or CAI make almost no difference and in some cases LOST hp.

so to sum it all up. less bends, colder air blah blah it all sounds good in theory but it all boils down to what is going to get me to the end of that quarter mile quicker.

It was THOUGHT the WRX lost hp with a SRI. Godspeed has proven this wrong and has got pretty respectable numbers from them. The CAI however is worthless and makes the car run like crap.

Dont worry so much about the temps that is what your IC is for no mater how small it is. There are ways to make your intake air colder and the CAI is not a very good one for a turbo'd car

 

[II-Savy]

"The CAI however is worthless and makes the car run like crap."

So the CAI from Injen makes your car run like crap?