Why don't car makers...

[Ceej]

just put cold air intakes on cars right in the factory?

Seriously, you get better gas milage, then engine breaths better so it will give a little more power. They can charge more to replace the filters when they wear out. There is more room to work on the engine because there is not some huge plastic air cleaner and all of the tubes to it etc.

Just seems like common sense to me.

 

[Natey]

I'm pretty sure that it's all about low-end torque and NVH.

 

[CHICO2003]

Great question... strange response. (sorry Natey... I must be stupid today) Anyway, I feel it's all about the $$$ (as always) it simply costs more to put a CAI in. that doesnt' explain why some of the high end cars lack them though. I'm sure there are some on this board with better insight than me...

 

[drumsbeloud]

yep....it's all about noise levels. i agree that for something like an msp or an equivalent "sports" car, it might go over well though.

 

[mazdadan]

The reason they aren't standard is because they increase noise, kill low end torque on some vehicles, and most have poorer filtration than an OEM filter. There is a site online (I forget the link) which compares a ton of aftermarket filters to an OEM one.

 

[mazdadan]

Ok here is some more information:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm

 

[Natey]

NVH:
Noise-Vibration-Harshness.

The stock Airbox really muffles the intake noise, and the back-pressure from the tiny opening in the stockie increases low-end torque...or should I say the flow of a cone filter on an aftermarket intake DEcreases low-end torque.

 

[scotthidley]

I'm glad Natey has a clue. The higher cost of a CAI is due to a very low volume. You guys really think it costs more to bend a tube than it does to develop multiple injection molds. All of the little "boxes" that are on the stock intake reduce noise. There are federal requirements for how loud a car can be, from approach, and beside the car (concerning with the intake). I don't think anybody should be confused about a advertised 130 hp being all about performance, because it isn't.

 

[acidbug]

I am sure it also has to do w/ the fact that w/ a CAI there is alwayz the chance of getting hydrolocked..and that would be covered under warranty..and cause millions of dolllars in repairs per year!

just my 2 cents

chas

 

[azian6er]

the new lightnig will have a cold air intake along with a newly designed Supercooler..( an intercooler that uses AC to cool the charge air.)

I agree, noise is probably why, also hydro lock.

-B

 

[chuyler1]

1) Cold Air...very few cars these days actually have the intake inside the engine compartment. Even my 87 Cougar had a plastic tube going to the wheel well.

So you are really asking, why don't automakers use something other than paper filters?

2) K&N and other after market filters do not filter as well as a standard paper filter...its a fact. less resistance=more particles

3) As mentioned above, all those boxes reduce the noise of the intake...something that is desirable to the government and most non-modders.

4) Why spend more money, sacrifice noise and reliability, when you can slap a turbo on the intake and FORCE the air through the filter? Plenty of automakers have realized this trick.

So, if the boxes that reduce noise are there for a reason, using something other than a paper filter increases costs while potentially reducing long-term reliability, and they already sucking in cold air by design...why would they want to put a CAI on?

 

[cbcbd]

I wonder how efficient our VICS is at countering the loss of low rpm power with a CAI or short ram intake

 

[Ceej]

Very interesting responses....I did not know that a short ram or full CAI would reduce low end torque on a car. I just figured; more air to the engine, the better off it will be.

 

[Minus]

probably because it just gives us something else to do to make it better than stock lol

 

[Keith@FP]

Don't confuse CAI with "big filter on the end of a tube". There's nothing in a well-designed cold air induction system that would mean the car's at any risk of hydrolocking. Our 1991 VW Passat had a cold air intake.

Most aftermarket "CAI" setups will not actually help with power output and the badly designed ones will put your engine at risk. They do sound cool.

Keith

 

[AlbinoMuntjac]

Wouldn't it be really kinda hard to hydrolock an engine with a CAI, in particular the P5?? The filter element itself is pretty much hidden under the plastic in the wheel well. Unless you were in water 3/4 the way up your wheel, I would imagine it to be safe. Hell, I'm sure you can hydrolock with the stock airbox, although it would be tougher.

 

[Vulcanon]

the ford zx2 comes stock with a CAI

 

[zx2sr]

the ford zx2 comes stock with a CAI

Acutally just the Zx2 S/R came w/ a CAI

 

[PaulMP3]

the mp3 prototype had a "CAI" or actually more of and short ram.. it just used a metal pipe that pointed down in the stock airbock location and had a k&n style filter... Im not sure if anyone else read/saw this... but in the original mp3 pamphlet this is what it had, it also had chrome rims and m3 mirrors.

 

[Mike R]

my 81 2.3L stang had CAI, in fact ALL the old FOX bodies had them. The local Honda dealer has dealer modded civic's, with Injens. Most cars do have CAI's, just not super loud ones with conical filters. It's all about NVH, that's why our factory motor mounts suck so bad!