Will a CAI improve gas mileage? Nope. - TriStateTuners.com :: Home of Tristate Auto Enthusiast

DPancoast · 09-09-2009, 03:32 PM

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FUEL ECONOMY DO NOT TURN THIS INTO A DEBATE ON POWER AND IF YOU GET ANY FROM A CAI... THIS IS ABOUT FUEL ECONOMY

FuelEconomy.gov

I have answered too many newbie questions (no offense newbs... I was a newb once too

)asking if their cold air intake will make their car get better gas mileage. The answer is and always has been, NO. Finally the DOE commissioned and published a test proving exactly that.

The above link tested brand new OEM panel filters versus the same filters clogged with shop towels laid over them. They were so clogged that in one case the filter actually broke due to the pressure differential across it. They tested the differential pressure, acceleration performance (20mph roll to 80mph) and fuel economy for three modern fuel-injected cars (2003 Camry, 2007 Buick Lucerne, and 2006 charger) and one carbureted car (1972 Pontiac Grandville). It should be noted that the difference between switching from the clogged filters in this test to a new OEM panel filter will be MUCH greater than switching from a new OEM panel filter to a nice high-flow cone filter.

The cars all accelerated significantly faster with the new air filter. But none of the EFI cars posted a gain in fuel economy. Pages 14 and 15 at the above link show the data and results of the test.

The changes observed by clogging the air filter produced no significant effect on the fuel economy of the vehicles tested, when tested over these three standard cycles that represent a wide range of driving conditions.
The carbureted 1972 Pontiac did post a slight gain in fuel economy, however.

Another interesting result is that they tested an aftermarket panel filter and an aftermarket cone filter and found that the performance panel filter reduced the pressure drop over the stock panel filter by 90% of what the performance cone filter did. (no filter: .88kPa pressure drop; performance cone filter: 1.07kPa; performance panel filter 1.11kPa, OEM panel 1.56kPa) This test was on the 2007 Buick with the 3.8l V6 that makes about 200 hp.

So, FINALLY, we can tell the 17 year olds that the DOE says they can't tell their parents that the cold air intake they want is for fuel economy. You will have to suck it up and be honest and tell them that you just want more power... which on some apps.. is only 1 or 2 ponies. You can also tell them you want a lot of noise... they might buy it.

Lets not also forget that most car engineers design the air boxes in cars to give the optimum efficiency when it comes to power and fuel economy. Throwing a CAI in there will just throw the sensors off and the whole engine in general.

jpalamar · 09-09-2009, 03:35 PM

But, CAI makes people think their cars are fast.

RSX Type-Slow · 09-09-2009, 03:45 PM

it's not rocket science. cold air= more power less economy. on the other side of the spectrum is hot air= less power better economy.

anyone who's daily drivin a car with a CAI during summer/ winter months can agree.

SvicksTc · 09-09-2009, 03:52 PM

WELL...When you drive an RX8 that gets like 14mpg and you add a CAI people have actually seen there MPG increase as a result....

All readings being done from a scangauge so accuracy might be an issues, but many many many people have shown an increase in MPG due to a CAI

Scapegoat · 09-09-2009, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Another interesting result is that they tested an aftermarket panel filter and an aftermarket cone filter and found that the performance panel filter reduced the pressure drop over the stock panel filter by 90% of what the performance cone filter did. (no filter: .88kPa pressure drop; performance cone filter: 1.07kPa; performance panel filter 1.11kPa, OEM panel 1.56kPa)

what does this mean? panel filter > cone filter?

turboman808 · 09-09-2009, 03:53 PM

Car comes with all sorts of sensors that can tell how much air is coming into the car. CAI can improve air flow under wide open throttle. Chances are under wide open throttle your not worried about fuel. At 5% throttle which is where you are if your driving to save gas mileage cai or 10 year old filter doesn't really matter much.

Narrow tires, less drag, lean out fuel mixture.

jpalamar · 09-09-2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SvicksTc

WELL...When you drive an RX8 that gets like 14mpg and you add a CAI people have actually seen there MPG increase as a result....

If your driving an RX8 and get 14 MPG your **** must be broke. That little motor on WOT probally gets 14...

SvicksTc · 09-09-2009, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpalamar

If your driving an RX8 and get 14 MPG your **** must be broke. That little motor on WOT probally gets 14...

Obviously you know nothing...they are rated at 17mpg but people normally see around 14mpg....Not highway....

240sxDann · 09-09-2009, 04:10 PM

Maybe he just drives everywhere WOT? I know they aren't all that fast so maybe he has to...

NOPSTNS · 09-09-2009, 04:14 PM

"but mom itll make the car better on gas!" haha

i always saw it as cold air is more dense, requiring more fuel. bam, cai is bad for economy. no one buyin a cai gives two ****s about economy, including me.
i slapped one on my rx8 bc it sounds so awesomely weird at 9500rpm!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpalamar

If your driving an RX8 and get 14 MPG your **** must be broke. That little motor on WOT probally gets 14...

dont know much about rotaries, huh? they are horrible on gas. if im tryin real hard i get about 17 city and 25 highway. but since it lives at redline its more like 12 city 18 highway
the next gen rotary wont be so bad tho

2010verabr · 09-09-2009, 04:15 PM

lol no

jpalamar · 09-09-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SvicksTc

Obviously you know nothing...they are rated at 17mpg but people normally see around 14mpg....Not highway....

That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Buying a slow car that gets 17 MPG or less. I honestly expected much more out of the rotory. I thought they would be better on gas, lack of course the low end due to displacement but scream at high RPM with lots of power.

5.7L > 1.3L in MPG
5.7L > 1.3L in power
5.7L > 1.3 in reliabilty

hehe, I am a little swayed in my thoughts :-)

DPancoast · 09-09-2009, 04:17 PM

LOL that reminds me of driving my friends Geo around. You could floor that little 3cyl all around town and never get pulled over for speeding. There are a lot of OTHER things that affect MPG numbers. However... this thread is about the intake system.

NOPSTNS · 09-09-2009, 04:17 PM

and...here...we...go...

jpalamar · 09-09-2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NOPSTNS

and...here...we...go...

Can you tell I'm bored at work. Argueing over nothing.

[sr20]sean · 09-09-2009, 06:58 PM

even though its called 1.3L ive been told its an equivilent to a 2.6L

05 mazda6s · 09-09-2009, 07:03 PM

That's hard for me to believe because the more cold, dense air you add to the fuel/air mixture, the better the fuel burns, thereby using less fuel. But it's only a small increase, nothing major.

By having a CAI, the engine doesn't have to work as hard as it did to suck air.

evomike · 09-09-2009, 07:10 PM

Yeah I got 2mpg from an intake it all depends on the vehicle application.

ndubz · 09-09-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpalamar

That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Buying a slow car that gets 17 MPG or less. I honestly expected much more out of the rotory. I thought they would be better on gas, lack of course the low end due to displacement but scream at high RPM with lots of power.

5.7L > 1.3L in MPG
5.7L > 1.3L in power
5.7L > 1.3 in reliabilty

hehe, I am a little swayed in my thoughts :-)

Its a rotary. and u have a pushrod V8. Rotarys scream, but are terribly inefficient. Ur engine does very well on all fronts....even fuel economy considering its size. Its different technology.

RSX Type-Slow · 09-09-2009, 09:29 PM

hell, i put a cai on my bicycle and increased my gas mileage by a billion miles per gallon.

09-09-2009, 03:35 PM	#2
jpalamar TST Ruined My Life! Join Date: May 2009 Location: Orefield, PA Member #13773 My Ride: '14 Mustang GT iTrader: (3)	But, CAI makes people think their cars are fast. __________________ 2014 Mustang GT performance package, M6, Brembo brakes, Torsen diff with 3.73, Steeda CAI with 101mm MAF, ST coilovers with caster/camber plates, BMR lower control arms, BMR watts link, BMW sway bars with end links, front brake cooling ducts, SR short shiffter, and custom tuned Last edited by jpalamar; 09-09-2009 at 03:38 PM.

09-09-2009, 03:45 PM	#3
RSX Type-Slow Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: D-town Member #5868 My Ride: 99' Civic Si iTrader: (1)	it's not rocket science. cold air= more power less economy. on the other side of the spectrum is hot air= less power better economy. anyone who's daily drivin a car with a CAI during summer/ winter months can agree. __________________ -Tim Dropped and swapped Civic Si

09-09-2009, 03:52 PM	#4
SvicksTc Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Spoolin a Snail Member #7395 My Ride: Nike 6.0 iTrader: (1)	WELL...When you drive an RX8 that gets like 14mpg and you add a CAI people have actually seen there MPG increase as a result.... All readings being done from a scangauge so accuracy might be an issues, but many many many people have shown an increase in MPG due to a CAI __________________ Why V-tec When there is To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. ? \|Nikon\| Twitter: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

09-09-2009, 07:03 PM	#17
05 mazda6s Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Richboro, PA Member #5265 My Ride: 2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT iTrader: (0)	That's hard for me to believe because the more cold, dense air you add to the fuel/air mixture, the better the fuel burns, thereby using less fuel. But it's only a small increase, nothing major. By having a CAI, the engine doesn't have to work as hard as it did to suck air. __________________ PennState Class of '12 Last edited by 05 mazda6s; 09-09-2009 at 07:08 PM.

09-09-2009, 09:29 PM	#20
RSX Type-Slow Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: D-town Member #5868 My Ride: 99' Civic Si iTrader: (1)	hell, i put a cai on my bicycle and increased my gas mileage by a billion miles per gallon. __________________ -Tim Dropped and swapped Civic Si

09-09-2009, 03:53 PM	#6
turboman808 Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: North Jersey Member #5285 iTrader: (0)	Car comes with all sorts of sensors that can tell how much air is coming into the car. CAI can improve air flow under wide open throttle. Chances are under wide open throttle your not worried about fuel. At 5% throttle which is where you are if your driving to save gas mileage cai or 10 year old filter doesn't really matter much. Narrow tires, less drag, lean out fuel mixture.

09-09-2009, 04:15 PM	#11
2010verabr Tri-State Training Wheels Join Date: Sep 2009 Member #14579 My Ride: 2001 dodge neon es iTrader: (0)	lol no

09-09-2009, 04:17 PM	#14
NOPSTNS Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Member #3176 iTrader: (0)	and...here...we...go...

09-09-2009, 07:10 PM	#18
evomike Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Sep 2006 Member #2578 My Ride: 03 duramax and a 04 evo iTrader: (3)	Yeah I got 2mpg from an intake it all depends on the vehicle application.

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