So, if I have this straight, the CAI stands for Cold Air Induction(or intake)? But don't most, of if not all these kits, suck air right out of the hot engine compartment? This almost seems like false advertising! Under hood temps can be quite high compared to outside temps, especially if you throw on some headers. In fact, I heard of an under hood cook book for cooking food on the go, literally.

Do any of these kits actually do as advertised and intake air from outside the vehicle where it's actually cooler? If anyone knows chime in. I haven't puchased one for my JK yet and I would like to because I know they pull in more air, I would just like one that pulls in cooler air if it exsists. Or is there one in development?

 

that is why most of the kits have a heat shield. to suck in cooler air.

i don't believe there is any type of ram air or snorkel available for the JK yet.

 

Suck in cooler air from where? It still comes from under the hood doesn't it? Sounds like hot air to me. Meaning, all these manufacturers are full of it!

 

Your stock air intake set up is cold air induciton. It sucks (draws) air from under the wheel well. This is very common for most vehicles produced after the EPA restriction era (circa 1980's). The old way of thinking was to use the heated air to increase hydrocarbon burn. The new way of thinking is more control of the engine management system which includes a more stable and desirable temperature range.

The real benefit is the resuable air cleaner filter assembly and a internally smooth intake tube. The stock unit is accordian style which creates turbulance, and that is a bad thing for performance. You will see most noticlable performance gains at WOT, as far as HP and torque numbers go. Smooth tube, a washable, reusable filter; sounds like a good idea to me.

 

The heat shield wont do much at all. If you wanted a cai, kiss offroading good bye. These are all Short Ram Intakes that are on the market. For whatever reason, everybody calls them CAI, though.

 

Uh...no it doesn't. It draws the air from OVER the inner fender, just under the hood, inside the engine compartment. It is set up to afford the best water fording capabilities.

 

So all this being said does make some sense, but what is the best set up, a more sealed box like the factory or Volant, or the others that seem to just have shields?:confused:

 

The answer to that question will vary widely with everyone's personal OPINION. Would you want to do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kPUVNJUXjk
with a CAI? It depends on what YOU want to do with YOUR Jeep. Good luck.

 

Its really just sucking MORE of the same air as the stock filter because its an open filter and not enclosed in a box.

My past experience is that the filters just get dirtier quicker and no real noticable mpg gain because you are stomping the pedal just for the cool air sucking sound.

 

I havent looked at how everything is set up, but in my last car I got all the benefits of a previous SRI, by just doing a K+N drop in and removing the Resonator piping. I dont know where the bottom of the stock box is.