CAI Blocking Air Flow

[blacksport]

The other day a freind and I were just wrenching a little on the car and he asked what was in front of my radiator (my Cold Air Intake). He was pretty suprized at why someone would put something that large in front of a radiator because it would block air flow.

You know I'm like, ya ya, but it has to do more good than bad if this many people have it.


Well what do you know I'm driving along the turn pike and I notice my car running a little hotter than it should. About 210-212, first thing that comes to mind is the CAI. I pull over and rip it out of there and the engine temp drops about 5-6 degrees.

It pretty much defies the point of putting cold air in the engine if you make it even hotter by blocking off flow to the radiator a I correct?

The hole thing I as I see is pretty much useless. I dont even know if it actually does lower intake temps.

Why does no one make tube style CAI's behind the radiator for the newer cars?

[3.4 slow to go]

because it would just suck up the hot air coming thru the radiator. then it would be HAI.

[ February 20, 2005, 02:18 PM: Message edited by: 3.4 slow to go ]

[saltnvinegar6287]

its not going to restrict airflow to the radiator. its not even really behind it. Its more on the top corner. and with all the restriction already like the whole front end, the bumper, hood, etc. there wont be any noticable changes. It does bring in colder air. Put it back on b4 something goes into the engine and screws it up.

[FirebirdGT]

Originally posted by saltnvinegar6287:
its not going to restrict airflow to the radiator. its not even really behind it. Its more on the top corner. and with all the restriction already like the whole front end, the bumper, hood, etc. there wont be any noticable changes. It does bring in colder air. Put it back on b4 something goes into the engine and screws it up.

WRONG, you have a 96, he has a 2001. CAI is completely different.

[blacksport]

Originally posted by saltnvinegar6287:
its not going to restrict airflow to the radiator. its not even really behind it. Its more on the top corner. and with all the restriction already like the whole front end, the bumper, hood, etc. there wont be any noticable changes. It does bring in colder air. Put it back on b4 something goes into the engine and screws it up.

Alright, on my car 2001 (completely different from your car) the CAI blocks almost all of the radiator off. I noticed no performance difference at all with it. I did watch my engine temps go down after I pulled it off.

And what are you talking about putting it back on before I screw somehting on my engine up? Do you even know what i'm talking about. The CAI on my car is aftermarket and has nothing to do with the air filter...


"because it would just suck up the hot air coming thru the radiator. then it would be HAI."


For one I dont think the air in front of my radiator is much hotter than where the CAI sucks up air. I think the whole thing is a big cheap scam to make money.


It might lower the engine temp. somewhat by sucking colder air but by blocking off the flow to the radiator it makes the engine run even hotter than before, making it completely pointless because the air it sucks in is already heated up because the engine is running hot because there is no air flow to the radiator.


I can imagine it is especially bad at times you are stopped in traffic when the fan is going... What good is that fan doing if it cant circulate air through the radiator???

[98goldbird]

Are you serious!?!??! I can't believe you're flipping out about running on average temperature (210 is average if you didnt know). And if you wanted to, install a Man Fan Switch (you can make one or buy one), and then you can control when your fans come on to cool your car down if you want it around 180*. I love my SLP CAI. I just really don't see what you're complaining about. [img]graemlins/slap.gif[/img]

[grayman]

ok everyone.

just clarifying a bit...lots of words going back and forth...some confusion from the reading on this thread is unavoidable.

1) The CAI we are talking about here is most likely something like the SLP or the FTRAIK? yes? It draws in cold (colder than the engine compartment) air. But it does sit in front of the radiator...they can cause radiator to not function as well. If you have the RAM Air scoop on the kit even more of the radiator is blocked.

2) your engine temp may rise with the blocked radiator...but the air going through the intake is colder = denser. That can still be a performace improvement even if engine is a little hotter. Personal observation is the best way to tell...and you have been doing that.

3) It is assumed that you already have replaced stock 195 degree thermo with a 180 degree thermo. If not...this will help. (even better if you know how to mod system to run the 160 thermo and don't live in alaska. [img]smile.gif[/img]
But, having a 160 degree thermo will not mean your car will stay at 160...we all know that already...anyway...

4) after the thermostat swap you want to reprogram fan turn on/off temps accordingly or add manual fan switch. Very important if blocking radiator and you live in hot climate...very useful even if you don't block radiator with CAI.

5) My car never over heated with the FTRAIK...with the lower ram air scoop on as well. The 180 thermo took average temps from "needle to the right of center gauge to needle to the left of center gauge." About 15 degrees cooler...just like the 195 to 180 thermo temp would suggest.

Just cutting out the bottom of the airbox like you did to install the CAI usualy is enough to improve airflow and witness better throttle response versus the stock airbox.

With my rig I want the intakee air to be as cold as possible before it is compressed so I sorta have to keep induction kit on and have reprogramed the fans and swapped thermos accordingly.

If you have not chaged the thermo then...that is my first suggestion. You probably already have...I just looked at your sig again and saw the valvetrain work and stuff. In that case, nevermind...just trying to help and give feed back as a straight TB Ram air induction user.

[mjparme]

I have a 99 with the SLP CAI on it. It is the kind that sits in front of the radiator. However, I don't believe it blocks air from hitting the radiator because it doesn't rest against it, it angles out from it and doesn't touch it.

The air hitting the radiator comes from the air dam deflecting air up into the radiator. The SLP CAI doesn't block that air (although I don't believe you specified which CAI you have so maybe yours is different). Did you remove the air dam? If so that could probably cause the issue you describe.

[blacksport]

I have a 160* thermostat but havent got a switch on the fan yet.


I know colder air more oxygen molecules, ya ya.... But if the CAI is only picking up air maybe a few degrees colder (if it does) than what it normaly does, but at the same time is making the engine run hotter then the cold air is just being heated up more than it normaly would because of engine temps.


I have an Austin Super Sucker CAI. It doesnt have the bottom scoop on it (knocked off awhile back).

[Guest]

Honestly air doesnt hit the radiator straight on (most of the air), it goes up the air dam deflector.

[blacksport]

But it cant circulate through it if it blocked off (well its in front of the radiator but not much space between the A/C thing and Radiator). And at idle in traffic its not circulating as well as it should.

[98goldbird]

Man, you're still complaining about running at an average temperature?? Just get a Fan Switch (you can make one for like $5) and turn the fans on when you're in traffic.

I've also never heard of Austin Super Sucker CAI--Is it the same setup as SLP's?? Also, you knocked off your bottom scoop?? Hmm.....I'd get a different CAI. But either way, save your troubles and get a fan switch.

[blacksport]

I'm not complaining about ****ing average temps.


The whole point of Cold Air Intake is lower intake temps. If it blocks off the radiator causing the engine to run hotter, which would mean higher intake temps, its not doing anything making the whole thing pointless....


I think the CAI's that are in front of the radiator are pointless and shouldnt even be sold.


They suck cooler air but at the same time make the engine temp. higher, pretty much canceling out anything it has done because the "cold air" that is directed to the intake is just heated up by the hotter engine.

[Savage_Messiah]

Ok, go back to stock and get less air flowing more slowly and warmer and stop coplaining

[mjparme]

I think the CAI's that are in front of the radiator are pointless and shouldnt even be sold.


They suck cooler air but at the same time make the engine temp. higher, pretty much canceling out anything it has done because the "cold air" that is directed to the intake is just heated up by the hotter engine.

Well you are the only one that thinks that. My SLP CAI does not block the radiator, it points out in front of it. Air can circulate just fine.

Can't speak for the austin super sucker since I have never seen it nor heard of it. Could be you just need a different brand of CAI.

My engine does not run hotter with the SLP CAI installed.