MinimusMaximus

I have a '95 Civic Coupe I picked up off a family friend as a commuter recently. The car and engine appear to be pretty stock other than the cold air intake and K&N filter that was on the car prior to when she owned it.

My question is, are there any fuel economy benefits from this cold air intake vs. a stock one?
This car is strictly a commuter, I have no plans to modify the engine for performance gains, in fact if I need to "dumb" the engine down to squeek a few more MPGs out of it I will.
Already the CAI creates a rather annoying drone while on the freeway. The car is loud enough already with the road noise. If I could quiet it down any that would be an added bonus.

FWIW the exhaust looks stock too.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Return it to stock if you have the parts. The aftermarket intake was probably put there for 'performance".

Linked

sounds like you want to go back stock. any junkyard will easily have the stock intake parts for cheap

then you can sell the can and turn a profit

Mitchness

If you're looking to squeeze as many MPGs out of it as you can you can build a "hot air intake". Basically a short ram that pulls air from over the exhaust manifold. The hotter air will help net you a few more fractions of an MPG. Probably won't help the drone though as it will still be an open element intake.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

You have any numbers to back up that statement? I haven't seen anything where an SRI will help increase MPGs. Not saying you aren't speaking fact but I've never seen it.

TOO MUCH TORQUE

i saw 2-3 mpg gain with aem sri.....i believe it has more to do with the filter. i think aem dryflows are perfectly balance for filtration and airflow. on the hand, take a K and N, too much air flow and bad filtration.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

The filter would make more sense. You can to back to stock and use a K&N drop in.

MinimusMaximus

Thanks for the advice.
I'm leaning toward the stock box anyway just to eliminate the drone so long as it doesn't adversly affect the mileage I'm currently getting.
Sounds like it wont though so Just out of curiosity and because I'm an information sponge, can anyone explain WHY I'd gain a few more mpgs with a stock air box/filter? Prior to owning a car strictly as a commuter, I was always under the impression that the more airflow and exhaust flow you provide the less restriction on the engine, the less restiction the more efficient, more efficient= more mpgs...

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

The difference between what you have and the stock box is negligible. The CAI is "supposed" to net you more horsepower but in reality the gain isn't really much-if any. So the stock box, with a drop in K&N would be preferable from an economy standpoint. It's what I would do and need to do on the wife's hatch.

24TEN

iTrader: (2)

I have an INJEN intake on my car, I've kept track of fuel consumption for the last couple of years and saw a solid +2.5mpg over stock. I don't mind sharing the data either if anyone is interested.

owneyboy

iTrader: (1)

there are reasons why honda made the HF/CX/HX leaner burning motors higher IATS and leaner afrs. better fuel atomization better throttle response/ feel of low end torque. a whole lot of other complicated theories and explications but basic breakdown

MinimusMaximus

Whoa, slow down pilgrim...
I have no idea what your talking about. IATS, afrs... what's that all mean and where were you going with the last part, "...but basic breakdown"?

24TEN

iTrader: (2)

IAT-Intake Air Temperature
AFR-Air/Fuel Ratio

Mitchness

When I went from the short ram intake that came with my del to a true CAI I saw a drop of 2 mpg highway (40-38). Filter wasn't an issue because it was the same filter for both intakes.

Unrelated, but when I went from the low resistance Potenzas that came with it to the H rated Zexius tires I have now I dropped another 2 mpg (38-36).

MinimusMaximus

Hmmm...
I guess that brings up another question I need clarification on. What's the difference between a cold air intake and short ram intake?
I thought the two terms were used interchangeably. Now I'm not sure which on I have.

All I know is mine is a 4-6" diameter tube that extends from the rear of the engine around to the side and terminates into a K&N filter just alongside the engine near the passenger wheel well.
I called it a CAI because when I google cold air intake for my car the images that appear are close to what's installed on mine. However, I was never too sure of where the "Cold Air" comes from if the filter and everything is right inside the engine compartment...

kyden

"cold air intake" is when the filter is out of the engine bay.

you can gain more mileage by chipping the ecu and tuning it.

MinimusMaximus

Okay then,
mines definitely NOT outside the engine bay.

This is not my car but it looks something like this:


That being said is the mileage increase/decrease still negligible?

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

That would be a short "ram" intake (SRI). Negligible yes. If you crave a quieter car then revert to stock and drop a K&N filter in it.

Hidenplanvew

you wont see a diffrence any way you go MPG wise...

b16crxsir2

Keeping the hot air out of the intake helps performance and it seemed to help my gas mileage by about 2mpg.
I made a block off for my air filter and it works great!







Check it out at: How To: Automotive - How I make my own hot air blocking panel for intake air filter.

eghatch9295

iTrader: (1)

YAY! 4 years ago, they would have loved it?

b16crxsir2

Its still helpful for anyone searching for this. I had a really hard time finding anything useful.

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

Your incorrect information is not helpful to anyone. Warmer air means better gas mileage. This is a well known fact in the hypermiling community. If all you want to do is spread false information, don't bother wasting our time - we will debunk everything you say.

tony_2018

It is true if you are indeed a hypermiler, warmer air helps to achieve better mpg.

b16crxsir2

Well, I got a noticeable improvement in my gas mileage of 2mpg. I keep track of my mileage every fill up on a chart, which also logs all my changes to the car.