Hey all!

I'm set on buying the AEM Cold Air Intake! However, it looks like they're just about to release an updated intake (according to their website). The new intake has a polished tube as well as a different type of filter.

Does anyone have the new AEM CAI? I just wanna see what the differences between the two are. Would it be worth waiting to get the newer version, or just get the current?

Also, maybe this is a stupid question, but here goes. As for the filter that comes with the intake; is that reusable like K&N filters? Or do you have to replace them periodically?

Thanks!

 

The filter AEM uses is a reuseable K&N.

 

Don't know about a New AEM/CAI but, sounds intriguing.

If it was me I'd probably wait to see if it is any different or you can find any more information about it.

The filter IS a K&N! At least it was on the one I owned and have seen lots of others that were the same.

Have you investigated other intakes? (Comptech "icebox", Injen, Mugen, and etc.)

Depending on where you live ie; rainy and wet seasons, you might also be interested in AEM's anti-hydrolock valve/attachemnt.

Good luck,

A.

PS AEM is a good product but, there are alternatives...

 

Injen supposedly makes 1-2hp more than AEM all across the rpm band. Unless the _new_ AEM has high-temp resistant polish/paint, I would get Injen CAI. Overall, every CAI is the same... expect no more than 3-5HP at peak HP.

 

I just finished making my own little Ghetto homemade Cold Air intake....made out of the stock Tubing.. Wish i had DIgi Cam so i could take pics of it.. but the inlet is sittin on the bottom right side, just under the front lip. facing forward.. so i get the ram effect and the tubing goes up and connects under the stock airbox......

All I did was remove the resinator box, and took out all the tubing...then i cut the bottom of the UPPER TUBE (which connects to the airbox) about 3" deep and turned the cut peice around to make it bend in the right direction.. then made a couple of cuts in the other tube, and attached the 2 tubes together. ta da!.. I even used the Flared out part of the tubing as the inlet, Looks pretty tight IMO..... the only downside to this is that it sits pretty low to the ground, and i havnt even dropped my car yet..but it could be relocated fairly easily...
Also the thing I like about this setup is that there is almost no chance of hydrolock.. hows that you say?.... when its raining, i just take off the lid of the Airbox! Instand Bypass valve! =X, I even went to Home Depot and bought a $3.00 Rubber plug to plug the hole on the bottom of the airbox just for added safety.. but its not nessasary.
my impressions: very noticable diffrenence over the stock setup... Last night I ran my car hard for about 20mins.....usually by that time, the airbox would be all hot. but when i felt it this time, it was as cold as the air outside

If i can get a digi cam from somewhere maybe i can take some pics

 

that'd be sweet if you could post some of those pics! i always seem to gravitate toward the threads with that little pic-included-icon next to them!

ActiveAero suggests removing the power steering belt as well. has anyone run into problems doing this? the steering i'm sure will be heavier, but is it bearable? i guess at high speeds, the steering will be pretty light?

as for the intake brand, i've done many searches on the intake topic. i guess i want the AEM simply because it's the most popular. as far as gains, it seems as though results vary so much from car to car, that any brand of a cold air intake won't matter. am i wrong in thinking this? it just seems that everyone has their opinion on different intakes; "AEM makes more power!" or "Ingen makes more power!" It basically came down to the point of appearance and i think the AEM looks best.

again, just wondering if anyone else out there has this so-called NEW AEM CAI. here's the link from their website http://www.aempower.com/new_products_f.htm. check out the photo and some of the verbiage below. the fact that there's a "new" one is bugging me. if it's significantly better, then i'd rather throw down my money on the new one.

 

Injen made more HP on a dyno than AEM. That's not based on opinions... but there could've been different variables (humidity, temp, etc.) to cause 1-2 hp shift.

Is the _new_ AEM more expensive than the _old_? IMO, if you want the looks of the new AEM, then just go get one. Like we've been saying, they all work the same.

 

Agreed about the Injen, I bought it and love it. Seems like all the guys did too when I dyno'd it! I think that AEM is "redesigning" it to keep Injen off the market. (After all the Injen owner used to WORK for AEM; go figure)! I would go with the Injen CAI (love the shiney chrome) and use the AEM water valve. But this is all a personal preference...

EDIT: IN FACT if you want to see the dyno you can check out here: https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=82949. A stock R SHOULD be somewhere between 153-155 WHP (Even though YOS ran a 157 with a cold engine)! My engine was warm though when we got this reading. It should be fairly accurate. I apologize that I don't have a stock base to compare with!


[Modified by 401-2001, 1:02 PM 10/28/2001]

 

Aleph and I were just talking about the Mugen...better not be set on your AC, because it will have to go if you want it!


[Modified by 401-2001, 1:08 PM 10/28/2001]

 

Im pretty sure u can just move the A/C lines... dont have to get rid of it

 

Way off topic, but if you get Mugen ECU, you can't use your AC anyway. So, before you get Mugen CAI, just buy $1500 ECU to justify taking off your A/C.

 

Way way way off topic, I have Mugen ECU and A/C
Way way not off topic, I also have Injen CAI and am happy enough to not look for another CAI. AEM is about as good, all the same really.

Demian

 

Demian - so A/C works with EUC with 00-01 adaptor?

 

I don't think AEM is redesigning their intake. The polished intake is just another option if you don't want red, blue or whatever other color they offer. I did hear that they will no longer come with a k&n, but rather aem's own filter which they say increases performance. I doubt it will make much difference though.

 

True, I believe that.

As per the post link it does look the same as the old one just a different exterior finish. I've actually handeled the new filter and just didn't know it until this post. The filter is almost the same I'd guess on the outside but the structural material is more pliable and I'd guess more forgiving.

According to their post "AEM's" they redesigned the intake "horn" for better air flow which usually translates to more HP/TQ!

But, again if you follow blindly advertising and manufacturer claims then they claim it to have a 1-3 MORE HP gain over the old intake setup which if I remember correctly was about 9 or so HP so according to them it makes between 12 to 15 HP gain with their new setup.

My opinion: YET TO BE SEEN!

And as posted by others, Yes the AEM and Injen and others are almost identical in construction and gains as for the average CAI.

The few that ARE REALLY of different design are:

1. MUGEN "but you need to at least remove the AC lines to clear it And t costs an arm and a leg!"

2. COMPTECH ICEBOX "My current choice and am very satisfied, plus you don't need to hack up your piping to install any anti hydrolock valve, and of course ease of maintenance!"

3. ARC "Ohhh ARCeeeee, I like it and a friend of mine has one ordered, I hope it does him well cause I'm very interested in it, BUT it's as highly priced or higher than the MUGEN!"

Good luck, don't believe EVERYTHING you hear and see posted an intake is NOT the best first HP/TQ mod really! It is usually the least expensive BUT,

A good JDM brand header with a 2.5" collector mated to a HF cat is a better choice IMHO!

Again, Good Luck,

A.

 

Hey if you did this them let me know, cause my Injen (and AEM from what I understand) rub just a tad against em. Where/how did you move them?

B

 

I havnt done it yet...but talking to other peeps on H-T thats what i found out.. Im planning to get the ARC intake...(hopefully Next week).. so eventually im going to have to modify my A/C lines too.. ill let u know

 

If you haven't already, use zip-ties to secure the CAI piping <u>away</u> from the A/C line. Also, zip-tie the A/C line to the hose next to it. (what the hell is that line next to A/C line?)

 

No adapter needed CTR ECU

Demian

 

i love my "old" aem itr cai!! wouldn't trade it for anything else on the market!