After a month of waiting, I finally got my CAI installed. I was waiting for black, but the local place I ordered from gave me the run-around, so instead they gave me the polished, with hydroshield and installation, for $250. Not a bad price.

Here are some initial thoughts:

It has the same sound as stock when driving mellow, below ~5k rpms without punching the gas too hard. There's a slight "whoosh" sound when pressing down the gas quickly above ~3k, it sounds cool, sort of like a mini blowoff valve or something, very cool.

i-VTEC sounds pretty meaty, especially when you're not quite taking it 100%. However, at 100% throttle through the gears, it switches over into an "extra mean" mode that is louder and frankly, I'm not sure that I like it. It sounds kind of cool from inside the car, but I get the feeling it's one of those sounds that I'd be annoyed by if I saw someone driving by with a similar sound.

Powerwise, I find it difficult to actually *feel* a difference, but because of the sound it's definately more visceral. More fast? More hp/torque? I'm not sure but it definitely adds to the vtec experience.

Because I don't have experience installing CAIs, I can't say for sure, but it seems like they sure cut out a big chunk of my wheel-well to make room:


Now I've heard that you don't need to cut at all, but the amount that this think sticks through makes me find that hard to believe. BUT, did they cut TOO much or does this look normal to you?

I can't seem to find an angle where I can actually see the filter at all to confirm that the hydroshield is indeed on it. Is there any way to take a peek at the thing without taking the bumper off? I should probably learn how anyways, so I can change the filter eventually.

Finally, maintenance: how often do I need to check/clean the filter? Do I take off the bumper every xxxx miles, check it, and then decide if it needs to be replaced, or do I just replace it every xxxx miles? Do I actually replace it, or just clean it somehow?

Thanks guys!


Modified by L-Dawg at 9:41 PM 4/8/2007

 

That's one big ugly cut out, clean it up a bit or something.

for the new mod.

 

didn't cut a thing with my AEM CAI fit perfectly!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by L-Dawg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Powerwise, I find it difficult to actually *feel* a difference, but because of the sound it's definately more visceral. More fast? More hp/torque? I'm not sure but it definitely adds to the vtec experience.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, people claiming that they can "feel" a big difference after just installing a CAI are usually caught under the spell of the placebo effect.

 

I installed my fujita CAI and didn't need to cut nething either...I know it's not that great of gains, but I still like my cai, love the sound it makes, and love how economically wise it gained me about 3 more miles a gallon...so it's not a bad buy at all

 

I had to cut when I installed mine, but I don't think I cut THAT much. Either way its not that big of a deal. Congrats on the new mod

 

to the OP's questions and concerns. straight from Injen website:
FAQ:
14. Should I rotate my filter to get more longevity?
15. How do I know when to clean the air filter?
16. Can I use cleaning agents other than the Injen cleaner and oil?
17. Can I use an air compressor to dry the filter faster?
18. Should I hit the filter on the ground or use a brush against the screen to remove larger particles of debris?

Answers:
14. This is actually recommended. Most vehicles have a particular area to draw air in from based on the filter surroundings and rotating the filter will keep it clean longer.


15. How often you need to clean your filter will depend on the air and road conditions in your area. Most filters require cleaning before the dirt build up gets as thick as the wire mesh. The usual interval is 30,000 - 40,000 miles depending on driving conditions. We recommend that you check your filter about once a year in normal usage and once every six months if you are located in a dirty environment. If you are running with a cold air intake we recommend checking the filter every 10,000 Ð 15,000. Using a Hydro-Shield will reduce service intervals.


16. We highly recommend that you only use Injen Technology oil and cleaner. Injen Technology air filter is a specific mineral oil blended with special polymers to form a very efficient tack barrier. Standard petroleum products such as transmission fluid and motor oil will soften and destroy the filter bonding agents and sealed edges. Injen cleaner is a non-detergent degreaser. Solvents, gasoline and various house hold chemicals will harden the rubber seals causing the filter to distort and may affect the ability of cotton fibers to function properly. A mild detergent can be used in an emergency situation, but care should be taken to fully rinse and remove the soap. Removing soap from the filter can be extremely difficult or time consuming. Always ensure the filter is completely dry before re-oiling.


17. No, this can blow holes directly through the filter material and ruin the filter. Choose a warm sunny day if possible to clean the filter and let it dry naturally.


18. No, this could damage the filter base or top and tear holes in the cotton gauze. (see filter cleaning instructions provided with every kit or cleaning instructions on this web site).

Here is some info on their cleaning kit for the air filter: http://www.injen.com/docs/prod...cc=ol

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dope &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yeah, people claiming that they can "feel" a big difference after just installing a CAI are usually caught under the spell of the placebo effect.</TD></TR></TABLE>

that or they're using a butt-dyno! LOL

on a serious note, damn they cut your fender up, that's why I didn't go for a CAI. I didn't want to have to cut up my fender well like that. I just bout a SRI from INJEN. Maintenance is another thing, you have to get your *** under there and take that filter off every so often to check how dirty it is.

 

It definitely bugs me. It was a lot bigger hole than I had thought, OR they had led me to believe. How easy is it to buy that piece and replace it (if I took the CAI off, for example)?

 

i just took out my aem and installed a injen cai, on a 07 si and no cutting was nessesary, it was a biatch putting the wheel plastic back on put i did it.... you can order another one of those peices from honda easy, if you dont want that big *** hole there

 

I was thinking about just heating the plastic and trying to move it a little to fit around it when i get my Injen. I guess if people are getting it on without cutting though I might try a little harder to put it back on with out cooking oe cutting. Thanks.

 

Luke, if you were to get rid of it, sell it to me....

You can have my wheel well piece in exchange for yours... -_-

how much? Ashis can install it for me ;o

gimme a deal!

 

I don't plan on selling it, I just wish the install was cleaner.

Any other opinions?

 

i actually love the sound from the intake. it turns heads when ur at full throttle. and my install didnt require cutting..

 

when i installed it for my cousin i didn't have to cut the fender either
he has a 07

 

Well as you can all see, it pokes past the hole pretty generously. For those of you who didn't cut, is it just sort of wedged up against the side?

 

Anyone? I'm debating whether or not it'd be worth having "fixed" for some extra $$$

 

Why bother? Doesn't seem like there should be any problems with it cut there, is there?

 

I guess not, even though it bugs me. Couldn't I toss a rock at that pipe fairly easily?

 

Is the piece they cut #7 or #8 here? I can't quite tell....

http://collegehillshonda.softw...ch=no

 

pretty sure it is #8 (inner fender), you can order a new one cheap from honda if it bugs you that much, but me orignally being from tualatin oregon it wold bug me in the rainy months, i would get a new one for a few bucks and do it right, "no cutting" quick fix

 

optimally there'd just be a place that could add some more plastic and make the hole smaller and "cleaner" looking.

I wonder who could do it and how much it'd cost...because if I order a new fender I'd be paying for the piece itself, plus the install of the fender and the tweaking of the CAI itself. I had someone else do it in the first place so I wouldn't have to worry about it, but I had no idea it'd look so bad...

 

just hit me up on AIM.......csa347

 

I would try to seal it up if I were you...the possibility of stuff getting in there is higher than if you didnt cut it. I think you should modify what you have now than getting new pieces...i forgot what it is called but its like ceramic but lighter weight to mold into any shape. that would be better and less rub overall.

 

QUICK TIP, in the part of the injen where it goes into the fender where you need to cut

...you DONT HAVE TO CUT..however... if you don't the CAI should be wrapped externally in FOAM.

If you don't cut it will push towards the frame of the car and COULD down the line cut the piping ( which the foam stops)

I'll try to get pix this week when i open it up again