Intake 101!!!!!!!! Please help!!!!!!!

[dave2010GT]

Hi, I just bought a 2010 Mazda 3 GT 2.5L, and I know there have been TONS and TONS of threads and posts related to intakes but I'm finding it so hard get a true understanding. All I need is the answers to a few questions and then I think any noobs like myself will have all the intake information they need. I have been pm'ing some sponsors but I assume they are busy so I need your help!

I think I have decided on a PRM SRI intake, but I am open to any comments about the benefit of a CAI.

Questions.

1) Are SRI Intakes superior to CAI intakes, or due to the power of our engines does it not make that much difference?

2) For those who have PRM intakes. Is PRM a good brand, if so is the install relatively easy?

3) Most importantly the $$$cost$$$ what is a fair price for a PRM SRI intake or intake of comparable quality? Is it better to have these installed professionally or self install?

[Noisy Crow]

1) Are SRI Intakes superior to CAI intakes, or due to the power of our engines does it not make that much difference?


CAI can produce more peak power, as they are pulling in colder (denser) air. Downside to them is slight throttle lag compared to a SRI, and depending where it is picking up the air, there is the slight possiblity of hydrolock (sucking up a puddle). They are also harder to install... although the defintion of hard varies from person to person.




2) For those who have PRM intakes. Is PRM a good brand, if so is the install relatively easy?


I have a PRM and am very happy with it. There is a dyno run of around here somewhere, and it has a nice lift of about 7 hp and 7 lb-ft across the RPM range. I found it does make throttle response snappier compared to stock. Plus it sounds great! Install is straight-forward... all you really need is a couple of screw drivers.



3) Most importantly the $$$cost$$$ what is a fair price for a PRM SRI intake or intake of comparable quality? Is it better to have these installed professionally or self install?

If you try hard enough (ie. wait until someone sells theirs) you can get one for $200 or less. You can get no-name SRIs even cheaper off of eBay... the tube part would be hard to foul up entirely, but I wouldn't want a cheap no-name filter protecting my engine from inhaling dirt.

As for the install: well, the best way may be to come out to a meet and have someone help you. They you will gain some skills, save some money, and add to your collection of friends.

[Default User]

Great answers!!!

[dave2010GT]

Thanks Noisy crow I really appreciate it!

[deandai]

sorry to hi jack but is anyone familiar with the brand garage 16 sells?
i have one but i dont know what its called :$

[Default User]

No experience with the G16 brand - but I was desperate to get a CAI one Saturday afternoon - so I went to P-Mall.
There was 1 shop that had it in stock
a CAI for an 05 Mazda 3 for $95 taxes in. WOW!!

Got home and started the install just to find that the fit was slightly off. Just off enough that the pipe would bend so that the filter would be in a "bad" spot.
Having read issues of hydrolockimg - I took the easy way out.

Grabbed a hacksaw and cut the lead pipe into an SRI.

Long story short - I got a $95 SRI with a cheapo filter.

Just goes to show - You get what you pay for.

[Rob23]

when i was lookin into gettin a CAI, Injen seemed to be the best brand to buy. for price and performance. You should look into it. as for install i think you need to take off the front bumper, many ppl get it done profesionally due to this. my friend did it himself on his 350Z and had no problem, you just need to have patience.
BTW Noisy Crow real good info. when i have a question im gonna bug you :P

[ST3ALTH]

Im running the PRM on my 07 Mazda 3 and i have to say that i love it. The sound is great and the performance increase is decent.

[Rob23]

Im running the PRM on my 07 Mazda 3 and i have to say that i love it. The sound is great and the performance increase is decent.

Are you able to notice a differance in performance? and have you ever had any issues with hydrolock?.. cuz i hear alot that it can happen, but ive never met anyone its acually happened to.

[leungly]

With the PRM CAI, its less likely as the intake is not very close to the ground, it looks more like a SRI however performs similar to a Cold Air Intake.

www.prmracing.com

I've got one installed as well and it sounds decent and the less likelihood of a HydroLock scenario pushed me towards this CAI.

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

With the PRM CAI, its less likely as the intake is not very close to the ground, it looks more like a SRI however performs similar to a Cold Air Intake.

www.prmracing.com

I've got one installed as well and it sounds decent and the less likelihood of a HydroLock scenario pushed me towards this CAI.

LOL. If you hydrolock a PRM intake, you better be wearing a life jacket or else be a strong swimmer.

[Gen1GT]

A cold air intake has the potential to pull in colder air (and air temps make a huge difference in power output ... thanks Jacques Charles!), but the compromises are too many to justify it over an SRI. The problems with heat soak in an SRI application aren't enough to pick a CAI over it. Tuner Performance Reports (I can't even find their website on the internet anymore) did a big testing of CAI's and SRI's, comparing 8-10 of each on a 2000 Civic Si DOHC VTEC. The best CAI wasn't as good as the worst SRI, but the best SRI was way better than the best CAI. They did mention that heatsoak lost up to 3 horsepower with the SRI's, but most of them made more than that above and beyond the CAI's to begin with.

Then there's the throttle response issue, as mentioned, and the extra installation effort. If you created a proper airbox with a SRI made from carbon fibre, you'd have absolutely no downside.

[leungly]

LOL. If you hydrolock a PRM intake, you better be wearing a life jacket or else be a strong swimmer.

Ok couldn't be truer however I wanted to emphasize the less likelihood instead of the impossibility... there's someone out there for whatever reason will somehow manage it by driving into a lake and then blame me because they "hydrolocked" their vehicle and I didn't warn them....

[xxSlidewaysxx]

I got my PRM in the spring and the gains were mildly felt through the rev range and then the cold weather hit. OMG, I think it's worth 10-15 LBS of torque. That and it sounds good too:headbang