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Bomber-Stud
11-12-2009, 12:14 PM
Hi,
Sorry to pollute the forum with another CAI thread, but I don't think this questions has been addressed before (feel free to yell at me if I'm wrong):

What are the benefits of having a CAI in Canada (especially in the winter), or are all the 'benefits' the same, regardless of ambient temperature?

I know almost next to nothing about cars and how they work etc, but I just got a new mazda3 and I've been reading up a lot on almost everything about cars. From what I understand the major benefits of CAIs are seen in warm weather climates.
whiteomega
11-12-2009, 02:40 PM
The benefits are the same, power-wise (if you can call it a power adder on an NA engine) regardless of temperature.

The CAI works on the principle that the colder the air, the more dense it is, and therefore the more oxygen it contains. This means you can add more fuel into the intake mix and produce more power (because you have more oxygen with which the fuel can burn). When the ambient temperature drops below a certain point, the engine probably doesn't radiating enough heat to keep the engine bay warm, so a CAI stops gaining its benefit then. During the summer months, you do get a benefit from the CAI.

Besides, it just sounds better :D
xxSlidewaysxx
11-12-2009, 06:23 PM
Depending on your CAI, you also get an increased volume of air. More air and cold air = :superman. I am climbing and accelerating up hills in 5th gear that I would normally have to shift to 4th, since the temps dropped. I'm running a PRM intake and I think I may have to rotate the winter tires cause I'm spinning them too much.
Rob23
11-12-2009, 07:31 PM
they also don't perform very well in humid temperatures.
stevenma188
11-12-2009, 07:45 PM
The biggest thing about a CAI is that its less restrictive than the stock setup. If you look at CAIs, its pretty much just a simple straight piple with 2 bends max in it. If you look at the stock airbox, its a maze of ducts and vents and bends and turns.
Rob23
11-12-2009, 07:56 PM
The biggest thing about a CAI is that its less restrictive than the stock setup. If you look at CAIs, its pretty much just a simple straight piple with 2 bends max in it. If you look at the stock airbox, its a maze of ducts and vents and bends and turns.

yea, most mazdas seem to have a bottle neck in the airflow. thats why just an exhaust and CAI on a mazda will give a little more HP than usual.
Zoom Zoom Boy
11-12-2009, 08:43 PM
No need for a CAI. Stick with an SRI set-up.
Ogata
11-12-2009, 11:47 PM
No need for a CAI. Stick with an SRI set-up.

If you get a CAI/SRI, wouldn't that mean you are taking more air in and would it have a harder time farting out the air in the exhaust?
Bomber-Stud
11-13-2009, 01:14 AM
If you get a CAI/SRI, wouldn't that mean you are taking more air in and would it have a harder time farting out the air in the exhaust?

LOL are you implying i should mod my exhaust too?:loco

....I guess while the thread is going.
I found this while searching this forum:
http://www.corksport.com/corksport-power-series-exhaust-system-mazda-3-2-0-model.html

What does that do!?!?!:bang
Rob23
11-13-2009, 11:34 AM
If you get a CAI/SRI, wouldn't that mean you are taking more air in and would it have a harder time farting out the air in the exhaust?

well, the CAI still works and helps, but yes if you get an exhaust it will work with the CAI and get you more HP. you could go with the SRI but if your spending the money you might as well get a CAI cuz they do perform better. then if you want to open the exhaust even more get headers. then your car will BOOM.