by JoeB » Thu Mar 18, 2004 6:56 am
If you're waiting for a dyno for a CAI, you probably want to wait for some commercial product or put the money towards nitrous or something. The truth is, like I mentioned before, you can't simply claim a CAI gives you a certain amount of hp. What you are doing is lowering the air intake temperature and that will vary depending on the temperature outside. I think the rule of thumb is 1hp for every 10 degrees.
If I took my car down and had it dyno'd with and without the cold air extension while the temperature is in the 30s in Maryland, you probably wouldn't see a difference. If I did the same test when it's 90 degrees, it'll be a different story. I've read that the temperature under the hood can reach 225 degrees on a warm day. If you can bring that temperature down to say 100 degrees, that should be about 12.5 hp.
That is the kind of testing that manufacturers will do. They do a dyno with hood down and warm as possible. Then with the cai installed, they do as much as possible to cool it down and give you the best possible number. It's normal marketing, everyone does it. -JoeB