For once and for all, would somebody please give the advantages and disadvantages of the following systems: Stock Air Filter
K&N Drop-In filter
WAI
WAI with box
CAI

I'm looking for fuel mileage and all around lower-end performance. Would an expert please tell me the best option. There seems to be some confusion between the types of intakes. Thanks :biggrin:

(Maybe somebody could make a chart w/advantages vs disadvantages)

No advantage for stock air filter
Drop in offers increased airflow, slightly better mileage
WAI offers increased airflow, better low end, slightly better mileage
WAI with box same essentially as a dropin
CAI offers the most horsepower (not quite as much low end), increased airflow, and slightly better mileage

theres no real way to get an exact science to it, well not without testing, etc. this is my best guess based on different systems i've used with multiple cars.



p.s i gotz madd paint skillz

like he said, cai = most power. for me wai = more usable power

Ive had a cai and a wai and let me tell you I hated the wai. First of all I found alot more power in the cai, alot better sound and it seemed the same amount of increase on fuel economy on the cai as I did on the wai.

i love the sound of my WAI, i shouldn't be in here cuz i have the 2,4L, but im gonna post this anyways.... it seems like i get somewat a better gain in hp, but it seems like my mpg went down a little.....im getting like 20mpg all around :(

So... Conflicting responses...

Overall, does it seem like the mileage between the CAI and WAI is about the same?

Any more ideas on which one has more low-end power?

(I guess the best thing to do would be to get a CAI convertible to WAI) :)

exactly! best thing to do that way you have a 2 in 1 and you can choose for yourself what one is better. from the research ive done, i heard that they both provide about the same mileage and the power is SLIGHTLY better with the CAI but if you live in a place with lots of rain and snow, CAI would not be the best route b/c if you suck up some water....lol oh boy, your engine is gonna be screwed. seen it happen to my buddys girlfriends civic, was funny as hell, stupid thing to do is have a CAI around here unless you ONLY drive it in the summer.

if you look at the chart i made (the one you asked for) you'll see that WAI is going to give you better lower end, and that CAI is going to give you better higher end power. they'll both increase your gas mileage, and my WAI was a little better on gas (only 2-3mpg pretty insignificant)

i bought the CAI, and eventually cut it down to the WAI, i myself was more happy with the WAI, and on the 3400, i honestly think they sounded pretty much the same.

and as for someone saying they found "a lot more power in the CAI" since the difference from stock to wai to cai is only about 3hp, i dont see how anyone, with even the most accurate butt dyno can say they "found more power" with anything intake related. (excluding FI of course)

your engine will sound louder, and then you may think you're going faster, etc.

as for gas mileage, with either intake you're going to be more prone to stepping on the pedal, so for someone to say their mpg went down, i could see how, you're gonna get on it more often.

edit for spelling.

I use a WAI, but convert to CAI but only on the track.

Too much risk to use a CAI all the time

im using a CAI currently but am converting it to WAI this summer because ya it is better high end but unless your at the track your not going to be going 90+ as much as u will be using the low end power that u get from the WAI. also it is a pain to get at CAI to keep filter clean especially if u have winter weather. Also if u have the factory foglights they block a lot of the air to the CAI.
as for gas milage i havnt noticed a dip related to the cai, i have noticed a dip simply cause i like hearing my engine rev up now.

ahhhh i totally forgot about the foglights being in the way, annnddd the snow/rain factor..... i live in western pa and when it snows here, its terrible.....

i had my cai on when i lived up there and i never had any issues with it...

pat told me about couplers to transform my aem wai to a cai.... but i dunno what else i would need

I live in Northern MN/ND and have a CAI, never had an issue with it, you just have to be a little cautious, the problems with it are exagerated.

so sucking up water into a CAI is an exagerated problem? last i checked, you suck up water in the engine, your gonna need a whole new engine.

sorry if i come off rude but i have seen that to be the biggest problem.

yeah it is a problem but it doesnt happen, in my experience as often as people make it sound, especially if you are a little careful.

dude u have no clue what your talkin about. so just dont bother. its a COLD AIR INTAKE..... not a RAM AIR INTAKE. the purpose of the cai is to get the filter out of the engine bay to suck in COOLER AIR........ not ram the air in. even if its suckin in air thats only 5 degress cooler its still an advantage to the wai.

and for everyone worrying about the filter being in the fenderwell ...... if u take a moment to go see where the filter actually goes in your car......... you will realize you wont have issues with snow getting in there. ive driven my car in practially a monsoon and never had a problem with my cai......

so unless your speaking from experience or actually KNOW what your talking about dont speak.

so sucking up water into a CAI is an exagerated problem? last i checked, you suck up water in the engine, your gonna need a whole new engine.

sorry if i come off rude but i have seen that to be the biggest problem.
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search this entire forum and show me one thread/post/topic where someone had a problem sucking water into there engine.

IT DOESNT HAPPEN PEOPLE......... its jsut another case of people talking when they dont know what they are talkin about