CAI questions - Gas milage

[Vella's Alero]

I'm looking at getting a CAI which I can then change to a WAI for my car but was just wondering about gas milage.
I understand that with WAI the car runs leaner so there is gas savings there but I've also read that CAI improves gas milage. How can this be when the car would run richer? Doesn't that mean that there is more gas being pumped into the engine?

I know these might be noob questions but this is the first time ever doing anything like this and I want to do it right the first time. Thanks

[CactusWill]

Thats a good question and the answer is full of contradiction. Bottom line is that the cold air intake will probably use more fuel, how much I don't know.


Cold air runs better because it comes into the engine with a smaller size per unit of gas, therefore more units of gas enter the combustion chamber = more expansion = more power.


Warm air however enters the combustion chamber at a greater size per unit, therefore less units of gas enter the cylinder, but the air is warmer so it requires less fuel to heat the gas to combustion.


The scientific outcome will be that the cold air intake will develop more power and consume more fuel. If you want a more fuel efficient setup, warm air intake will develop less power and consume less fuel.

[Redog]

With just an intake, you're lucky to see 1 MPG increase in town.

You might see 1 or 2 more if you do all highway

[Vella's Alero]

I'm doing this now as a start but eventually will get the pacesetter back cat exhaust system (2.5 pipes and dual outs). Then later I will do 6-2-1 exhaust (I think thats what it's called, the pipes going from the engine to pre cat). So is this a good start or not? Thats what I need to know.