Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Aftermarket Cold Air Intake VS Stock Cold Air Intake

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Age
    54
    Posts
    372

    Aftermarket Cold Air Intake VS Stock Cold Air Intake

    Technically, they should be called "colder" air intakes, because a "cold air" intake draws ambient air from outside the car as opposed to the warmer air in the engine compartment. I'll ignore the semantics for now.

    Many of us have added an aftermarket cold air intake to their Marauders, with the intent of improving performance.

    The reason cited is often "because cold air is more dense, and thus if you are tuned for it you can make more power.

    What I don't understand is, why is an aftermarket cold air intake so much better than the STOCK cold air intake?

    With older cars, the stock air intake (I can never get used to calling the air-piping an "intake." To me, an "intake" is an intake manifold, but I digress) draws air from the engine compartment, so one could improve things by adding a "cold" air intake to draw ambient air.

    However, car engineers seem to have learned this, and most cars now have a cold air intake as stock - including the Marauder.

    So, what's the improvement? Is the airflow that much better? Is it all the tune improving performance anyway? Does it fool the ECU into causing a rich mixture? Wouldn't the ECU, in closed loop mode, cancel out any changes? (again, if the tune is changed, then it's the tune change that cause the increase)

    Do people just like the aftermarket intake because the silencer is removed and it makes more noise?

    This question isn't unique to Marauders. I've seen other car forums have great debates about aftermarket CAIs - some say it's a complete waste of money, and have dyno plots showing that the stock air piping is not a performance hindrance at all. Others argue that every little bit helps, and they like the noise.

    I notice that there isn't much if any debate here, and I'm not trying to start any, but with limited financial means, one should look for maximum performance per dollar. If the stock CAI is adequate, I can look elsewhere for improvement.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Greenville, SC
    Posts
    22,513
    I've heard that the Roush-designed OEM filter box and intake is a pretty good design, and that going to an aftermarket CAI will result in minimal perf. improvement.

    I had my PHP installed at the same time I got my gears and tune, so I don't have any real benchmarks to gauge performance between the two; however, I do like the looks and sound of the aftermarket CAI.

    IMO, gears and a tune will get you more bank for the buck than a CAI.

    2003 300B DBP
    Build date: 6/19/03
    Number 7,792 of 7,838 - 326 of 328
    Proud member of the MM "BLUES" Bros.
    Purchased: 11/10/05
    Eaton swap by ImpalaSlayer 11-09-10

    Semper et in Aeternum, Mercurius.

    In Memory:
    2004 DTR
    Build Date 01/27/04
    Purchased 04/04/04
    Wrecked 10/19/05, R.I.P.



  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Cambidge, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    149
    Aftermarket CAI is all about the sound and look. That's it. Period.

    If your desire is more performance, I suggest putting your money into gears, tires, better fuel & Dyno tune, transmission improvements.
    Black 300 (aye?)
    Built 10-25-02.
    #5736, 1 of 470 built for CANADA (aye?)
    75,000 km's
    4.10's
    K&N CAI
    Custom Dyno Tune

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Horntown, VA
    Age
    65
    Posts
    4,810
    I had substantial improvement above 5500rpm when I changed to the JLT.
    The Dyno run w/the OEM air box took a nose dive above 5500rpm - over 20 rwhp.
    Aftermarket intake eliminated the drop and hp was running almost straight to redline.
    Aftermarket intakes do make recordable improvements in performance.






    and they are louder!
    SOLD '03 300A Black - "805" of 7838
    Plate - "EVILMERC"

    I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.

    Gillom Rogers: [Books is giving Gillom a shooting lesson] Mr. Books, How is it you've killed so many men? My spread wasn't much bigger than yours.
    John Bernard Books: First of all,friend, there's no one up there shooting back at you. Second, I found most men aren't willing, they bat an eye, or draw a breath before they shoot. I won't.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    4,207
    Not going to try to talk you into buying anything, these are my results when I was N/A, it is a simple dyno comparison of the OEM airbox versus a PHP airbox:

    Peak Results: OEM box 283.0 hp / 295.9 tq
    .......................PHP box 289.1 hp / 304.5 tq

    Net Results: +6.1 hp -- +8.6 tq

    http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forum...4&d=1102038864

    You can look at dyno chart, at about 3500 rpms the gains are actually 15 HP & 16 TQ. I think that is a little better than just aesthetics.
    Smokie
    12.79 @ 107 mph.
    60' 1.851 Street tires & Stock wheels.
    TIMESLIPS
    Performance Mods: Base Trilogy Kit, Exhaust, PHP Airbox.
    Visit my Garage
    Florida "The Supercharged State"


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Lehigh Valley, PA
    Posts
    5,956
    Quote Originally Posted by Krytin View Post
    I had substantial improvement above 5500rpm when I changed to the JLT.

    +1 on that, even without a tune my car pulled harder in the upper RPM's

    Quote Originally Posted by Krytin View Post
    and they are louder!

    BIG +1


    2016 Ford Mustang GT PP - Lund nGauge, BMR vertical links, MGW Shifter, BMR CB005

    2004 Mercury Marauder - Eaton M112, Billetflow 3.4, Accufab SBTB + Plenum, T-56 Magnum, 4.10s, Stainless Works LTs, 2.5" Exhaust, Borla Stingers, Ridetech Coilovers + Adj rear shocks, FX-R projectors, Wilwood 13" BNSL6 + FNSL4 BBKs, S55 Gauge Cluster
    440rwhp & 406rwtq Tuned by Adam @ Revolution Automotive
    2063/3214

    (Sold) 2003 Mercury Marauder - Stainless Works LT's, Stainless Works 2.5" Catback, JLT Intake, Mo's Xcal4 Tune
    5377/7838

    2000 BMW M5 - Evolve Intake, Evolve Alpha-N tune, Stoptech ST-40 BBK, UUC SSK, Dinan front STB, Dinan RSB

    1996 Ford Bronco - 4" lift, 35" BFG A/T's, Punisher Valve Body, MH1 Projectors

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Orlando, FL
    Age
    41
    Posts
    641
    An engine can only suck so much through a straw...

    Which do you think will allow the engine to suck more?



    or

    -2003 Mercury Marauder 300a-

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. K&N FIPK II Cold Air Intake!!
    By Egon Spengler in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 45
    Last Post: 01-09-2008, 09:27 PM
  2. Cold air intake filter cleaning
    By freakstatus in forum Shop Talk
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 12-22-2007, 09:47 PM
  3. Vortech Air To Air kit is complete
    By Dennis Reinhart in forum Power Adders
    Replies: 30
    Last Post: 05-04-2005, 03:39 PM
  4. Anyone see Lidio's Article in MM @ FF!! NICE!
    By MI2QWK4U in forum Community Discussion
    Replies: 25
    Last Post: 08-30-2004, 09:15 PM
  5. Air Induction
    By mrcar1 in forum Shop Talk
    Replies: 118
    Last Post: 05-07-2004, 07:10 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •