This seems to be a common question about the air intakes available for the 3G. I will try and address what they are, what they do, etc.
How does an intake work?
Easy. It allows more air to enter the engine. This is the single most important aspect of improving horsepower and torque. The easier it is for an engine to bring oxygen into the combustion, the better it runs. Your stock intake consists of a series of twists and turns and resonating chambers to muffle sound, combined with a highly restrictive cheap air filter. It's like trying to breathe through a small coffee straw - hard right? You'd probably pass out. Now imagine breathing through a big Slurpy straw - much easier. Your engine reacts the same way.
So the objective of an intake system to create the least restrictive path of air into the engine. Simply said - a tube with a high-flow filter stuck on the end.
Which intake is better?
That's entirely your opinion. Any of the intakes listed here will give similar performance (around 9hp), but it's build-quality that seperates the men from the boys.
Of all the intakes listed here, I'd suggest either the AEM or Injen Race Division intake. Each have a similar build and quality, with both securely bolting to the frame of the car and with a flexible elbow to ensure a proper and safe fit. Both allow the lower piece to be removed (converting to a short-ram) as well. The Injen does offer a splash shield whereas the AEM does not.
Do I need to worry about water with a Cold-Air Intake?
Doubtful. It's very rare for this to happen unless you have a tendency to go wading through flooded streets at full throttle.
Think about it, it takes 1 cup of water to cause "hydrolock" (actually, that's an incorrect term, but I won't get into that) and seize the engine - the reason being that water cannot be compressed like air can, and SOMETHING'S got to give. Anyway, in order for you to suck that much water in, you would have to submerge the entire filter underwater and suck air UP the intake tube and into the engine. Last I checked, water has a hard time flowing UP.
If you're really concerned about sucking in water, AEM offers the Bypass Valve (works with AEM intakes only) which will feel the drop in pressure and automatically suck air from a higher source (above the water). Again, this is an extremely rare scenario.
There are two types of intakes available for the Eclipse, either a CAI, ( a Cold Air Intake) or a WAI, (a Warm Air Intake)
A CAI, simply put, is an intake that has a longer tube that extends the filter element down and below the engine. This type of intake draws in cooler air, as it is farther from the engine.
Images courtesy of Road Race Engineering
![Image]()
A WAI, again, simply put, is a intake that has a much shorter tube with the filter element resting in the engine bay-drawing in the warmer underhood temperatures.
![Image]()
Or you can go the "no frills" route and just use an adapter that fits onto the Mass Air Flow Meter; finishing it with a filter element of your choice.
![Image]()
Generally speaking, a CAI will offer greater performance at speed than a WAI, as the CAI sheds heat faster due to the filter element ingesting air from a cooler location. However, a WAI is also a great performer, much better than the stock filter system, and worry free in regards to the possibility of hydrolock.
Performance gains for these type systems aren't really measurable. Realistically, you won't get an increase in power from simple bolt ons without a heavy tune.
Your gas milage, generally speaking, should increase. But, people are more often than not, are enthralled with the sound that the intakes, (both WAI & CAI) produce when rev'd, (a distinctive howl above 4K RPM's) So the small benefit of increased gas milage that you get, goes out the window.
How does an intake work?
Easy. It allows more air to enter the engine. This is the single most important aspect of improving horsepower and torque. The easier it is for an engine to bring oxygen into the combustion, the better it runs. Your stock intake consists of a series of twists and turns and resonating chambers to muffle sound, combined with a highly restrictive cheap air filter. It's like trying to breathe through a small coffee straw - hard right? You'd probably pass out. Now imagine breathing through a big Slurpy straw - much easier. Your engine reacts the same way.
So the objective of an intake system to create the least restrictive path of air into the engine. Simply said - a tube with a high-flow filter stuck on the end.
Which intake is better?
That's entirely your opinion. Any of the intakes listed here will give similar performance (around 9hp), but it's build-quality that seperates the men from the boys.
Of all the intakes listed here, I'd suggest either the AEM or Injen Race Division intake. Each have a similar build and quality, with both securely bolting to the frame of the car and with a flexible elbow to ensure a proper and safe fit. Both allow the lower piece to be removed (converting to a short-ram) as well. The Injen does offer a splash shield whereas the AEM does not.
Do I need to worry about water with a Cold-Air Intake?
Doubtful. It's very rare for this to happen unless you have a tendency to go wading through flooded streets at full throttle.
Think about it, it takes 1 cup of water to cause "hydrolock" (actually, that's an incorrect term, but I won't get into that) and seize the engine - the reason being that water cannot be compressed like air can, and SOMETHING'S got to give. Anyway, in order for you to suck that much water in, you would have to submerge the entire filter underwater and suck air UP the intake tube and into the engine. Last I checked, water has a hard time flowing UP.
If you're really concerned about sucking in water, AEM offers the Bypass Valve (works with AEM intakes only) which will feel the drop in pressure and automatically suck air from a higher source (above the water). Again, this is an extremely rare scenario.
There are two types of intakes available for the Eclipse, either a CAI, ( a Cold Air Intake) or a WAI, (a Warm Air Intake)
A CAI, simply put, is an intake that has a longer tube that extends the filter element down and below the engine. This type of intake draws in cooler air, as it is farther from the engine.
Images courtesy of Road Race Engineering
A WAI, again, simply put, is a intake that has a much shorter tube with the filter element resting in the engine bay-drawing in the warmer underhood temperatures.
Or you can go the "no frills" route and just use an adapter that fits onto the Mass Air Flow Meter; finishing it with a filter element of your choice.
Generally speaking, a CAI will offer greater performance at speed than a WAI, as the CAI sheds heat faster due to the filter element ingesting air from a cooler location. However, a WAI is also a great performer, much better than the stock filter system, and worry free in regards to the possibility of hydrolock.
Performance gains for these type systems aren't really measurable. Realistically, you won't get an increase in power from simple bolt ons without a heavy tune.
Your gas milage, generally speaking, should increase. But, people are more often than not, are enthralled with the sound that the intakes, (both WAI & CAI) produce when rev'd, (a distinctive howl above 4K RPM's) So the small benefit of increased gas milage that you get, goes out the window.
