Ram Air Intake or Cold Air Intake for 91 accord?

Question

Im looking to get one in a few weeks. What are the pros and cons of both. I know the difference but which one is better or does it depend on the way you drive or where you live. Im looking for all suggestions. Let me know.


Thanks

Answer 1

Short Ram:

Pros: Better throttle response, Cheap, Easy to install, Doesn't suck up water and outside road debris.

Cons: Hotter air than stock or cold air intake. Hotter air robs power and efficiency gained by intake.

Cold Air Intake (CAI):

Pros: Coolest air possible

Cons: Possible to suck up water and ruin your engine. Filter gets dirtier and must be cleaned / changed more often

Based on this I would suggest a short ram intake with cool air ducts. A little more work because you mount the intake then find tubing or flexible ducts from hardware store. Channel air from outside the engine bay to the short rams filter. Doesn't have to connect, just be in the local area of the filter to work.

Best of both worlds. Good throttle response, and cool air.

Most importantly of all keep the filter clean. That prolly kills more horsepower than the difference between Cold air intake and the short ram.

Good luck - keep the questions coming
KC

Answer 2

I answered this question for someone else 2 days ago, so I'll just copy and paste my answer. You can also check my profile for it if you want.

Yes, the short ram does pick up warmer air in the engine compartment. As long as the filter is located in the engine bay with a "CAI" it is not a true CAI.

Although your stock air box is as efficient enough as an aftermarket CAI, it just doesnt have the same clean look or sound as aftermarket. And that sound is derived from the filter anyway.

True CAIs have the filter located outside of the engine bay, normally in the fender well or right behind the bumper. Like someone mentioned the only negative thing about this is its ability to suck up water and causing hydro lock in your engine. NOT GOOD!

Short rams are worthless and give no HP gains whatsoever. It's all in your mind. They're only effective when combined with a scoop and/or air box. If they arent being fed cold air directly then in reality all they're doing is introducing warm engine heat back into the intake manifold.

Again the filter is what makes it sound nice and makes you believe that you've gained monster HP lol.

An ideal CAI would be one that has the filter located in a CAI air box inside the engine bay. But this box would have to be fed air from outside of the engine bay. That way there is less chance of hydro lock in a rainy/snowy area.

Answer 3

Haha, that was my question that he answered 2 days ago. And I also have a 91 accord.

Anyway, since spring is coming up, and there's a lot of rain in spring, i would get a short ram intake just for now. This leaves you no chance of hydrolocking your engine (unless you have a hood scoop or something letting rain get to your short ram). Short rams add more power than your stock airbox, but they are nowhere near as good as a cold air intake. When summer comes around, get a cold air intake and bolt it right on. It'll give you better performance than the short ram. Then you could keep the cold air intake on until winter, and then put the short ram back on. (by the way, don't buy expensive @** intakes, just get a cheap one from ebay and then also purchase a K&N or AEM filter to put on it).

Answer 4

the best....? it's probably only within 1 or 2 horses if even that when it comes to the top of the line intakes.... I say go with the AEM V2.... I've heard really good reviews on it (from customers).

Answer 5

get an AEM V2 go to AEMpower.com and check it out, if you have forced induction of any kind, you'll notice a crazy jump in hp, same from what ive heard about on NA so yeah...i bought one 2 years ago when they first came out and i have never had a problem with it, and i effin love it...