Trying to decide on an intake...help??

8690 Views 46 Replies 15 Participants Last post by sedanman, Nov 5, 2013

Austin9991

Discussion Starter · Oct 24, 2013

Hey guys, I have a 2012 LTZ and am looking to get an aftermarket intake for it. The car gets good enough mileage as is, so my reasoning for getting one is for performance, and sound.
I've looked through every thread I could find and still cant decide. would Injen's CAI have a greater effect on performance than either K&N or ZZPs SRI? I know colder more dense air creates more power, but didn't know if it made a big difference in a car with a turbo.

So, which intake do you guys have/want and have you noticed any pros/cons? I will be getting tuned (Trifecta) after my intake and exhaust are figured out, so factor that in.

Also, I live in Florida. Would the Injen be too risky to run considering the amount of rain we get here? Hydro shields can't protect it all..

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Merc6

· #2 · Oct 24, 2013

I'm going to skip over the perfomance vs sound part for now.

Pros is throttle response compared to not doing the resonator bypass mod & K&N drop in and you get to hear the turbo & BPV in action.

Con is if you go full CAI you gotta take the front facia off to instal it.

Rocky87

· #3 · Oct 24, 2013

K&n

Austin9991

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 24, 2013

Any reason you prefer the K&N? I figured the Injen (Once it is tuned) would provide more power.

thoughts guys??

GM Master Tech

· #5 · Oct 25, 2013

I don't think you will see any of them provide more power than the stock intake with a K&N panel filter and intake resonator delete.And i wouldnt stake my life on even deleteing the intake resonator will add hp.Also the factory intake does a fairly good job of provideing out side air to the engine.A lot of the after market intakes run on under hood air and temps are high at low speeds.Some will say that dont matter because the engine has a intercooler.Thats not really a true statement.Higher temp incomeing air will make the intercooler less effective.And that = less HP

Reactions: 3

sciphi

· #6 · Oct 25, 2013

Go with whichever one makes you feel the best. They're all about the same for sound.

The resonator bypass mod is free. It also sounds similar to a K&N intake. My Cruze is resonator-deleted, and I've ridden in a Cruze with a K&N intake. Mine was slightly quieter. That was the only difference I could tell, since both cars had similar tunes and both pulled equally hard.

Reactions: 1

Chase Toole

· #7 · Oct 25, 2013

I would go with K&N... just preference I suppose, plus it comes with a nice heat shield.

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Blue_RS

· #8 · Oct 25, 2013

I have k&n and i love it!

Austin9991

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 25, 2013

GM Master Tech said:
A lot of the after market intakes run on under hood air and temps are high at low speeds.Some will say that dont matter because the engine has a intercooler.Thats not really a true statement.Higher temp incomeing air will make the intercooler less effective.And that = less HP

Your statement leads me to think the Injen in CAI would be best...lowest temps coming in. and since it is a full CAI it cant possibly pull under hood air correct?

The videos of the K&N do sound great though..think there is any perceivable difference in noise between SRI and CAI?

Merc6

· #10 · Oct 25, 2013 (Edited)

Austin9991 said:
Your statement leads me to think the Injen in CAI would be best...lowest temps coming in. and since it is a full CAI it cant possibly pull under hood air correct?

The videos of the K&N do sound great though..think there is any perceivable difference in noise between SRI and CAI?

Haven't taken the car apart yet so I don't know if the fender where the filter sits is is truly sealed off from the engine and radiator. A few of my cars the fender had small gaps where sitting at idle the engine air bless into the fender. My Legacy is airbox mod because CAI kept getting wet when the rain wend down the hood scoop and soaked the filter.

As for sound, most cars it changes the tone because the length of the piping and where the sound echos. Sri going to be louder.

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GM Master Tech

· #11 · Oct 25, 2013

CAI is best but also keep in mind those can take in water under the right conditions.Large puddles water build up in the road or what have you.Thats one reason i did the intake res delete on my car than put it back to stock and just use a K&N panel filter.Plus other than noise i noticed no real power increase.Its not real likely to injest water.But its a chance i cant take with the wife driveing the car if you hear me.And i can say for sure at least 1 fellow on the board hydro locked and blew his motor like that.Not real likely to happen with me driveing.But the wife behind the wheel is another story.I am not saying dont do it but be careful.And if you have a wife or girl friend that uses the car? That can be a danger in itself

Reactions: 1

Merc6

· #12 · Oct 25, 2013

Lol reason I got manual, finding a woman that drives stick is a challenge on top of other things I'll leave out this thread. My issues weren't fording the rivers and streams, It was extreme rain and car washes that would set off the MAF volt spikes. I could have closed off the diamond pattern on the hood scoop for the turbo(where it trickled down the intake and to the fender) but decided not to. In other cars the CAI was louder and sportier the way it echoed around the engine bay. CAI to me sounded better because it was just loud enough and magnified the turbo howl. I say find someone with both setups and ride along. Youtube can't really give you accurate sound even tho the quality of videos is getting better over time.

Austin9991

Discussion Starter · #13 · Oct 25, 2013

Lol, guess I'm lucky that my fiancé is a good driver, knows to stay away from the rivers too :wink:

I'm definitely worried about all the rain we get in Florida, and worried about car washes too, just didn't know if it is something to be realistically concerned about if I had the CAI.
And I would Merc6 but I haven't really found anyone with a cruze around me.

Seems like most people lean towards the K&N, under extremely hot and humid conditions do you notice a power loss due to high intake temps?

2013LT

· #14 · Oct 25, 2013

I'm going to buy the K&N from a member here. It is brand name and seems like a solid built intake. Anyone have trouble with a CEL after installing one?

H3LLON3ARTH

· #15 · Oct 25, 2013

2013LT said:
I'm going to buy the K&N from a member here. It is brand name and seems like a solid built intake. Anyone have trouble with a CEL after installing one?

No troubles out of mine been installed since almost day one of car ownership.
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H3LLON3ARTH

· #16 · Oct 25, 2013

Austin9991 said:
Lol, guess I'm lucky that my fiancé is a good driver, knows to stay away from the rivers too :wink:

I'm definitely worried about all the rain we get in Florida, and worried about car washes too, just didn't know if it is something to be realistically concerned about if I had the CAI.
And I would Merc6 but I haven't really found anyone with a cruze around me.

Seems like most people lean towards the K&N, under extremely hot and humid conditions do you notice a power loss due to high intake temps?

If you do true CAI then you need to be a little worried about standing water it's a common problem to sucks water into the intake.

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2013LT

· #17 · Oct 25, 2013

I just wish the piping was plastic to avoid heat soak

Austin9991

Discussion Starter · #18 · Oct 25, 2013

H3LLON3ARTH said:
No troubles out of mine been installed since almost day one of car ownership.

Any problems with loss of power/heat soak? and would a hydro shield help the injen with safety?

H3LLON3ARTH

· #19 · Oct 25, 2013

Austin9991 said:
Any problems with loss of power/heat soak? and would a hydro shield help the injen with safety?

Hydro shield is only good for small amounts of moisture. And I am in west Texas summer heat always give me heat soak anything over 90 degrees. Not really power loss.
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Austin9991

Discussion Starter · #20 · Oct 25, 2013

Hows the sound??

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