Aem Cai

dancenaked · Oct 6th, 2002, 06:25 PM

Hi All,
So I'm planning on buying an AEM CAI.
I know this has been discussed, but am I right to assume that water will not be a problem??? If so, will the air bypass valve offer enough protection??? Just really curious... Up here in Pittsburgh it rains and snows quite alot during the winter. Am I being overly cautious? Last question, is this the best CAI out there for the 2002 GXE??

Thanks

bahearn · Oct 7th, 2002, 12:52 PM

Yes, plenty of discussion.

No, you are incorrect that water will not be a problem.
Don't know if the bypass is enough. People have been reporting problems with the valve opening when it shouldn't.
Snow is no consequence. Compared to us Gulf Coasters, you don't get rain, you get sprinkles. Your worry is standing water. Don't drive through it.

myoung · Oct 7th, 2002, 01:06 PM

If you are concerned pull the "B" pipe and move the filter up to the engine bay and run a warm setup in the wet season..

behearn is correct.. as long as you don't drive in deep standing water where you would submerge the filter it isn't a problem....

SoMissSentra · Oct 25th, 2002, 12:37 PM

I am in the same boat. I am looking for a CAI but I am catious about using it because of my location. I live on the Gulf Coast and I do NOT want to blow my engine up just to get a few more horsepower. But I don't want to pay $190 for a WAI when I can get a CAI with more power for $200.

Sentrixx · Oct 26th, 2002, 12:44 PM

Save your money and get a WAI, and relocate your battery and make a heat sheild. You will get greater power from it, without all the bends.

Boosterwitch · Oct 26th, 2002, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sentrixx
Save your money and get a WAI, and relocate your battery and make a heat sheild. You will get greater power from it, without all the bends.

Just want to clarify that a CAI will make more than a WAI even if they get the same temperature air. Not sure if you are saying the WAI will make more power than the CAI, but I wanted to clarify.

CAI make power from the resonance in the tubing and how they are tuned for your car.

peter96 · Oct 26th, 2002, 07:48 PM

Quote:

If so, will the air bypass valve offer enough protection???

The directions from AEM says not to use their bypass valve with their Sentra CAI models. Apparently the only place it will fit and do any good is too close to the maf?
I personally have had no problems with my CAI in any rain. You would have possible problems in standing water, rain or no rain. IMO

Oct 27th, 2002, 12:59 AM

Well from last I heard there is no AEM for the QG they have an SE one that can be fabbed to make it fit, the bypass valve has gave numerous problems to fellow sentra owners, there are specific CAI for the QG, Hotshot as one as and a few others do as well.
As for the water thing it has been hammered that the CAI will need to be submerged in water to suck water up (no comment about snow) but just make it a WAI for the winter, as mentioned earlier, TONS of people do that.

Sentrixx just wondering if the method you gave has hp #'s to back it up. I would like to see them that is an interesting thought.

Sentrixx · Oct 27th, 2002, 04:22 PM

Jump over to the sr20 fourms. There is big talk about it. But you all can do what you like. Its what you all what to spend your money on that matters. Paying close to 3 bills for an CAI is pretty steep in my eyes. Seeing that "I" personally don't see the advantage of all the bends and angle that a CAI has, when I can make something that will send just as much cold air into the TB with less work. And as for dyno. No I personally don't have any numbers. I don't need numbers when its common sense. If you think of what is actually is happening when the air runs up the actually bends. It will loose its temp fast compared to direct feed. Unless you do use say something in the mind of keeping the CAI pipeing cold. Then yes, that would be different. But different strokes for different folks. I'm not wasteing my money.

**chimmike** · Oct 27th, 2002, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bahearn
Yes, plenty of discussion.
No, you are incorrect that water will not be a problem.

Don't know if the bypass is enough. People have been reporting problems with the valve opening when it shouldn't.

Snow is no consequence. Compared to us Gulf Coasters, you don't get rain, you get sprinkles. Your worry is standing water. Don't drive through it.

Dude.........its not that serious. I live in FL. You haven't seen rain til u look out your bedroom window and can't see the ground 2 floors below you.

I haven't had any problems with my CAI and I've driven thru 2" deep puddles. Just be cautious.

peter96 · Oct 27th, 2002, 10:33 PM

Sentrixx wrote

Quote:

I don't need numbers when its common sense. If you think of what is actually is happening when the air runs up the actually bends. It will loose its temp fast compared to direct feed.

There is more to it than just air temp.
Also, if you think the pipe gets warm from the engine and therefore warms the air going through the pipe, there is a flow barrier inside the pipe that helps prevent that.
Add in the resonance effect and CAI gives more HP.

What the WAI has over the CAI is better throttle response, add a shield and you also get some temp effect.

Like you said, it's a preference call.