Just put in my OSCAI with a K&N drop in. I used a shop-vac tool as an intake (one normally used on the end of a shop-vac wand - about 3" x 4" at the opening and converging to a circular hole, which leads to the stock airbox as normal). It fits (rather nicely) into a hole that I cut in the splash guard underneath the car and it actually faces forward fairly well (thereby maximizing the ram-air effect, or at least that's the intention). I'm planning on adding some type of grill over the intake to block leaves, bugs, birds, small rodents, children, etc. from getting in there. My questions:

• Is the grill really necessary (per anyone's bad experiences)?
• Would a smooth pipe (rather than a ribbed shop-vac hose, which I imagine impedes air flow, but inhibits water flow) be worth the risk?
• Has anyone considered / attempted to block the stock inlet and rely entirely upon the OSCAI inlet ("What?!" you ask? I was thinking that the stock inlet may allow a loss of pressure / ram-effect from the OSCAI at speed - a path of least resistance. This, I realize would only be an option on days without precipitation)?
• Can anyone share their experiences with this contraption (i.e. approx. hp gains, etc.)?

Just thought I'd start gathering data for future reference. Thanks for your input.

 

I've got a 4th gen with the Poorman's CAI (same exact setup) with a K&N drop-in filter. I dynoed last weekend with the Poorman's CAI and I made the same power with it as I did with the HKS intake. The next day I went to the track and posted my best et ever. Does that answer your questions? BTW, I'm not running any grating. If the intake has enough vacumn to suck anything up the pipe, it will get stuck at the filter.


Dave

 

dave b, was your old hks intake just a normal cone or a cold air intake...when i put on my oscai i had the k&n drop in for a number of months...i didn't notice any performance difference between the k&n drop in and the k&n drop in w/ the oscai...i'm deciding between getting a place racing cai or waiting for cattman to finish making his

 

The HKS setup is similar to the POP charger (Stillen, JWT, etc). The PR CAI flows just as good as the POP which has been proven on the dyno. I think the OSCAI will flow just as good and any thing aftermarket plus the stock airbox becomes pressurized which improves tip-in acceleration.
The reason people think they are faster is because the aftermarket intakes are very loud. Loud makes it feel like you are going faster. I had my doubts when I revised my stock intake. However when I tested it on the dyno and track the power is the same and my et improved too!!! I suggest you save your money and get a y-pipe if you don't already have one. The aftermarket intakes are mostly for looks compared to the revised intake. Simply put.....same power.


Dave

 

My experience exactly. My car is just as fast with the OSCAI as with an open intake, but now it is quiet. I do miss the roar sometimes though...

 

and with that psychology, you also lose gas mileage. Putting an open intake on...you tend to get addicted to the sound and will WOT more.

I was REALLY surprised when i did my OSCAI (i dropped it down to the splash guard also)...i noticed a bit more pick-up at freeway speeds.

 

Dave B - you're dyno results showed similar performance from OSCAI and a cone filter? That leads me to believe that, at speed (i.e. under pressure), you should be able to expect even better results / more hp. What kind of hp gains did you see with an OSCAI over stock when you dynoed? How about with a cone?