Since HP is a derivitive of tourque how can the CAI have less HP but more tourque?

I stuck a temperature probe in the intake pipeing with both setups. In most driving less than ~40 mph or so the CAI has a temp advantage of about 20-30 degrees. The advantage was more after a longish stop (like a long redlight) or at slower speeds. The WAI temp would increase anytime the radiator fans came on. The intake temerature with a WAI does not drop quickly when the car starts moving like many here claim. I had thought the CAI would give more of a temp advantage than that, but the CAI still has a 4-6 HP advantage from colder air in many real world situations that will not show on the dyno.

There is a hole behind the headlight that leads to the fenderwell so I suspect the CAI is drawing some of its air from the engine compartment. I blocked off this hole but have not checked the temps with it blocked. I have also considered using a short ram with extensive heat shielding, possible rotating the battery. But it seems like a lot of work and a very cluttered engine bay for a couple of HP

 

This loss of torque with the WAI/hybrid everyone talks about isn't really a loss of torque, it's a loss of pressurization. The stock intake is pressurized and resonance tuned. This pressurization is caused by the resonator box located under the battery tray. When the driver tips into the throttle, the pressurized air is released and almost a very small supercharged effect. This is better for normal driving because the motor feels stronger in the lower rpms. The downside to this setup is it's slight lack of higher rpm power. When you add a WAI/hyrbid, the intake is wide open so the intake looses it's pressurization therefore it feels softer in the lower rpms during part throttle acceleration. However at WOT, there's really no difference. Due to the CAIs length, it seems that the piping holds onto some of the tuned resonance which helps restore part throttle feel.

The truth is the stock setup really isn't as bad as everyone thinks. It's quiet, but it's really not that restrictive. The WRX's intake setup is nearly the exact same design as ours and it's well known that the WRX's stock intake is good until around 300hp. I'm running the hacked air box setup with all the resonators removed. To me, the setup feels much better in the lower rpms than the hybrid which I can't explain because the airbox isn't pressurized. The sound is amazing though and at the track it seems to be running just fine compared to my HKS hybird. I would really like to try out a CAI just to see the differences on my car.

Dave

 

I ran 15.2@89 (2.27 60 foot) with my only mods being OSCAI, removed stereo, no gas.

I ran 15.1@90 (2.28 60 foot) with a "pop-style" filter, stereo still in and almost a 1/4 tank of gas.

Admittedly, these were not on the same night, but the conditions were nearly the same (frakin' cold). I'm sold on the "pop charger"

 

I'm running the same hacked stock air box mod as Dave. Call me crazy, but it seem this hacked stock air box mod yield better gains overall over the CAI and pop charger w/mid pipe. Of course, that's just my butt dyno, I have no real proof of the gains. So take this how you want. I have tried all of them: CAI, popcharger, hybrid, etc. To me, this hacked stock air box mod seem to the best. The sound isn't as loud as a CAI or maybe even a popcharger w/mid pipe. The sound is unique, not too loud, but still enough to be noticed. I like it, and best of all, it cost almost nothing. I just used a K&N panel filter and drilled holes all over the lower portion of the stock air box.