AEM Cold Air Intake and MPG

[Best_Shot]

I read somewhere in this forum that CAI could actually improve MPG. For those who installed AEM CAI in their Versa, could you please tell us what was you pre-CAI mpg, and the current MPG with CAI?I am planning to put one, but needs to justify the cost to my wife :-)

[Clipsed]

lol good 1, I havent installed one, but someone I am sure will get back to you on it.

[Elmojo]

Yes, please!I'm in exactly the same situation.I can't get my wife/accountant to see the need for adding an "unnecessary" add-on for my V.

I'd love to have some hard data to convince her with, especially since she agrees with me that the fuel economy sucks in the Versa.

[CodeRed]

i have the intake and here is my milage.

miles travled:199.5filled up with: 9.95820.03 MPG

miles travled: 216.0fill up with: 9.69822.27 MPG

i floor it a lot... :P

[Ever Victorious]

That is the unfortunate side effect of a CAI... leadfootness.

But hey, they sound damn cool under throttle.

[XterraVersa]

Im my supercharged Xterra I went from ~15 mpg to ~18 mpg after I installed an Airaid CAI. I think the gain was by removing the air flow bottle neck through the stock airbox that was designed for the non SC model. The restricted airflow turned the supercharger into an anchor. Most that have put them on non-sc xterras saw no gain in mpg or seat of the pants HP.

With the Versa, I don't hear the engine struggling for air when you rev it, so probably a very minimal gain in mpg & power.

As for cooler air, the stock intake sucks air from the grill before the radiator. Were does the AEM suck air from? If its from the engine bay, expect a slight decrease in power.

A cheaper solution would be to use a slide in filter & wrap the plastic intake with heat shielding. A slide in foam filter will clean the air far better and is less restrictive than any oiled cotton filter.

[MIdnkight-lude]

Im my supercharged Xterra I went from ~15 mpg to ~18 mpg after I installed an Airaid CAI. I think the gain was by removing the air flow bottle neck through the stock airbox that was designed for the non SC model. The restricted airflow turned the supercharger into an anchor. Most that have put them on non-sc xterras saw no gain in mpg or seat of the pants HP.

With the Versa, I don't hear the engine struggling for air when you rev it, so probably a very minimal gain in mpg & power.

As for cooler air, the stock intake sucks air from the grill before the radiator. Were does the AEM suck air from? If its from the engine bay, expect a slight decrease in power.

A cheaper solution would be to use a slide in filter & wrap the plastic intake with heat shielding. A slide in foam filter will clean the air far better and is less restrictive than any oiled cotton filter.

i agree, if oyu see any gain it is 2mpg tops, it all depends on your right foot more then anything. lately i been driving like a granny, and i already see myself getting more then 30mpg. so it all on driving condition first. if you have a huge lead foot, you wont see very much gain, hell you might see a drop in mpg.

[justmerging]

Pre-CAI I was getting ~30mpg now I'm getting ~33mpg. Driving style/route did not change. I drive approximately 60/40 highway/city 5 days per week. Again it will really depend on your driving style but the worst I have got with the intake was 30 mpg (it was an autocross weekend).

[ryannico]

Feed your vehicle what it wants! this AEM cold air intake is one of the best in the business and came of the lowest prices in the market, adding an AEM cold air intake is straightforward, making it a great first step to boosting your vehicle's horsepower...no regret at all.

[proxim2020]

In my truck, I originally got 13/18 mpg. After I added it, I saw a very small jump. I did notice more grumbling and easier takeoffs. But when I combined the intake with a new exhaust, I jumped up to 16/22. I'd suggest you do both at the same time to see the maximum jump. If you're trying to convince you wife, start at ebay. Copy one of the auctions that talk about these tornado's and fuel magnets. Replace the item's name with AEM CAI. All you need to do is show her this and you'll be set

[motoguy128]

fuel cost over 30,000 miles is $3181 @ 33mpg, $3500 @ 30mpg with gas at $3.50. So you save $319... which is more like $250 if you fator in the cost of money.

I doubt in a controlled test, you'll see improved mileage. But in this case maybe the car is more broken in, the driver is actually using less throttle since the car makes more noise, and there may be a small improvement in engien effeciency.

[mvalpreda]

I get better mileage. I usually get around 300 out of a tank and I have been getting 325-330 now. And I punch it more.

[remiasz]

what website did u guys buy ur cold air intakes from?

[proxim2020]

versaspeed.com

[Legacy40k]

How hard is it to install a Cold Air Intake on a Versa?

[proxim2020]

If you can post a message on this board, you can install an intake. There's not much to it. I've removed a ton of stock assemblies and installed the aftermarket most time with no instructions. I believe the AEM intake comes with instructions. If you need more reference, you can always have a look at the FSM. I think the most time consuming part of the AEM intake install is taking off the wheel and the wheel well.

[CodeRed]

If you can post a message on this board, you can install an intake. There's not much to it. I've removed a ton of stock assemblies and installed the aftermarket most time with no instructions. I believe the AEM intake comes with instructions. If you need more reference, you can always have a look at the FSM. I think the most time consuming part of the AEM intake install is taking off the wheel and the wheel well.

You don't NEED to remove the wheel after installing the intake i could see how it would be MUCH easier to remove it. But simply unbolting the connectors holding the front part of the wheel well in you can fit the filter up and through the hole. Also if you call Bob over at versaspeed.com he will help you with anything you need because the instructions that AEM sends to you must be from the first model versa because they have the old battery tie down.

[Jerr]

What exactly is all that stuff that you take out and replace with the CAI? Does it affect the A/C at all (CodeRed knows what I'm talking about

[CodeRed]

What exactly is all that stuff that you take out and replace with the CAI? Does it affect the A/C at all (CodeRed knows what I'm talking about

, lol jk

AC lawl, um no the ac is as cold as it was before it stands for cold air intake, not for the ac but for the engine >_>

[proxim2020]

When replacing the intake, you're removing the stock/restrictive/plastic assembly. You're replacing it with a series of smooth metal pipes and a large filter. The smooth pipes allow for more air to reach the engine more freely. This is why you get the hp boost. You're only swapping out parts that affect the way your engine breathes.

[lordkemo]

So maybe a stupid question...

It seems there are mixed anwsers on if you get better mpg out of the CAI... but what is the horsepower gain and/or torque. Is there some place to read more about it?

Thanks

[CodeRed]

So maybe a stupid question...

It seems there are mixed anwsers on if you get better mpg out of the CAI... but what is the horsepower gain and/or torque. Is there some place to read more about it?

Thanks

its prolly not too much because we are only talking about a 122hp car. the most i can see it going up is ~5-~8

[lordkemo]

Thanks CodeRed -

So then what is the point to add one on? Is it just for the sound or am I missing something?

[proxim2020]

You should get a better mpg. Since you're allowing the car to operate more freely, you will not need to push it as hard as you did before to get the performance you wanted. CAI normally causes MPG to drop though, but this is attributed to the driver. You tend to want to us your newly found power As far as horsepower, you're probably looking at somewhere around 5. It's not going to be much hp gain, but you'll definitely be able to fell and hear the difference. If you were to also go ahead and replace the exhaust system, you could see some much higher gains. It's one thing to get the air in, but you have to figure out how to get it out or you have a bottleneck.

[lordkemo]

Thanks a ton for the info. I guess it's time for the new cars first upgrade

[versaspeed.com]

I noticed on my Versa better throttle response too. And after I did the exhaust I noticed a lower lug factor with my 6 speed, if you have a manual transmission you know what I mean.