Intake "performance" question.

[Infinite-T]

Ok, So a little while back, I put an K&N intake on my 2.5S CVT. It was pretty easy to do and made the engine compartment look clearer without all that black, boxy plastic crap in there.

BUT, since it has been done, the car seems a bit louder. I knew that it would change the sound of it a bit, but when I accellerate, especially between the 2500-3500 RPM range is sound REALLY loud. Loud enough to even compete with my stereo at moderate volume. The sound, the best way i could describe it is like either setting next to the engine on an inboard engine boat, or driving a car that has a cracked head. At RPMs lower than 2500 its very quiet, and at above 3500 or so it sound about what you would expect.

ALSO, during the 2500-3500 range, where it is really loud, the engine also seems sluggish, like if I was towing a heavey trailer, or again, like a car with a cracked head making a ton of noise while accellerating less than moderatly. I mean the accelleration isnt super slow, but it seems more sluggish than it should be and only when it is making the very LOUD engine noise. If I am on the freeway or something and need to kick it up to pass someone or something, its a little lound, but digs right in and goes.

I searched about it here and someone suggested the MAF sensor in a different post. I check that it was plugged in all the way, and even unplugged/replugged it to check.

Is this issue just the fact that I am now able to hear the engine much more and the sound of the CVT spinning up and not hearing the usuall shifting sounds? Is it normal for the engine to be so loud during acceleration to be disrupting to conversations and music? IS the slower acceleration, just kinda the limit of the 2.5 and the CVT? I know i shouldnt expect tire burning acceleration from a 2.5, but something just doens feel/sound right.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks!

[Nlghtmare]

It's argued you lose torque with intakes, more so with cold air intakes. You're not going to make up that loss of torque (the sluggish punches you're having) without an exhaust or header. You do have more HP now that you use during higher RPMS. You'll notice your 0-60 may have dropped in warmer weather. Different people have different experiences. How do you like the sound though? If it's too loud you just need it to break in. You'll get used to it if it's too loud. Try positioning the air filter differently if it's unbearable.

[Infinite-T]

Thanks for the reply. I am not sure what the issue with the sluggish feeling is yet. I think some day when I have time, Ill remove the K&N and put the stock back on for a back to back compairison.

The sound is fine, its the volume of it. During low speed accelerations between the 2.5-3.5k RPM range the sound is so loud that it interupts a person to person converation with someone sitting next to you. You literaly cannot hear a person speaking in a normal voice next to you. It drowns out my stereo at a medium volume.

How long does it take to break in? What do you mean by re-positioning the filter?

Thanks again.

[HuyyNguyen]

I knew that it would change the sound of it a bit, but when I accellerate, especially between the 2500-3500 RPM range is sound REALLY loud. Loud enough to even compete with my stereo at moderate volume.

Turn up your stereo louder old man

But anyways, that's how your intake works in the CVT..it's alot louder in the 3000rpm area and CVTs don't really shift, it'll sound like 1 big gear (well actually it is) that will keep revving higher. Everything is fine

[rjs26]

yea between about 2700 - 3400rpm mine is LOUD. especially if your between two buildings where it echos like crazy. I like it. but 3500+ it starts to die down abit. If you dont like the sound then dont hold between that range either accelerate past the 3500. or lay off and coast .

[Infinite-T]

Thanks for the feedback guys. At least now I know the noise is normal and not something wrong. It wasnt a tremendous deal to me. But a while ago I took my gandma to a doctors appointment. She was talking to me as I was accelerating from a red light on a hill. As i hit the pedal to head uphill it was pretty loud and interupted the conversation, and she was like "wow, this thing is loud". The very next day, my wife and I were headed out somewhere and the same thing happened and she commented on it. That was when I really started to notice how loud it really was.

Im not quite sure what the laggy feeling is, but i think it might be an illusion based on the factors of what I hear from the engine rev and the feedback of the transmition. I started watching the speedo when this would happen and it didnt seem like the acceleration was really that slow.

I guess its something Ill have to get used to or play around with. Maybe when I do some sound deadening ill put a little extra against the firewall.

Thanks again.

[obstacle]

any idea if a MT coupe would perform the same or is this "loudness" strictly for the CVT?

[Infinite-T]

Im going to assume that the volume of it would be roughly the same at the same RPM, the difference would be that the CVT doesnt shift.

So the CVT sounds sounds like; wwwWWWoooooo000000000OOOOOOOOOOOOO0000000oooooo
as you accelerate and then level off.

The MT would sound like wwWWooOOOO000p (shift) wwwWWWooOO000p (shift) wwWWooOOOO00p
as you shift thru the gears.

I cant say for sure it would have the same volume because I havent been in an MT that has a custom Intake yet. But Im sure the loud part of the spectrum is more sustained on the CVT.

[AviBen]

I have an AEM intake and the 3.5 engine. When I added the intake and the Racingline Y-Pipe to the Nismo cat-back exhaust I already had on, the sound did get louder, particularly in the range you are experiencing it. Also, as others have said, it did "break in" and settle down a little after a while. Actually, I've gotten very used to it now, and really like the auditory feedback it provides when I'm accelerating to pass on the highway. I'm not sure whether the power boost is that noticeable -- does anyone else experience the power kick at around 3000+ RPM sort of like a turbo kicking in after a little delay?