Intake worth it?

[YoungCoupe]

Is it worth the money to buy a SRI? Like what are the benefits?

[SanoSuKe]

I'm no expert but I have heard that the CAI gives a little more power than the SRI. Someone else should go into details. :p

Edit: Here's a simplified explanation by Hussain.

ya other members have said the same thing. It's because they are short ram intakes and they suck in more air then stock BUT its warm air they suck in. the colder the air, the more dense, the better. a "cold air intake" is what benefits, not the short ram... but closest we have to a CAI is the K&N for the 2.5 and the AEM for the 3.5. they're not CAI BUT they have a little thing to blow more air from in front of the car to short ram intake

[RicerX]

Best way to explain the benefit of a CAI vs. SRI isn't necessarily the way the intake is made, it's the concept of cooler air vs. warmer air in the air-fuel mixture. (Any intake upgrade will likely yield an increase in power as they offer smoother, sometimes larger piping and removal of pieces of the intake that impede airflow in lieu of quieting down the intake - but for the argument of CAI vs. SRI, it is more about the air temperature)

Ever notice how when the temperature drops suddenly by a significant amount that you need to put air in your tires? It's because molecules in the cooler air condense. When air gets warmer, the molecules expand. With this concept applied in a given space, the cooler air space will have more air molecules than the warmer air space. Cooler denser air brought into the engine and mixed with fuel creates a more efficient and powerful combustion, therefore creating better power.

Just because a CAI brings in cooler air from outside the car than an SRI doesn't necessarily make it better. Certain CAI systems have tons of crazy bends in the piping in order to create an intake path that is accomodated by the design of the car. The V6 Altima Coupe suffers from the problem of there being no clear path for a CAI to be installed without significant alterations to the engine bay (battery relocation being one very large obstacle - a costly endeavor that wouldn't be deemed worth the time, effort, or money to gain 2-3 more horsepower).

I arrive at my point - for the AC, if you're getting an intake, get one with heat shielding. The K&N or AEM intakes are the best choices, imho. It's an alternative measure to create a CAI-like environment that proves to be effective enough for the $300-$400 they cost. My AEM opened up the top end fairly noticeably, and improved throttle response.

[DAAN.]

See above information + you should know that the cost benefit of this intake is not worth the amount spent.