In part one of our intake design blog we showed you in detail the route air takes to go through your intake to feed your hungry engine. We showed you some pictures of a rather dirty air filter and talked about the restrictive properties that are present in the OEM intake.

You already know at this point that we’ll ditch that STOCK intake and get to a power-making upgrade, but first let us talk about two paths to get there.

When it comes to aftermarket intakes, there are two main types that you can choose from; Cold Air Intake (CAI) and Short Ram Intake (SRI). Let's take a deeper look into each of these systems and give you some pros and cons of each type.

Cold Air Intake Systems

Cold air intakes are designed to increase the amount of cold air that enters the engine which helps to improve horsepower and torque. That cooler air is denser, which means there is more oxygen available for combustion, resulting in more power in your 2022+ 1.5T Honda Civic or Acura Integra. This applies to not just the Si or A-Spec trims of these cars, but any 1.5T powered Sedan or Hatch.

Pros:

- Increase HP & TQ: Cold air intakes can improve your car's performance by increasing the amount of oxygen that enters the engine which allows for more fuel and more bang

- Improved Intake Sounds: Enjoy some intake sounds that a cold air intake produces when the engine is revved (whooooosh….)

- Improved Fuel Economy: In some cases, a cold air intake can help to improve fuel economy by allowing the engine to breathe more efficiently (assuming you keep your foot out of it)

Cons:

- Increased Risk of Water Ingestion: Because cold air intakes are often located low and behind the bumper they can be more susceptible to water ingestion during heavy rain or flooding and cause hydro lock (rare)

- More Difficult Installation: Cold air intakes often require more time and effort to install than short ram intakes because they sit deep and behind a lot of things

- More Expensive: CAI’s tend to be more expensive than SRI’s due to being more complex parts

Short Ram Intake Systems

Short ram intakes are similar to cold air intakes, but they are designed more compact and take up less space in the engine bay.

Pros:

- More Affordable: Short ram intakes are less expensive than cold air intakes

- More Noise: Short ram intakes make noise, which many love. You can get some of the gnarliest sounds as your engine draws in air and your turbocharger releases pressure. For some people, it can be too much. If that's you, move this to a con ;)

- Easier Installation: Short ram intakes are usually very easy to install

- Less Risk of Water Ingestion: Short ram intakes are usually located higher in the engine bay, which can reduce the risk of water ingestion

Cons:

- Fewer Power Gains: Short ram intakes generally provide less real world power gains compared to a CAI because while it can take in more air than a OEM intake, it takes in much hotter air

- Increase Load on Cooling System: The hotter the air your engine ingests the more work the cooling system has to do. Upgraded intercoolers generally do a good job compensating for this by bringing down charge air temps

- Worst For City Commutes: Stopping in traffic or for stop lights heat soaks the engine bay. This means hot intake air temps. If you live in a hot city (like Las Vegas) then skip the SRI, at least for the summer

Which Intake System is Right for You?

Ultimately, the choice between a cold air intake and a short ram intake comes down to where you live, personal preference and driving habits. If you live in an area with lower outside temps, a short ram intake may be a good choice for you. If you're looking for maximum power gains and don't mind spending more money, a cold air intake may be the better option. 

We here at 27WON are working on both for the L15 powered 11th Generation Civic and new Integra. Whether you have a 6 Speed or CVT, we know a lot of people want pure performance and we also know a lot of people are more budget minded and want all the intake noises.

Given that, we want to ask what you guys want. What is more important in your intake system? Power? Sound? Style? Cost? What drives you to pick an intake for your car? We’ve got some exciting updates to share soon. Let us know what you think.  

Till next time
Vincent 

Co-Founder