Intake Selection

[PTmodrod]

Hey, I have a non turbo 2001 PT Cruiser. I am purchasing a cold air intake and I was looking for input from anyone with experience from different brands. Currently, it looks as though i might be getting an Airaid intake. Opinions please?

[ucantcme]

K&N is awesome. Haven't heard but good things from them on the Cold Air intake. I bought the drop-in filter from K&N, nothing bad what so ever.

AirAid and K&N are good companies.

[PTmodrod]

I forgot to mention this earlier but the only reason I am looking at getting the Airaid intake is due to the price difference. The Airaid seems like a much better deal and from what I have read, doesn't seem to be too much different from the K&N intake in gains.

[Mean Green]

Originally Posted by PTmodrod

I forgot to mention this earlier but the only reason I am looking at getting the Airaid intake is due to the price difference. The Airaid seems like a much better deal and from what I have read, doesn't seem to be too much different from the K&N intake in gains.

The best I've seen on the dyno is 2-5 hp gains and that isn't even noticeable. The sound is nice, though. The Airade is a better setup because it closes off hot engine air from the intake.

[lakersfan1]

I just bought the Airaid for the 06+ and installed yesterday. Gets louder than I though at full throttle, but I can tell a difference in power above 3000 RPM. Took me 10 minutes to install. Only thing I didn't like is the throttle body adapter. Looks like it's disrupting air bigtime. I'll probably take it off and try rounding off the edge with a Dremel to make a smoother transition.

Somehow the 06+ is supposed to make more HP and less TQ than the kit for the 05- even though I thought the engines were pretty much the same.

[cleverklutz]

The airraid sounds good, but I'm not too thrilled by the fit and finish. It leaves big gaps where it seals with the airbox. I can post pics if you'd like. I think it can still suck hot air, but then again so could the stock intake. I'm thinking I'll try going back with the stock airbox and modding it quite a bit. I want to do a ram air setup with a cheap hoodscoop, which will be a true cold air intake. If I utilize the stock air inlet on the airbox and rotate it 180* then I shouldn't have to worry about moisture from rain and such as the air will enter under the filter and go up. I have to check if I can remove that nose that goes over the battery, I want the intake to sound as good as the airraid.

Ben

[PTmodrod]

I know that most people claimed to gain around 5 HP and I understand that that really is not too noticeable, but the sound difference will be nice, and I will be glad to have a reason to open my hood at car shows. I'll look into modifying the airbox to cut off a bit more engine heat too. Thanks to those who have already posted and I'm still interested to hear more. As a plus, that will finally put me over the edge and help me edge out my friend and his Cobalt SS. Usually I am neck and neck with him the whole way!

[Mean Green]

Originally Posted by lakersfan1

I just bought the Airaid for the 06+ and installed yesterday. Gets louder than I though at full throttle, but I can tell a difference in power above 3000 RPM. Took me 10 minutes to install. Only thing I didn't like is the throttle body adapter. Looks like it's disrupting air bigtime. I'll probably take it off and try rounding off the edge with a Dremel to make a smoother transition.

Somehow the 06+ is supposed to make more HP and less TQ than the kit for the 05- even though I thought the engines were pretty much the same.

Placebo effect. Makes more noise at 3k. I used to think my '01 was quicker with the Airade, too. When I switched back from the Airade to stock I discovered that the '01 "sounded quicker" and there was no difference.

[lakersfan1]

Originally Posted by Mean Green

Placebo effect. Makes more noise at 3k. I used to think my '01 was quicker with the Airade, too. When I switched back from the Airade to stock I discovered that the '01 "sounded quicker" and there was no difference.

Not sure. It seems to pull up the hill I live off alot faster. Too bad the NA PT Cruiser crowd doesn't seem to be into dynoing thier mods. I can't see how replacing that tiny little accordian pipe alone doesn't help power. But, then the PT only winds out to 5500RPM or so until power rolls off. I'm coming off a car that wound to 8,000 RPM, so it made a more profound effect .... and it was dyno tested several times. Perhaps if I get a few more actual engine mods going, I'll do a quick A/B on an engine dyno to test the two intakes independantly side-by-side.

[cleverklutz]

What I do to see if I've noticed a gain is do several 0-60 runs with a stopwatch. Not rocket science, but if there is a gain, you should notice it. I ran 12.5 seconds 0-60 when I got it. New plugs, wires, coil, CAI, and exhaust. It's now up to 12.5 seconds... When I did similar mods to my Dodge Dynasty I went from 10.5 seconds to 9.5. Not sure why my PT is so bloody slow!

Ben