Diff between CAI and air filter?

[blueripper6]

Wow. they really need a new section in this forum for newb questions.

Anyways.. just wondering what the difference is.. ive searched for tons of stuff on here cant really find out much.

Also, when u have a CAI, where does it hook up too. i have no idea where it would and what the air would pass through??

sorry.. lol.:)

[illeagle]

Cold air intake (CAI) is just placing the filter in a place where there is no Hot air made by the motor. so your car sucks up nothing but.... cold air!, and cold air = power. The most common place for CAI is inbetween the front bumper, and wheel well.

an air filter is an element designed to keep as much dirt, dust and road debris out of your intake..

the cold air intake (CAI) hooks up to your throttle body

[googe]

There are 2 types, CAI and short-ram. Both are air filters.

Short ram has the open filter sitting in the engine bay with minimal piping as possible. The idea here is that there is less piping and it can breathe better. The downside is you are sucking in hot engine bay air.

CAI is basically an extension to the same thing, piped to somewhere away from the hot engine bay air where it can grab cooler outside air. The idea here is that you get more dense (colder) air which helps make power. The downside is that air doesnt flow quite as easily since it has to travel through all the piping.

CAI is generally preferred on non-intercooled cars. On intercooled cars, either short-ram or CAI work well, and there is alot of debate as to which one is better.