it's not what's on the outside that counts. they're some good looking intakes that are just complete ****.

i've seen pictures of someone that went with an ebay intake and there was jagged pieces of aluminum inside the pipe, not to mention the weld wasn't even good.

 

I see... Someone pm'd me and said he had a K&N intake He'd sell me for $200 shipped (slightly used) and he just cleaned the filter. So I think I'll just go with that once I save up some more money. Thanks for all the help guys.

 

Most intakes are all created equal. Stuff like that weapon r bull **** you should stay away from. Any thing like that that is over complicated and idiotic should not be considered. As long as the intake is 3" aluminum and you have a good quality filter you'll be fine. To me the filter and the welds are the only things you should be worried about. Injen is popular because it can be used as a CAI or SRI. AEM is a well known intake and a little cheaper plus it's made out of 1 piece aluminum. Before it was in 2 pieces..being 1 piece helps out with air flow and looks better overall.

If your going to use ebay make sure you do a thorough inspection and make sure there is a return policy offered.

 

yea, i got the ebay intake, and I made sure to file down the rough edges and inspect all the welds, then clean the pipe out before i installed it. But other then the edges, it works great, and there are quite a few people that are happy with what they got, but there are just as many unsatisfied people also.

 

The one I may end up getting isn't from ebay, but someone on here actually. He's getting a new car or something and just wants to get rid of the intake off the Cobalt...

To be sure, intakes will make the car louder and deeper, right? I don't want to run the risk of making my car sound like a tin can, especially after just getting a new exhaust system, even though an intake will make it perform better.

I don't exactly race in my car...

 

The engine tone does get louder and has a real nice sound once the intake is installed. To tell you the truth an intake on a n/a car is pointless unless it's on a built motor. They don't add that much hp TO THE WHEELS. They do help out on gas though...thats why I got mine

 

Yea, I want to help gas mileage too. I'm getting 31.4-31.6mpg now. Mostly highway with some city. After an intake and the catback, I should see some changes I hope.

 

Do your self a favor and go with a K&N,I had my K&N put on since 2007 and it is working great still.Go to a local Murray's Discount auto store and buy it from them,you will get a additional 15% off,if K&N offers it still.Also don't expect a high number with just a intake and a catback,you will notice more gains when the exhaust system is fully built.

 

yea an intake definetly gives the car a nicer tone, not too loud unless your in the car. I always get the "what do you have for an exhaust" and reply nothing, and they just say wow. Sounds nice.

And your gas mileage should go up 1 or 2 mpg, but at first you will love the sound and gas mileage will go down.

 

Here's the wierd thing. I've had my car since 07. It was getting like 32-33mpg with city driving mixed in. Then it went WAY down in the last year or so and now its steady at about 31.5. I live on a gravel road too. Should I look into replacing my fuel filter? Or getting the lines cleaned? Or should I just realize that 31.5mpg is still pretty darn good?

How often should one get the fuel lines cleaned/filter replaced? I know this isn't an intake question, but since we are on the MPG topic.....

 

that is normal for the MPG to go down over time...it'll keep going down so get used to it

 

DANGIT!

 

all cars do that. As the engine gets older it becomes less efficient. Especially now a days where cars are made to last 3-4 years

 

O I know.. o well 31.5+ is still good. Hopefully once I get an intake I'll notice the difference yall have been talking about.

 

i get 38

 

U serious? If so, what all u got on the thing? Manual or auto? LS,LT, SS?

 

manual, just the intake and some work with the ls2EDIT.

 

Not to call you a liar, but do you have a pic of the ECON display? I just gotta see proof on this one. (Only because EPA est. is 34mpg highway.)

Thanks

 

the econ display isnt 100% accurate. caclulate the actual milage travelled vs gas put in and i bet youre in the 32 range.

my car usually shows 34-38 on the guage after mixed condition driving (only an intake), but when i calculate manually, its typically 31.5-32.5

i forget the details, but the way the econ guage works makes it inaccurate as a whole, but especially depending on mods. it just estimates, but is pretty damn good nonetheless.

 

According to GM there is a 5% error rate in the mileage gauge.... I figured this question would come up so I snapped a shot of the ECON gauge on my way to work this morning...ROFLMFAO @ believing the EPA est

Sorry for the bad picture it's hard to reach around the steering wheel while your driving

 

Nice.... Yea, I just realized how far off the econ gauge was. I went like 325-330miles and put around 10 gal in. So yea, I guess I'm getting better than I thought.

"ROFLMFAO @ believing the EPA est..."

Yea.... I know...

 

So I bought a short ram from someone on here (will get it soon), and it has an SAI nipple on it (my car does not have SAI). Should I put a rubber cap over it or no? Someone told me it shouldn't be a problem unless I have a problem with ALOT of mud and stuff getting on my engine. Is my source correct on this?

 

Your source is mistaken...put a rubber cap over the nipple...to keep out dust and sand. If it didn't matter you wouldn't need a filter...

 

That's what I thought, just wanted to make sure. Thanks!

 

it's a k&n then? keep it covered and check on it every once and a while