I plan on putting a cold Air intake on the 'balt in the next few weeks.

What are the pros and cons?

(if theres already a thread on this...my bad. I cant find it)

 

You get a lot of rain by you?

 

Normally no. We're have a rain storm right now but its VERY rare. I live in San Fernando vally. very dry...

 

where in the valley? im in Calabasas
really, the pros are slightly more HP and if u have a SS, then louder supercharger whine
there arent cons for us SoCal people, but in areas that see a lot of rain, it will be more likely to suck up water into the engine when going over a big puddle. The other obvious con is that it isnt free.

 

Like here in chicago. Lost of rain and potholes

 

Oh ok. I have an SS but not supercharged. Its a sedan. Still a bit more HP or is it even worth my money?

"where in the valley"

sunland Tujunga area

 

no one can decide that but you. Most like the small gains, but when compared to an expensive kit like a turbo kit, dollar for dollar it isnt the best thing in the world. However, most people arent willing to drop $3k on a turbo, so theyre fine spending $1k over the course of a year on smaller bolt on parts that get you a little gain in power. Its all up to you...and you still didnt say where u live...lol

 

Ya huh! look ^

Sunland Tujunga area

 

The idea of a CAI is to get more direct air into your engine, instead of hot stagnant air inside a box.

Also, someone asked about rain. You have a 2.4, you don't need to worry about that. A 2.0L's intake is in the wheel well so you need to modify some things and make sure you get one that is oil-based incase it gets wet. As stated, you have a 2.4 so any intake you decide on (dryflow or not) will not get wet.


I highly recommend K&N, they seem to be the most serious about making functional intakes that produce the most gains.

 

hm...thats not too close to me. Woulda been nice to add to the list of cobalt owners that live near me

 

Awesome. Thanks for your help. I'll Either be getting a K&N or something called a "Spectra" or something like that.

 

AEM ftw..... i love mine

i might consider selling it though due to a need of money to go turbo....

 

happy modding

 

Pros are you get colder air into your engine and therefore a little more HP.

Cons, not really any unless you plan on driving in water that will just about completely submerge the intake tube (which is like at least 8") Many will say you will soak the filter and such, but in reality your CAI is going to be just about as far off the ground as the end of your stock intake tube behind the bumper.

EDIT: Also have heard (not for sure on this) That you get a slight throttle response lag. I doubt very noticable if at all.

 

I could be mistaken, but a 2.4L's intake is in the engine bay like a 2.2L's.

 

not a CAI.. it goes down by that little grill on ur bumper... just the 2.2s have a filled in grill so water cannot get to it

 

2.2L have the filter in the engine bay, actual air intake ends behind the front bumper. Pretty sure 2.2 and 2.4 have the same intake.

 

hmm.

I'm used to my 2.0L, no matter which intake you get it's in the wheel well.

In that case. I definitely recommend NOT getting a DryFlow. I used to bog all the time, I switched to an oiled filter (K&N), put in on the AEM pipe and haven't had a problem since (oil repels water, duh).

Some people bog, others don't. Not worth it to me to roll the dice that you might be one of the few that don't get water on your intake. Get an oil-based intake.

 

You get better throttle response with shorter piping (ie-short ram intake) Then, you never have to worry about water either. And imo, it looks cooler in the engine compartment, haha.

 

i have the dry flow and have had no problems... i have drivin it thru the winter too

like i said, the 2.2s wheel well is closed off from the front and back so it is very hard to suck water

 

it looks good under the hood as well

 

This is also true, I completely forgot about that piece of plastic at the bottom of our bumpers.

So the only real way to kill your engine with a CAI is to 1st, find a puddle deeper than the height of the intake pipe and 2nd, stop in it so the water actually gets in that area.

 

pretty much.... i just always avoid spraying that area a lot when washing the car too

but i may go outside and cut my CAI piping to make it a short ram... not sure yet

 

I have the airbox mod and spray the filter area (attempting to not hit the filter itself) and never have a problem, pretty sure you could even spray the filter (although your would ruin the cotton) and still run fine.

 

how do u think cutting the piping would work out.....

heres my thread with a pic
https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/2-2l-l61-performance-tech-45/converting-cai-short-ram-156594/