Cold Air Inductions 2012 LFX CAI Review

[meissen]

Came home today to a big present sitting on my door step - a package from Cold Air Inductions with my new cold air intake!

Tore the box open and started the install. The directions were VERY easy to follow. I took some pictures along the way (below). Overall the product seems very well built and all the items were pretty high quality. I'll openly admit that if it weren't for my quest to improve MPGs, I probably wouldn't have been that concerned with buying a cold air intake at the price point it's at - but now that I have the product installed, I'm warming up to the fact that I spent this much money on a cold air intake.

The unexpected bonus was the new tone of the car when accelerating. It's hard to describe, but it has a lower throaty sound. I really wasn't expecting that from a simple cold air intake install, but it does sound a little different. I'll have a better idea of how well it worked tomorrow after driving ~60 miles round trip (mostly freeway) to and from work. Prior to the install I was at 22.7mpgs.

Getting the cold air intake also allowed me to readjust the RX Catch Can - I also took the time to drain it out. It's been installed for 3,000 miles now and it didn't catch too much - but anything caught is better than nothing!!

Here's the pics:

[SoulTerror]

Looks nice.

You'd be surprised about changing the air intake changing the sound. Did on my 92 Firebird when I went from the stock setup to an open filter setup.

[78mali350]

Looks good Brian, was there any cutting or anything factory wise to get it to work? Just curious, doesn't look like it though, simply a bolt in?

[bri2203]

How are you getting such crappy fuel mileage?

I know on my cobalt most air intake will cause a check engine light because it skews the fuel trims too much.

[MP81]

How are you getting such crappy fuel mileage?

I know on my cobalt most air intake will cause a check engine light because it skews the fuel trims too much.

Yeah, a lot of SS/TC people have that issue, they usually stick with a drop-in - or get a tune with the CAI.

I still stand by that being an SRI, B But being an SRI, it should help fuel mileage, whereas a true full-length CAI will generally hurt it.

But yes, an intake definitely improves how the car sounds. Looks like a great setup, can't wait to hear the mileage results!

And he gets bad fuel mileage because he doesn't like to utilize the last two gears much

[nascarnate326]

Let's hope for 2 mpg.

[Bill @ CAI Inc]

Looks good Brian, was there any cutting or anything factory wise to get it to work? Just curious, doesn't look like it though, simply a bolt in?

Simple Bolt-on, no further modifications needed!

[ktl711]

Looks sharp! Hope you get your MPG bump!

[bri2203]

I still stand by that being an SRI, B But being an SRI, it should help fuel mileage, whereas a true full-length CAI will generally hurt it.

Do you have any research on that hypothesis?
Many carbureted cars utilized a typical air cleaner that sat on top of the carb with an open element or a snorkel, as we all know air in the engine compartment is warm air.
From a power perspective most people notice more power going from a restrictive single snorkel to an open element.
From an economy stand point of few the OEMS went went through great lengths in the 1970-80s to feed fresh air to the intake, which had other benefits like reduced noise, and I am sure it had something to do with emissions as well.
I have read from a few difference sources that installing some form of cold air intake on a carb helped with detination, or lower 1/4 times, or better fuel milage.

I know the S-series Saturns respond well to warm air intake for mileage but I haven't heard of another vehicle gaining mpg with a warm air intake.

[MP81]

Cold air is more dense. More dense air requires more fuel to keep the air-fuel ratio at the desired point. This makes more power, but at the cost of increased fuel consumption.

Warm air is less dense, requires less fuel to properly ignite and burn, and thus, increases your fuel mileage, at the expense of power.

There are exceptions to this: where a CAI is, for example, replacing a very restrictive stock intake, and will net a fuel mileage gain due to the removal of the restriction or something similar.

Why do you think that modern engines run so hot? The new Cruze's optimal operating temperature is around 210*F, to maximize in fuel economy.

[bri2203]

Cold air is more dense. More dense air requires more fuel to keep the air-fuel ratio at the desired point. This makes more power, but at the cost of increased fuel consumption.

Warm air is less dense, requires less fuel to properly ignite and burn, and thus, increases your fuel mileage, at the expense of power.

There are exceptions to this: where a CAI is, for example, replacing a very restrictive stock intake, and will net a fuel mileage gain due to the removal of the restriction or something similar.

Why do you think that modern engines run so hot? The new Cruze's optimal operating temperature is around 210*F, to maximize in fuel economy.

I guess we are on a different pages.
If warm air was proven to imporve fuel economy in every application the OEM's would be grabing air from above the exhaust manifold. Yes Saturns are the exception to rule. I would think there is some middle ground which is ideal. When you start reducing power you end up using more fuel to move where if you had more power you wouldn't need to use as much throttle. I will try to get some fuel economy number with my chevelle this summer as I plan to make a cold air intake for it.
I think you are right about the engine operating temp but thats a different subject.

Back to Brian's intake...

[meissen]

How are you getting such crappy fuel mileage?

Being my first manual car, I'm sure I'm not driving it as economically as I should. I'm going to reset my Average MPGs tomorrow morning and then make it a point to shift at 2-2.5k instead of letting it out to 4k...

[nascarnate326]

Being my first manual car, I'm sure I'm not driving it as economically as I should. I'm going to reset my Average MPGs tomorrow morning and then make it a point to shift at 2-2.5k instead of letting it out to 4k...

haha shift at 2k and you will be golden

[meissen]

Yeah - I can't remember for sure but I think I was getting 26 when I shifted at 2.5k. It's just not fun shifting that low

[meissen]

Drove in to work today granny shifting 2k-2.5k and I achieved 28mpgs!