Originally posted by Louse76
The CAI doesn't give more power because of colder air. Your engine bay is actually pretty cool with air moving around in there etc. If it was giving more power because of cooler air, then you would see a gain accross that whole dyno.
Rather going from SRI to CAI simply works like changing your intake manifold, you're swapping where you want your power. The CAI is going to give you the extra power at the AEM hump as you can see in the dyno. The SRI is going to give you extra power way up top (higher than most of our tegs will ever rev), up past 8.5k. At that range, the CAI's power just drops off. So essentially it has to do with the velocity of the air coming into the engine and the effect of the length of the tubing... the temperature differences aren't enough to make any sort of real world difference.
You're gonna have to clear something out for me, where exactly do you not see a power gain? What chart are you referring to? (car, mods)
High school thermodynamics man, PV=nRT. Why do you think an intercooled turbos make more power than non-intercooled. Temperature is inveresely proportional to density. Why do u think the call it a "COLD" air intake.
The SRI will make power way up top, if the intake piping is very large. Smaller pipes give higher velocities, so the powerband is going to be different for different size pipes. Large pipes will work well up high, small will work well down low. Just like exhaust piping.
CAI high longer pipes and more bends than SRI. That, and the fact that it has to deal with water, is the only disadvantage vs SRI.