Drivetrain Do turbo cars need CAIs?
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4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
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Do turbo cars need CAIs?
This item popped up in one of the posts in a thread.
Just wanting some clarity here.
The turbo sucks in air and compresses it prior to the intake into the engine.
The air passes thru the turbines in the turbo which are spun by the hot exhaust gases, this makes the intake air hot.
So why bother with a cooler intake air, when it's gonna be heated anyways.
Isn't money better spent on water/methanol injection or a more efficient FMIC?
Just wanting some clarity here.
The turbo sucks in air and compresses it prior to the intake into the engine.
The air passes thru the turbines in the turbo which are spun by the hot exhaust gases, this makes the intake air hot.
So why bother with a cooler intake air, when it's gonna be heated anyways.
Isn't money better spent on water/methanol injection or a more efficient FMIC?
Last edited by danielo; Feb 3, 2008 at 08:05 PM.
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 150
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From: North Carolina
The CAI.
The engine power is limited by how much oxygen an engine will pump. The CAI is less restrictive on the suction side of the turbo, and will flow more air more easily, more power.
Pump more air into an engine = more oxygen = more power. The air is heated when it is compressed by the turbo, yes, but the best way to say it is that it raises the temperature of the incoming air. Cooler air in, cooler air out. Denser air can carry more oxygen = more power. The air is mainly heated by compression, not by passing thru a hot turbine.
The intercooler also cools the compressed air, for higher density. The intercooler is especially needed in the summer months, as it will keep the engine from losing power from the less-dense air due to the hotter air temp. It will also allow more boost to be used, because it can remove the additional heat created by compressing the air to a higher pressure and temperature.
Pump more air into an engine = more oxygen = more power. The air is heated when it is compressed by the turbo, yes, but the best way to say it is that it raises the temperature of the incoming air. Cooler air in, cooler air out. Denser air can carry more oxygen = more power. The air is mainly heated by compression, not by passing thru a hot turbine.
The intercooler also cools the compressed air, for higher density. The intercooler is especially needed in the summer months, as it will keep the engine from losing power from the less-dense air due to the hotter air temp. It will also allow more boost to be used, because it can remove the additional heat created by compressing the air to a higher pressure and temperature.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2007
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Perhaps a lot less important from a performance side...
But I love the bypass valve sound and turbo spin-up that you can hear as soon as you remove the stock air box. I find it really satisfying to hear the engine work and hear the sounds it produces that were hidden before by the OEM system.
But I love the bypass valve sound and turbo spin-up that you can hear as soon as you remove the stock air box. I find it really satisfying to hear the engine work and hear the sounds it produces that were hidden before by the OEM system.
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 945
Likes: 4
From: CT
Perhaps a lot less important from a performance side...
But I love the bypass valve sound and turbo spin-up that you can hear as soon as you remove the stock air box. I find it really satisfying to hear the engine work and hear the sounds it produces that were hidden before by the OEM system.
But I love the bypass valve sound and turbo spin-up that you can hear as soon as you remove the stock air box. I find it really satisfying to hear the engine work and hear the sounds it produces that were hidden before by the OEM system.
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 510
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From: Kansas City
The "C" in CAI isn't the ultimate benefit. If you can get some "C" in the equation then it helps, but isn't huge in the case of the Mini setup. I think it should be called an "LRAI" or Less Restrictive Air Intake. 
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