Yeah, that happened to me. I put a HKS intake system on my Acura and moved from Florida (sunbelt) to Michigan (not). I never saw the notes from my service file, but apparently something was in there, because it seems everyone from the service department wanted to drive my car. It usually had about 50 more miles than when I dropped it off. And greasy footprints on the rear mats. At least they washed it and filled the tank.

The kid I sold it to had friends who drove the same model - I don't know, seemed kinda (***) to me, but whatever. I saw him about a year later and he told me that his ride was consistently faster than those of his buds. It can now be told that the HKS was just a noise maker so they must have been scared off the gas pedal by the noise he was making.

In light of the recent posts, it's obvious that the speed and mileage gains as noted by the logs I kept were delusional. I still have the logs. I need to find reasons why I was so deluded. Help me out here. These are my concerns:

• measured ETs were lower after HKS than before, numerous repeats;
• increase of 2-3 mpg immediately after install, 4-6 highway compared to before - intake installed at 25,000 on the odo, sold at 60,000 on the odo (always changed air filter ahead of recs);
• propensity to break traction as revs increased compared to stock.

One of the constants was that I ran premium fuel as recommended by the owners manual. 91-93 octane. I find it interesting that some who have taken exception to any possible performance gains by mods also post that they are fine with the 89 or lower octane swill. It's probably cheapest at By-Rite. Gas is gas, right? With all the rocket science flying back and forth about snake oil, sugar pills, noise-makers and $100 tubes, is something being left out here?

I've probably spent way too much $$ in buying Shell V-Power, thinking it was giving me the edge in performance, engine life and emissions. Obviously this site, http://www.toptiergas.com/, is a prime example of corporate subversion of the masses. I am so brainwashed that I still look to it when I fuel my RDX.

Call it a CAI, call it a LRI, with a boosted motor any reduction in pumping loss = gain in efficiency and power delivery. The sweet turbo whine is ++. I can't wait to put a hollow tube on my car and let someone mess with my ECU.

I need help.

 

...

 

From the top:

• In a word, yes. My log on this vehicle started at mile 47. The existing miles were put on prior to purchase and by me during a 30-mile test drive. I've kept logs on every vehicle I've driven;
• To each their own, a courtesy it appears you have a difficult time extending to others;
• so now David is taking on Goliath, to wit: BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen and Audi.

Living in a constant state of cynicism and letting it rule one's life has got to be worse than wearing a hair shirt 2 sizes too small. I'm just saying.

 

Is it feasible at all to install this without removing the battery? I hate to lose all my settings...

 

The easiest way to install is to remove the battery. I didn't see another way around doing that. You could try scootching the battery over, but you risk a tip-over or short.

I didn't lose any of my settings other than trip meters- just had to input the Navi code and all data was still there.

 

I did it without removing the battery. Just takes alittle patience.

 

I found it easier to just pull the battery then try and install it and put the battery back then to spend the time trying to get it when with the battery still in place. Only takes a minute to setup the navi if you have the code handy.

 

Hey if you need someone to install it for you my younger brother has a shop in so cal or at his garage in Rancho Cucamonga let me know he does this as his side job ???

 

Thanks for the info. Maybe for more complex jobs. Intake is very easy.

 

Did you buy it from a local shop or internet and how much $$$$$$ . Thanks

 

how do you take the resonator out? i'm a bit confused.

 

Hey, does the hondata reflash work with this intake?

 

Yup

 

Someone should really look at my listing for a barely used CP-E intake for $110 picked up in the Bay Area...

 

looks good

 

why you did not use K&N , air intake K&N is best.

 

Multiple Dyno tests prove otherwise.

Thanks for playing, try again fanboy.

 

About almost 3 years too late for this information.

K&N is ok but CP&E seems to be the best at the moment.
Or you can get a weapon R and switch out to a better filter like AEM dyflow.

Weapon R way will still be cheaper than K&N but with a better filter.

 

I love these guys who chime in with words of wisdom whom not only don't own an RDX, but probably have never even modded a car.

 

I want to go KN but the cp-e is obviously better due to it being closer to the cooler air. Realistically though is the diff in air temperature going to make it all the way through without heating up from the turbo or the tmic? what are the real benefits between the two? also as far as mpg. will this mod really help? I have had intakes on all my cars with no noticeable difference but being as this is turbo I would think the extra breathing will help. no?

 

I like that the K&N came with a heatshield.. not the best it could have been, but better than nothin' IMO

 

Yea I had a typhoon on my civic Si and I am sure it helped a little bit. How do you like the KN. bet the sound is fun lol.

 

want want want want!!!!!

 

If you wanted, adding a heat sheild to the cp-e would be a peice of cake.

 

1 gallon cut up milk jug?

 

Lol....That'd work!

 

I've been happy with everything i've done. In the end you need to be too. Many of these types of things are very simmilar, and it may just come down to personal prefference.

 

How easy or hard is it to remove and clean the CP-e filter once installed with battery back etc...???

I am tossed about doing it now after watching this youtube video:
According to the video tests, it may be more of a sound thing than actual felt performance.

 

My friend said the same thing when he drove my rdx. One of the best mods for the rdx helps the turbo with more air.

 

Hi all! New RDX'er on the site. This was my first mod i put on the car. Cant go wrong with it. Hearing the turbo is a few times louder than stock. Even the wife is loving the intake!

 

congrats!!

 

How does the stock calibration handle having an intake on the car? My previous vehicle was very sensitive to intakes and several of the available options skewed the fuel trims so much that an aftermarket tune was pretty much required. Anyone who install this intake (or any other - not sure what's out there for the RDX yet) take note of the fuel trim fluctuations before and after installation?

 

the CPE runs leaner for the vehicle so as stock calibration it boosts a few ponies in HP.. i ran my stock intake with TMIC for months and it was just fine.. alittle peppier the flashpro made it into a different beast

 

hopefully have one of these soon to install! Just have to find someone selling one. ETS intercooler is on though!

 

nice write up. I went one step further and put mine right behind the fog light opening since I have my fog lights pulled. very whoshy whoshy !!!