OLMES

What CAI system would you suggest for the 04 TL. I am leaning towad the AEM model as I had one in a 2000 CL-S and really liked it. Just curious if there was something on the market that is better.

Mr Zipps

The Injen is currently out right now, the AEM should be done in a month or 2. Im not sure when Comptech will release theres....

I would personally get the AEM... I have it on my 03TL-S and love it...

Aegir

Stock. <Flamesuit ON> You already have a CAI system. Because of it's location, it requires the car to be moving to benefit from it - and chassis dyno comparisons won't account for this. An aftermarket CAI will provide a smoother path to the throttle body, and there is some benefit to that. Enough to spend money on one? Hmmm...

If anyone can show dynamic condition test results that show an aftermarket CAI is adding power to an '04 TL - like 1/4 mile results (same day, same conditions) or IAT readings that show a CAI is providing colder temperature air to the engine while the car is in motion, I'll change my tune and maybe even buy one too.

No arguments if you want one because it looks cool and changes the intake sound, but IMHO the power gains are questionable if they aren't producing colder air than the stock system.

OLMES

What about removing the intake resonator and replacing with a cone filter??

Aegir

I don't think there is much power there or any way to do it and make it look nice. The TL deserves better than 'dryer hose'. :yack: If you think the factory resonator and filter are restrictive, I think you should go with the Ingen or AEM. I'm just some dissenting troublemaker on the Internet...

EFlecha

wow same conditions.. dynojet..be it the car sitting still.. but its still a controlled study..for both stock and CAI.. and 11+fwhp is no gain? wt .. am i missing somegthing..

Aegir

The stock cold air system will be drawing hot air from behind the front fascia when the car is making a full power run on a stationary dyno.

According to Acura: "Depending on vehicle speed, this system supplies the engine with ambient air that is up to 8 degrees Celsius (15 degrees Fahrenheit) cooler than typical engine compartment air."

15F is a nice drop. Is it dropping 15F in a stationary dyno run? Probably not. My contention is that an aftermarket intake does not necessarily make more power than the stock CAI, and that a stationary dyno test is not a reliable indicator because the stock setup is at a big disadvantage due to its intake location high up in the front fascia. It's just a theory.

Maybe it does make more power in the real world, but there are some facts like IAT change and actual performance improvements like 1/4 mile performance that are not on the table. If it turned out the power improvement was only 3hp in a moving TL where airflow allows the stock CAI to work to its full advantage, I'd be pretty hesitant to change.