So most people will agree that the CAI or Short Ram is a waste of money. BUT, if you were planning on doing the ECU and exhuast, would it make sense to do a CAI? The reason I ask is that with the ECU you will change fuel/air ratio's and with a less restrictive exhaust more air is going out. So with these changes, wouldn't you want more air in?

 

And with what REAL ecu would you be doing this with? This has been covered many times so probably would be a good idea to search for it.

It's looking like there are good things on the horizon as far as ECU's go, but for now you're SOL really.

 

^I think you need to look. There are at least 3 people with the new ECU. Time to build is slow so they're coming out one at a time.

I think it's been said that the intake is not the restrictive portion of the equation.

 

Thank you for saying what I would have said other than here you go vill0169 Read it through.
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-performance-parts-modifications-112/performance-mods-expertise-needed-820397/



Other than that KN_TL, again I was just going by the more air in, the more air out theory.

 

I would work on the out

Jpipe, PCD's or higher flowing cats, etc.

I believe the stock intake minus the baffle flows more than you can evacuate.

 

Yes, of course we've all seen that ecu, but my (correct) point was saying that there really isn't anything readily available and decently priced out there for tuning just an intake and other minor bolt on's. If the OP wants to get on the list and pay for the above mentioned ECU just to tune bolt on's, I guess go for it........

 

We have all discussed $$ for HP and know that there is no real "decently priced" ECU. To say that it's just to tune bolt on's is pretty ignorant, (oh sorry your probably just a young kid) so I should say to say that is pretty dumb. So I'm curious guy, what would you recommend when the ECU and a Jpipe will give you more gains than any other "bolt ons" for an NA Motor?

 

You were the one talking about tuning bolt ons in your first post so isn't that where you wanted the conversation to go in the first place?

If you're gonna spend $1300 bucks on an ecu, then what is it to you to pick up a relatively inexpensive CAI and tune for any possible changes from it? So I'm curious guy, what was really the point of starting this thread in the first place? Seems like you already have all the answers you're looking for. Yeah, I'd say there's reason enough to at least give it a shot. But if you're goal is to stay NA, I think it'd be more worth our time to discuss real tuning for a PNP'd intake manifold or actually figuring out what OEM or aftermarket cams can make power on the J motor. If the ECU is a definite purchase for you, then let's hear what after that you'd plan to do.

I personally am not one to say that a CAI does NOTHING for the engine. Just one example of the top of my head is that stock intakes often heat soak pretty bad so for the intake temps alone, I'd say it's worth it enough for me.

Yeah, you're exactly right, I'm just a young kid and have no idea what I'm talking about. maybe you should ask others on the forum their opinion of me..... I'd much rather try to help than go down this road because I'm just as interested in real tunable NA mods on my track car as you are for your car.

 

First of all, don't get your undies in a bundle. If you read the post, the question I was asking was simply if a CAI would have any benefit coupled with ECU and Jpipe/Exhaust, more so with the ECU. You're welcome to your opinion about the CAI, but in my experience with other cars a CAI actually robbed power as other people on this forum have also stated. The only time I've seen a True RAM AIR setup work was on my 69 Camaro (carbureted).

As far as CAMS now you're getting in to internals and not somthing I want to get into. PNP'd intake not worth it IMO.
My goal is to keep it as simple as possible as my car has high miles and I drive all over the state of CT every week day. I would love to have just a little more for when I run into people who like to scrap a little on the Highway(when it's safe of course).

Never said you didn't know what you are talking about, just didn't care for the tone in your first reponse. I may be new to Acura's but I'm too old and been through too many cars to get flamed by youngsters.

I appreciate any willingness to help.

 

If this is the case, then unless you're really into spending money (which by your two other threads, it certainly seems like you're not) then the whole ECU idea is pretty pointless. If all you're looking for is a little more power to play with on the freeway, then I sure most would agree that just the exhaust mods (and maybe a crank pulley and MDX spacer) alone would keep you happy for at least a little while. Most of us know that the TL really comes alive with just some simple mods and that sounds like just what you're needing. and the nice thing is that if it is indeed not enough, then get your name on the list for the ECU but at this point is overkill IMO.

 

Oh noes he is mad! I typed in the wrong tone. Don't flame me!

 

When you get old enough you'll realize there are other things to spend money on ie. house ,boat(s), motorcyle, cars. What ever your priority is, but in my case all of the other things take precedence over my DD. Besides, for the last time this whole thread was about pairing a few simple bolt ons. And as far as doing the ECU and Jpipe together, I was just hoping to feel the most improvement at once.
Thanks for your

 

It's all just sounding incredibly and increasingly contradicting but I wish you the best with whatever you end up doing. Thanks for the shallow life coaching too. Your is pretty much preaching to the choir but whatev.

 

Don't know how it's contradicting, but ok. I asked for some opinions/ideas and I thank KN_TL for his thoughts. And vill0 I thank you for your whatever, I think you gave your opinion and best of luck in the midst of the insults. It was fun. Now you can have the last post and feel good.

 

Yes, if you're doing full exhaust and the ecu, might as well do the cai. What's a couple extra hundred. Hell, do the pulley too.

 

Give Rodney a call or email him. He can tell you where they are in the bolt on area with regard to gains with the ECU. To optimize any given set of changes especially ones that won't give you a ton of increases needs to be done on a dyno with a before baseline(s) and lots of afters with each tweak.

There aren't many of us with that luxury so someone like Rodney is our only hope.

 

I think the ideal thing for me will be Jpipe , ECU, delete third muffler and remove the baffle on the intake as you suggested. There is a shop near by that has a 4 wheel dyno and specializes in Porche's and Audi's, but I think he will help me out with the TL. The guy who owns the shop is very good with tuning.
Thanks again.

 

CAI's are actually pretty useless. The AEM cai states you'll have gains of 10+ hp. I gained a measly 2hp AT THE CRANK for wasting like 250 bucks (I installed it right on the dyno) Hell, the damn p2r spacer will probably give you more than that, and costs like 80 bucks.

Pulley on the other hand is not a bad idea.

 

At the crank??? You had it on an engine dyno?