Zonie

I've seen a few posts with people waiting for the AEM CAI to come out.

I'd like to know is the AEM considered better? Is this based on performance, cost or construction quality, or ???

I realize there isn't a comparison of them for the 2004 TL, but any ideas based on past history?

Also, in Southern California where it rarely rains is a bypass valve really needed?

Thx for any feedback.

TLover

I think the only one who's actually experienced the difference between the Injen and the AEM is jimthegreek. According to him, the AEM yields slighty more power.

rets

Right, he has a couple of pretty good threads talking about Injen stuff. One of them was even having the draft and graphic, but it seemed disappeared by the early server failure months ago.

I thought he recommanded Injen rather than AEM??

mobilezen

I'd recommend Injen over AEM myself. All the years that I've played with cars, that's what a lot of my friends and the local shops recommend.

TLover

Any particular reason, why? I heard the AEM makes more power, so to me, that would be THE deciding factor. Is there a problem with AEM's build quality or fit? Or is it because it's more expensive?

mobilezen

Over the past years.... about 8 or 9 years to be exact, I have seen everything from ricers to tuners alike. The majority of the cars that produced the most horsepower have come from the Injen guys. Coincidental? I'm really not sure. AEM has let me down plenty of times since I heard about their offerings for the 6gen Accord V6 (98-02). Problems with their intakes, pulleys and big brake kits just led me away from them. I have known people with Supras, Civics, IS300s, etc etc and for the most part also agree with the Injen setup. One of my friends who has invested about 25k into his Civic swears by his k&n filter. He's a technical kinda guy. In any case, I think it really boils down to personal preference because:

* Not all cars are built with the exact same specs.
* Personal experiences
* geographical location (i.e. altitude)
* styles of driving (driving miss daisy or drag strip driving)

The list goes on. From the years of personal experience...I just look at the injen as a more favorable intake system. I have seen two civics with identical mods, one with AEM and the other with a K&N filter with the K&N doing better. So who knows.

TLover

Interesting. Actually I only need the intake piping as I'm going to put an HKS filter on instead of the stock one. Maybe I should just get the Injen then.

VTEC=happiness

I have and like the Injen a lot. Many of my friends have tuned cars, and for them, money is no object. For most of them, Injen was the choice. I was told that AEM provided slightly more peak power, but is a noisier unit. Also, I was a bit impatient and really wanted to get my intake on. So far, I am really, really happy with the Injen, and the type of noise/performance that it produces. I was not willing to spend the extra waiting time or money for the AEM, and I feel I made a good decision. As I have mentioned on earlier threads, I spoke to an AEM guy at Sema last week and was told that there is a 8-10 week wait until they will release their CAI

rets

Sorry, I quoted wrongly. jimthegreek, the guy I quoted, preferred AEM over Injen , either one would be better than weapon*R.

http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73181

http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72650

http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71012

http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71519


But, take a look, you may like 2-4-HP-less Injen instead of AEM.

mobilezen

HKS charges $180USD for the filter and adapter itself. Their filters can only be replaced by HKS brand unless you cut your own filter. I learned a huge mistake by speninding that much on my Accord V6 just to learn that it was the filter itself.

Weapon-R is a pretty generic brand. I have RS Akimoto right now on my Accord. I have heard that this particular brand is popular. Had the same intake on my previous car and my friend had it on his M3. Through tests though, I'm going to decide between k&n and Injen.

TLover

I already have the HKS Super Power Flow filter. I kept it when I put it on my CRX and later my VW.

mobilezen

oh wow, then you've gotten all the use out of it. more power to you.

EFlecha

forget AEM, its not even available..so its not even an option.

VTEC=happiness

Not an option this second, but in two months it will be. I don't think that the fact that an item is not immediately available should keep someone from inquiring about it or planning on getting it. That said, get the Injen

EFlecha

2 months and 2hp...= not available and not an option..

getting the INJEN with black hoses...at $160 shipped... worth a lot more than the AEM

ndabunka

Black hoses? Pardon? The only Injen's I've seen pics of have the chrome piping. What's this about black hoses?

EFlecha

they have 2, polished piping and black piping.. also they have black hose couplers. Dont know which one I want the polished or black piping.. wish someone had pics of the black one installed.

ITL

yeah, I'd like to see it too

tlguy99

Where can you get it for $180 shipped? The lowest I've seen it is like $239.

dcarlinf1

Beware of the cheaper Injen CAI (there are two of them for the 04TL). The cheaper one does not have the tubing/hook up for the Oxygen sensor. I am going from memory on this, so I maybe wrong. My apologies if I am. That's the way I remember it though.

Get the Injen. It's available now and there's no data to prove that the AEM is better. 'Nuff said.

anitosi

well right now..u can check on net to see the dyno result for the AEM!...well the AEM have slightly more power than INJEN.....on injen..TL increase +- 12 (correct me if iam wrong)..but on AEM +- 15..and they increase 19.6 hp @ 6000..(correct me again if iam wrong)...
u can check on their website www.aempower.com

shotcaller88

Sorry to "hijack" the thread, but I just have a quick question. In order to clean a CAI, do you have to remove the fenderliner?

Aegir

Filter comes out from the bottom after removing a couple fasteners. Pretty easy to do.

Aegir

Here ya go...

Aegir

Sorry, but the AEM numbers seem outlandish - especially in the low and mid-range. I'll believe it when some independent sources confirm it.

ITL

I'd buy one if some independent sources confirm it.

Aquineas

Slightly related to this, but didn't the Acura-CL's have a problem with AEM bypass valve losing a screw into the butterfly?

TireSmoke

ITL

Are you serious? That's terrible....I never really believed in the bypass anyway....but then again, I don't drive through creeks either

anitosi

"aegir" how much does it cost to install the CAI...?
and how you fell the the different after u put the CAI

Sondinh

iTrader: (3)

Does anyone have the Ingen with a polished pipe? Please post some pic.

stillhere153

iTrader: (1)

Wow, dude talk about breathing life into an old thread...just search injen, pretty sure you'd find something

R_Mariota619

Just bought my injen!

nttstt444

iTrader: (1)

LOL, this pointless thread keeps getting bumped in 4-5 year intervals.

Genegoesfast

Now 1 year intervals. Hahahahaha

PS. Just bought an Injen intake.

Grand_hustle17

Its a metal pipe and a filter.... Anyone of them does the same damn thing... As for dynoing 1-3whp difference thats not a good representation on if one really yeilds more or less hp... You do 3 pulls same mods and you'll see that same fluctuation

amzedan

Good Post!