I plan to upgrade my intake within the next couple months and i am still deciding which brand i want to go with. I have been comparing the AEM and the Injen. The AEM i can get for about $100 less. Supposedly the AEM makes about 15hp gain also, double that of the Injen. The Injen claims 7 hp gain from dyno testing. I would like to get some feedback from people that actually have these products in their cars and compared them, im sure at these little meet up you guys hold theres a lot of guys running AEM and a lot of guys running Injen. Can i get some advice please?

 

i have done a lot of searching regarding mods i can do for the Z. I read a lot about intakes for the Z, and lots of posts suggest leaving the stock airbox in. As for the 15 hp, i doubt you will see anything even close to that with an intake for the Z, but anything can happen i guess. Also, i think most of the people go for the injen, rather than AEM. I have the injen myself, yet i havent installed it. Hope that helped a bit.

 

i have the AEM air intake... But if i did my research before i bought anything i would have left the airbox stock (already well built and i could use the money for other projects aka crawford plenum!!!). But if you 'must' get a CAI then i would insist on the expensive carbon-M. As for AEM making 15 hp that is definately not true. Injen seems to be the next best thing next to carbon-m. do a search there are members with dyno comparing both. good luck on your decision

 

no CAI will yeild true 15hp, not even at the flywheel. look at this from Injen, this is the one i would suggest and i will be purchasing this one soon.
http://www.i-m-racing.com/inrdcolairin.html
Be aware that this will give you not any real "noticable" power. its more of for the sound and look that many do this mod. The AEM does have the bypass valve so if you drive into a 12" puddle like someone on here did, you wont get waterlock and have to spend $6000 on a new engine. however, the likelyness of this happening is very, very unlikely. notice the price is $250 shipped which isnt to bad.

 

How can an new intake system not yield more power? especially coming from good ocmpanys like AEM and Injen. Air intakes are definately a mod thats just for looks...it all plays a role in the flow of the car, if you get exhaust, then it'd be good to get intake and headers...think about making one of the ends of the pipe bigger, while leaving the other end small...its choked up.

and plus: the AEM CAI is rated at 19.somthing hp on the RSX type s

 

The reason no intake gives a true high HP number is the Z's intake and plenum are designed so well.

If you want to upgrade your intake I would highly recommend the NISMO Cold Air Intake over the AEM / INJEN / K&N.

Why,

The NISMO has a Water Diverter on it which if your air filter experiences water lock it will take in air from the foam water diverter. VERY handy in wet climates or if you decide to go to Stillen day and want to leave in the flooding rain we randomly experienced here in California.

The INJEN's filter is placed in the nose in front of the radiator where it is hit with rocks and gets air forced directly on to it. With the air going directly on it where it is, the filter does not get as much of a Vacuum suction effect like the NISMO / AEM.

You will see that the NISMO and the AEM are very similarly designed. But the NISMO has the water diverter STANDARD.

You can purchase the NISMO Cold Air Intake for $269 by clicking the link at Performance Nissan Parts online.

Let me know if you have any other questions on any other modifications for your Z. Feel free to PM me / Email me / call us all at Performance Nissan.

Good luck and enjoy your future mods!

 

I have the AEM intake and like it. I was going to install it with the water bypass valve until I heard that the intake pretty much has to be submerged before it becomes a problem. Without the bypass valve the AEM intake will produce more power. I haven't tested it but I don't think the AEM intake creates 15hp in the 350Z. The CAI by itself probably makes bigger improvements in the sound and look departments. The stock intake system is a good system so you will see only a minor hp improvements. If I would have done better research, I would have installed a new exhaust at the same time I installed the CAI. A CAI with an improved exhaust would work together to produce some noticeable and measurable increases than either one by itself. When I get the opportunity I'm looking to install the Stillen exhaust.

 

The filter just needs to absorb water. Driving on a wet road with a car infront of you or in slight rain will eventually fill your filter with water and make it harder and harder for your intake to suck in air.

 

I had the Nismo Cai, no noticeable gain except louder sound. Save your money for the plenum. For the gains, its money well spent. I would just leave the stock airbox in there. You can also try adding a direct ram air set-up to the airbox .

 

There was a dyno done about 3 months ago- Injen vs AEM vs Stock all back to back, same car, same day. Injen yielded the most hp of the three, however with the dyno you can't simulate air speed which would likely benefit the stock air box. Do a search you can probably find the dyno.
I recently removed my Injen and replaced with the stock airbox so I could get a ticket signed off- There was a noticeable drop in throttle response and power. But the stock airbox did correct the occasional erratic idle that I was experiencing with the CAI.

BTW Nismo CAI = AEM CAI.

 

Save your money.....get Random Tech hi-flow cats if you want big bang for your buck HP.

 

EnthuZiast is on the money. dont bother w/ an intake. i'm leaving mine stock and just replace it with a factory filter whenever maintenance time is due. its only $8.50 at Courtesyparts.com. in doing this you'll avoid any problems w/ the MAF. i'm going to take that money and put it towards a NISMO exhaust. That baby's got all the good sound you want to hear.

 

I just got a K&N Filter, don't think CAI is worth the money for the Z, since the stock box is so well designed already, save that money on the Plenum~

 

Will somebody who's had an injen cai for a while please school me on filter maintenance?

 

How I've cleaned my filters...

K&N...

(the injen has a K&N filter rite? )

First off you need a K&N Recharger Kit .

Remove the filter from the intake, bring it to a hose or into a big sink (I use my tub). Remove all large objects ie pebles etc. Rinse out the filter from the inside out. I usually put the whole intake over the faucet in the tub and turn it. The filter will turn a white slightly pinkish color.

Once the filter is whiteish pinkish, I shake it dry. Let it sit for a while, some put news paper in the filter to help it dry faster. Then it is time to oil the filter. Make sure you oil it with either paper or on a surface where you will never walk (I made the mistake of doing it on the sidewalk once and it was slick there for a week or so). Oil the filter until it is all Red. Let it sit for 15 minutes. If you see any pinkish spots appear then re-oil those spots. Let the filter dry for a few hours. Make sure NO oil is running.

Re-install filter.

Instructions come with the K&N Recharger Kits

 

cool, thanx. i don't think the filter is a K&N, but i'm sure the process is about the same.

 

What color is the filter?

I know filters that come on Weapon-R intakes are not cleanable / reuseable.

If the filter on the Injen is not, I can get you a K&N that will fit the Injen that will be reusable up to 1,000,000 miles

 

it's blue. not sure yet if it's reusable, that's why i asked about filter maintenance. if not, then hook a brother up.