Review: AIRAID vs aFe Takeda - Battle of the Roto-Mold

[D-VO]

That's really disappointing to see that the aFe doesn't make as much power as they says it does.

http://afepower.com/shop/details_new...ily&brandID=78

They're showing a max gain of 10hp at around 4700rpm. What the hell?

By the way, I ran into a thread talking about the loss of a pony with the noise generator deleted.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10366

Has anyone dynoed with and without the noise generator while using one of these intakes?

[2forme]

Originally Posted by D-VO

That's really disappointing to see that the aFe doesn't make as much power as they says it does.

http://afepower.com/shop/details_new...ily&brandID=78

They're showing a max gain of 10hp at around 4700rpm. What the hell?

By the way, I ran into a thread talking about the loss of a pony with the noise generator deleted.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10366

Has anyone dynoed with and without the noise generator while using one of these intakes?

Yea, I'm pretty sure a lot of the manufacturer dynos were done on different days, which can relay different results. I've had my car (not the BRZ, but a different car) baseline with a 5whp difference on different days and the same dyno.

Quite honestly I don't think any intake makes much power on a 91/93 tune. The reason is @Visconti or any other tuner essentially tune out the ideal AFR curve negating any modifications to it that the intake would normally change on a stock ROM.

Now, with that said, the aFe DID outflow the AIRAID by a considerable margin. To take more advantage of that, you would need to tune the intake and exhaust valve timing, and adjust the VE accordingly. We didn't have nearly enough time to do that, that day. But perhaps it might be in the future.

I'd like to note that on my dynos, all stock runs had the noise generator. All intake runs did not.

[2forme]

Also, on another note... why doesn't this forum have a review section? Or at least a sticky with links to reviews? I think it would be greatly helpful.

[D-VO]

Originally Posted by 2forme

Yea, I'm pretty sure a lot of the manufacturer dynos were done on different days, which can relay different results. I've had my car (not the BRZ, but a different car) baseline with a 5whp difference on different days and the same dyno.

Quite honestly I don't think any intake makes much power on a 91/93 tune. The reason is @Visconti or any other tuner essentially tune out the ideal AFR curve negating any modifications to it that the intake would normally change on a stock ROM.

Now, with that said, the aFe DID outflow the AIRAID by a considerable margin. To take more advantage of that, you would need to tune the intake and exhaust valve timing, and adjust the VE accordingly. We didn't have nearly enough time to do that, that day. But perhaps it might be in the future.

I'd like to note that on my dynos, all stock runs had the noise generator. All intake runs did not.

I understand that the intake cannot be maximized without a tune, but to pay nearly $1000 for something I can't tune myslef is out of the question. I got really lucky with my Evo because there's an open source tuning option available, so i was able to do it myself. I think I'm going to look for a shop with a dyno near me to do the test myself if no one else comes up with an answer before then.

[2forme]

Originally Posted by D-VO

I understand that the intake cannot be maximized without a tune, but to pay nearly $1000 for something I can't tune myslef is out of the question. I got really lucky with my Evo because there's an open source tuning option available, so i was able to do it myself. I think I'm going to look for a shop with a dyno near me to do the test myself if no one else comes up with an answer before then.

An answer to what? You didn't really ask a question.

[D-VO]

I did.

Originally Posted by D-VO

That's really disappointing to see that the aFe doesn't make as much power as they says it does.

http://afepower.com/shop/details_new...ily&brandID=78

They're showing a max gain of 10hp at around 4700rpm. What the hell?

By the way, I ran into a thread talking about the loss of a pony with the noise generator deleted.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10366

Has anyone dynoed with and without the noise generator while using one of these intakes?

^^^^

[2forme]

Originally Posted by D-VO

I did.
^^^^

Oops, sorry, I had just woken up.

I didn't have a plug for the stock intake so I wasn't able to dyno with and without the noise generator. The aFe was dynoed without, though.

[zoomzoomers]

Originally Posted by 2forme

Removing the snorkel is a must for any aftermarket system. I thought it was understood so I didn't include it in the instructions. It's much easier with two people.

First, thanks 2forme for doing the tests. Although, the results are disoncerting, at least I now have more info. Bums me out that I spent money for some noise, although it's some kick ass noise. I really thought that the Airaid system made power based on what I read of their results. Live and learn I guess...

[zoomzoomers]

I wonder if the guys at Airaid have seen this thread and if they care to comment. Or even inject some of their own data that might refute what you've seen.

[ModBargains]

Thanks for posting up the reviews!

-Frank

[2forme]

Originally Posted by zoomzoomers

I wonder if the guys at Airaid have seen this thread and if they care to comment. Or even inject some of their own data that might refute what you've seen.

They can say whatever they want. I posted videos of my issues. @Visconti has done dynos. @Drift-Office has done dynos on two different cars. Nothing they say will fix the bogging I had, or make the intake easier to install, or make those cars make power. I'll gladly offer up my log files to anyone who wants to view the raw data themselves

[tonystewart]

Originally Posted by zoomzoomers

I wonder if the guys at Airaid have seen this thread and if they care to comment. Or even inject some of their own data that might refute what you've seen.

I sent them emails asking them these very questions

[2forme]

I just conducted some temperature testing. I updated the review with this information, but for those who are too lazy to go back and read, I quoted it here Keep in mind, lower is better. The lower the number, the closer to outside temp.

Originally Posted by 2forme

There is a good 1-2 inches of gap space in there. This results in considerably hotter intake temps while driving and throughout the rev range when compared to the aFe. However, the larger filter box helps curb the temperature rise while idling above 2.5 minutes.



Here is a graph showing the idle temp climb over a period of 5 minutes. It compares the delta (difference between IAT and ambient), rather than raw temps, to get a more accurate idea of how heat soak will affect the IAT's at idle. Since the aFe is a true CAI, it registers a lower delta up until about 2.5 minutes. Since the AIRAID has a larger filter box, it's temperature progression is less aggressive than the aFe unit; it doesn't heat soak as fast.



...

Temperature wise, aFe is a much "cooler" intake. Both intakes are branded as CAI's, while I'd technically consider the AIRAID as a LWAI or Luke Warm Air Intake. As you'll see by my graph of a full 3rd gear pull, the aFe registers a much lower temperature delta (the difference between the IAT and ambient temp), which is compounded by the fact that AIRAID locates the sensor in the filter box, where the air would most certainly be the coolest. aFe locates the sensor on the final stretch of piping right before the throttle body.

[Burn]

Hi 2forme,

Do you have a overhead shot of afe intake as I would like to see how much distance between the oil filter and the intake box as my current airaid box is quite near to the oil filter mount and I'm quite concern on the suitability of mounting a sensor adapter when I want to fix on the oil temp/pressure sensor . Thanks