Hi all--

I just recently had a shop install the Mazdaspeed cold air intake system on my car and have a question. Do you need to keep that piece that the stock air box sits on? It's like a divider between the fan on the back of the radiator and where the intake is now.

You can see what I'm talking about in this guy's pics: http://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php?p=2586340&postcount=43

I don't have one at the moment, so I wanted to know if I need to get it or not. Let me know if you have any ideas.

Thanks!

Some keep it on while others take it off.
I personally had it off when I installed my CAI... I thought it looked ugly.

Should be fine without it... hot air coming from the radiator and running over the intake tube isn't going to increase the IAT at all. It might even be beneficial to overall air circulation in the engine bay :dunno:

thanks guys. i think i'll pass on it then.

i took the undertray off, and ceramic coated the intake piping.

Should be fine without it... hot air coming from the radiator and running over the intake tube isn't going to increase the IAT at all. It might even be beneficial to overall air circulation in the engine bay :dunno:

Not if the engine bay is sealed. The hot air from the rad is all going directly into the engine bay rather than being directed beneath the car. That said, I did a hood tilt, took out the tray, and wrapped my intake with heat wrap. After freeway drives my engine bay is very cool, even in hot weather.

I could be wrong though. I would leave the tray otherwise the under hood will just be a more positive hot air pressure. Could all be negligible though, correct me if I'm wrong lol :/

I tried both On & Off.

To be honest with everybody here. I do not see any increase or decrease in water/oil/Intake temp at all.

So its all up to you. Mine is currently on. Cuz Im too lazy to take it off :)

im also to lazy to take mine off and i have had no problems so far

i don't have one at all, so i'd have to purchase it.

I kept mine on. I use it to set tools in when I think I can work on my car.

i took the undertray off, and ceramic coated the intake piping.

Just out of curiosity, how much did that run you? It seems like overkill to me as I don't think heat transfer from the piping to the air running through it would affect the overall air temp enough to make a difference, but I could be wrong here.

While cruising, you're correct. The intake air temps are close to ambiant. However temps rise when the car sits at idle. Which means take off from a stop light has temps I don't approve of (Usually in FL heat, approx 130 F. With a hot air intake, it goes to 160 F). Because the intake filter is outside of the engine bay, the high temps read by the maf sensor show that the low airflow combined with 200F radiator heat is heating up the air.

It usually takes just a few moments to cool back down - it could be a delay in the sensor as it can't read a drastic drop that fast ... but coating the intake isn't going to cost a heck of a lot and I don't mind shielding things.

I'll report my findings once I have a few drive cycles with it. The piping is to be completed today, but I have to go to a wedding, so won't get to pick it up till Monday.