09 R3 - is all the k&n sri hate justified?
 

Hello,
New member in Ontario. I have spent the last day reading through the read this first posts and this entire series II section looking for some answers on the K&N short ram intake. Opinions are plenty but I can't find facts behind these widespread opinions, hoping someone can help

1) heat soak
- has anyone measures the intake temp at idle and at speed using a Sri vs. aem cai on the same car/conditions to know if the Sri actually sucks in hot air? I have used a Sri on my speed3 and CSX type s and really liked there ease of install, filter maintenance and hydro lock free location. I also like the sound

I had the ms3 mazdaspeed aem cai and later a Sri, my intake temps were identical once moving which is why I wonder about the 8 if this is fact or opinion


2) check engine light
- does the r3 throw a cel with the Sri?


Not really concerned about the negligible HP difference vs. all year round worry free filter location, sound and install/cleaning. Appreciate the help

There's a post by Flashwing that shows how much hot air it draws in.
His LTFT\STFT datalogs were crap also.

AEM\Mazdaspeed is the way to go if you really want an intake.

Also, the Racing Beat Revi intake is another good option. They did some serious research on the intake aspect. Check their site out. They even admit the mazda OEM airbox does a great job of being efficient. If anything I would do the Revi intake scoop and a drop-in filter possibly!. That is the plan for my R3 eventually...

i was going to get the scoop only but when i went to install it there is about a 1-2 inch gap between scoop and the stock intake box, got the revi box and duct and it installs solid into the other, a little better sound but not any noticable performance noticed

This is good to know. I just saw another thread with pics where the scoop was installed on a S2 with some home-made brackets. I assumed it was stock intake box, need to go back and look...Thanks!

EDIT - I see you are an R3 owner as well...

Did you remove the VFAD then?

I installed the REVi with the air duct last week on my R3. Removed the VFAD to put the duct in. The sound is really good - nice growl. Maybe (maybe) a bit of acceleration improvement. I think it did a bit for throttle response. Overall I think it was a good mod.

yes scoop replaces vfad

I like the noise, would a cai get more sound than the revi?

Depending on where you live in Ontario and if you are going to drive the car in the snow ... you are wise to stay away from the AEM

Where I live, there are enough days in the winter where if I was driving my RX8 with a AEM I would be extremely worried as the snow/slush can easily be deep enough pass over the front lip.

The worst is when the roads get tracked from traffic and create a path where the tires can run on the asphalt but there is a 6in pile up of snow/slush you're driving over/through. (especially common before the snow plows get out)

Then there is the freezing rain .. :crying:

Stay stock, use a drop in K&N filter, remove the baffles and the acoustic noise canceller on the intake tube. Hopefully that will give you the noise you want.

If you're not driving in the winter ... go with the AEM

Thats why I was originally drawn to the K&N

Ya ... but like bse50 said, it does not exactly have a good track record.

I understand you don't care that it's not a cold air intake, however you car may have a notice decrease in performance and idle issues.

The Racing Beat intake has a decent increase in noise and has a good reputation for not screwing everything else up.

Are these issues the same on an r3? All the posts I've found are series I

They're hugely the same.

I read some post around here about that intake part being not just a noise canceler and that it does something else. I will try and find the post if I can.

I wouldn't even get the k&n drop in filter, you get maybe ~1 hp and worse filtration. Gaining 1 hp is just not worth that.

I was also considering doing the R-Magic drop-in filter and the hard pipe suction kit they sell and leaving everything else stock. But, it will cost as much if not more than the racing beat kit - LOL

Thanks. Read through a bunch of his posts, not finding any issues with CEL's due to airflow issues or anything. Just high intake temps in Arizona, and even then the temps dropped once the car was moving .... Not sure in Canada we'd see the same temp issues?

You know what?
We told you that it is a shitty intake that screws up short term fuel trims, sucks in hot air and has a wrong pipe diameter where the maf is.
Mine ended up in the junk 10 days after a friend gave one to me for free. Went the AEM route and never looked back.

Do what you want, it's your car. I don't care if you lose performance, waste more fuel and make it sound like a ricer honda.

Ok you've heard many opinions.
None support the K&N,

Yet you want to continue to defend that camp.
The debate is over and the science is in...

Just go get one then .. and report back.

Like you've said, it's just noise you are looking for and you'll get that with the K&N SRI style

You might like this thread as well https://www.rx8club.com/aftermarket-...intakes-90202/

/thread


edit
LOL bse50 ... get out of my head and off my lawn! ;) Beaten again by the crazy cow!

Dude just take the advice given, I've read hundreds of posts and they all lead to what bse50 and WCS have told you. Leave it stock(oem) and it won't cost any thing, or go with the Racing Beat or AEM which is the same product as Mazda Speed

Thanks for the input. Will hold off for the aem, just hard to mentally accept it at first after so many great kn Sri experiences that built up some trust over the years (matrix xrs, Honda fit, Acura CSX type s and mazdaspeed 3)

Aem with a sock for winter it is