cold air intake

[poor man kuba]

hi all,
i want to get some better fuel economy and whatever marginal performance boost i can by installing a cold air intake on my 95 legacy L wagon. red flags go up everywhere. first of all, is there even anything on the market besides aftermarket air filters? second, is it even worth it; what kind of performance/mpg advatages can one expect from either an air filter or cold air intake on a 95 legacy L wagon (2.2L)...with an engine that leaks oil :? . any input will be greatly appreciated.

[Reason]

My input would be get that oil leak taken care or before adding performance parts.

[Plays_with_Toys]

I got maybe 1-2mpg with my ebay intake and snorkus. Catback gave me another 2mpg. Look in the DIY forum for my write up installing the ebay intake. They are nice and cheap.

As for performance? Loss of torque down low but more power in the mid range. Mine gets really breathless at the top of the power curve, which means I have to shift around 4800 to keep my power going.

[poor man kuba]

thanks, playswithtoys, much respect to macgyvering that thing on. im gonna go ahead and do it. btw, where did you get the 1/2" t-connector and 1/2" elbow joint? another question regarding the cone filter vs the stock rectangular shape: i'm assuming the cone is better in terms of airflow, correct? and as far as the oil leak, im not about to drop $1000+ into getting the head gasket replaced. wish i could afford that.

[Reason]

Oh yea a blown head gasket isnt a problem :lol:

[poor man kuba]

its obviously not blown, otherwise the car would not be moving. the thing overheated once due to an idiot mechanic who thought he knew what the problem was, and ever since then ive taken matters into my own as well as the dealer's hands. it has been suggested that i replace the head gasket as it was slightly damaged due to the overheating (according to the dealer). maybe i should have had my johnson rod lubed up while i was at it for an extra few hundred bucks? the car drives 100%, and thanks to regularly checking the oil level, be assured that the rate of leakage is negligible.

[Reason]

:)

[Plays_with_Toys]

The little connectors can all be purchased at home depot/lowes or similar. They are in the same area as alot of the brass piping fixtures.

The cone filters have more surface area to flow more air, however, running the stock airbox and pulling air out of the fender will probably result in better air since it will be colder. If you get a longer CAI pipe that goes into the fender, and you place a cone filter there, you'll have the best of both worlds.

[Wiscon_Mark]

its obviously not blown, otherwise the car would not be moving. the thing overheated once due to an idiot mechanic who thought he knew what the problem was, and ever since then ive taken matters into my own as well as the dealer's hands. it has been suggested that i replace the head gasket as it was slightly damaged due to the overheating (according to the dealer). maybe i should have had my johnson rod lubed up while i was at it for an extra few hundred bucks? the car drives 100%, and thanks to regularly checking the oil level, be assured that the rate of leakage is negligible.

your car can blow a headgasket and still run. keep an eye on that temp guage.

[Huffer]

its obviously not blown, otherwise the car would not be moving. the thing overheated once due to an idiot mechanic who thought he knew what the problem was, and ever since then ive taken matters into my own as well as the dealer's hands. it has been suggested that i replace the head gasket as it was slightly damaged due to the overheating (according to the dealer). maybe i should have had my johnson rod lubed up while i was at it for an extra few hundred bucks? the car drives 100%, and thanks to regularly checking the oil level, be assured that the rate of leakage is negligible.

Man, you get the biggest "Invitation to Murphy" post award for that one. :twisted:

[poor man kuba]

true true and also true. lol ive had a lot of good times freaking out whether the temp gauge moved one millimeter, or was it two?!? no problems with that, thank god (and its not a broken coolant temp sensor or thermostat, i replaced those with OEM parts just in case). final question for PWT or anyone else: does it make sense to get a cone filter inside the stock airbox? ive found $20 intakes with and without cone filters, but then cone filters alone for $40 or more... wtf? i could just get rid of the airbox altogether and set up a custom one. im guessing cotton vs some better material makes the price difference, but is that all? sorry about all the questions, but this is the first real mod besides the audio that im doing.

[Wiscon_Mark]

if you compare the good cone filters with the good OEM size panel filters, they're really not all that different in price.

But shane is right, fix your car up before you start modifying it. I would do the HG right now as pre-emtive because they WILL go eventually, esp. if you've overheated the car.

[Plays_with_Toys]

Just get a panel filter. Something cotton. The K&N is ok, but I've heard alot about sucking the oil off of it. I've done it once, where I didn't let the oil sit in the filter long enough and the filter was just about dry after the trip. A decent paper element will do you fine. I don't think there is enough room in the box for a cone filter, since the box is wedge shaped on the inside.

[Huffer]

K&N come heavily pre-oiled from factory. Dab off the excess and you're good to go.

Cone filter really not worth it - in fact the best gains are from removing intake restrictions and preventing heatsoak.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Topic Moved.

[poor man kuba]

Thanks for the input everybody. ive decided to go with an "ebay" kit and a k&n panel filter. ill repost with impressions of how the new intake affects gas mileage/performance... or when the HG blows, whichever comes first. wish me luck. thanks again.

[Reason]

If or when you replace your HD get a metal set. It will cost $90 for the set, I will be working on my 3rd set (OEM) now.

[poor man kuba]

i would love to replace the HG. unfortunately, i have neither the time nor experience required to do so, and having it done takes >$1000. bah! if theres a write-up anywhere, someone let me know, maybe it could be a fun project (although i dont even know anyone with a garage or a crane? to get the engine out of the bay to even start). i live in New Haven, CT so if anybody wants to, feel free to help out a noob. peace

[Wiscon_Mark]

there's a good subie shop near you. Ask ooberdoob, he did the research. They do good jobs for a lot less than a dealership.

[SlowLeg]

I dont think you have to worry too much about the HG seeing that your running the EJ22 and not the EJ25.

[Wiscon_Mark]

:lol:

I didn't even realize that. With all the talk about HGs, I naturally assumed it was an EJ25.

You're good to go, lil fella ;)

[Huffer]

:lol:

You EJ22 guys are so naive. HG is HG. If it leaks, it'll blow at some point.

EJ22 does not equal bulletproof.

[Plays_with_Toys]

:lol:

You EJ22 guys are so naive. HG is HG. If it leaks, it'll blow at some point.

EJ22 does not equal bulletproof.

I'd agree. He did say the car overheated at one point, which can cause some warpage of the heads, making the sealing effect of the gasket less than optimal. Its leaking oil now, which says it has a chance to do other stuff. As others have said, keep an eye on it, and if the needle starts climbing pull off the road and get it fixed that week.

[Reason]

there's a good subie shop near you. Ask ooberdoob, he did the research. They do good jobs for a lot less than a dealership.

www.EastCoastSwappers.com (http://www.EastCoastSwappers.com) They will be taking my car in June for a nice overhaul :twisted:

[Huffer]

www.EastCoastSwappers.com They will be taking my car in June for a nice overhaul :twisted:

Uh-oh, don't go all weak sauce on us by saying that and then backing out! :shock: :twisted:

[Reason]

Not an extreme over haul. Just a few maintence work on the engine and will be 4EATless :D

[SlowLeg]

:lol:

You EJ22 guys are so naive. HG is HG. If it leaks, it'll blow at some point.

EJ22 does not equal bulletproof.

Of course the EJ22 isn't bulletproof, but if he has been able to run on it what seems to a really long time, i think his chances are pretty good he'll be able to keep running on it for a good while.

[Wiscon_Mark]

who guaranteed it was a leaking headgasket?

Oil leak could occur at many other points.