CAI or SRI?

lets_FOCUS · 02-11-2010, 04:20 PM

I know a bit about the differences between a cold air intake, and a short ram intake, but I want some people's input who have experienced either or!

I am driving an '03 Duratec, and i currently have a Magnaflow 2.25" cat-back exhaust. Will either intake change the exhaust note, or will I only notice a difference in intake noise?

Also, I know the SRI's are prone to heat-soak, where the air warms up during city stop-and-go driving, and causes poor acceleration. I do a lot of city driving, will I really notice this a lot, or not so much? We do have pretty hot summers here.

I know CAI's can get waterlogged, or even suck water into the engine, how likely is this to happen? I live in western NY and we get a fair share of rain, and lots of snow and slush in the winter. I don't want to mess up my engine.

I want the intake that is the MOST practical, I know they each have their pros and cons, but what is the best way to go??

Insert opinions here! :)

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iHasAFocuS · 02-11-2010, 04:27 PM

i would say to go with a cai, i myself am going to do a cai soon but i need the money hah. yes the water can be sucked into the engine causing the dreaded hydro lock but you could order or build a box/ protector to keep the water out.! i remember that someone on this forum had a thread showing his custom built cai water protector. i can't remember his profile name at the moment but yea, you can build one.

lets_FOCUS · 02-11-2010, 04:44 PM

I will have to take a look around for it. I do like 50/50 highway and city driving, so that heatsoak problem with a short ram would get real annoying.. I just really really really can't afford to have my engine hydrolocked! If I can shield it though, then I think that's what I will do!

Know any good CAI's? I know a dealer around here that said he can get me a decent price on an AEM, are they any good?

tetra · 02-11-2010, 04:50 PM

People are scared of hydrolocking, but it's really not that easy to do. You really need to submerge it or hit a HUGE puddle. I have a CAI and went through Canadian winters and heavy rain with it, no issues what so ever. I switched from an SRI to a CAI because I got heatsoak one day, my car was bogging hard.

Go check out http://focussport.com/coolflo.htm They have great parts and their CAI is of great quality.

blitz23 · 02-11-2010, 05:03 PM

if you have the factory bottom splash guard no need to worry, unless you dunk the car in standing water ordrive through a flooded street where the water is about 1/2 tires high :D

***GodLovesUgly*** · 02-11-2010, 05:43 PM

a lot of city driving like you do in hot summers may cause more of an issue then hydro locking, hydro locking isn't as easy as others make it out to be. the splash gaurd under your car will be just fine for driving in the rain and slush. the little water that hits the filter will be dried before it even hits the internals.
my cai has been great no problems yet and we get a ton of snow and a fair amount of rain. no problems at all. just don't floor it in the middle of a lake! lol

fswerks has a sweet CAI also you can get there old version (focus sport cool flo) for even cheaper, it uses the same filter as the new one. F2 also offers a CAI haven't heard much on that one though.

you could always do the stealth CAI at first to save some cash.. i'd personally go with the CAI if i had to pick from a sri or an cai.
cleaning the filter on a CAi is a little more work, you gotta get under the car to get it off. sri can be taken off just by popping the hood.

***GodLovesUgly*** · 02-11-2010, 05:52 PM

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/s...00#post3150100

quick if you want a GREAT deal!

lets_FOCUS · 02-11-2010, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blitz23

if you have the factory bottom splash guard no need to worry, unless you dunk the car in standing water ordrive through a flooded street where the water is about 1/2 tires high :D

Well my splash guard is actually busted out, but I am putting a body kit on in the spring, so I may try to build some sort of shield, but I think I will definitely go with the CAI from what you guys are saying! Thanks for the advice!