CAI or Snorkel??
07-29-2010, 01:15 AM
#1
JK Super Freak
Thread Starter
CAI or Snorkel??
I'm looking to get either a CAI or snorkel for my 09 2 dr X.. Throttle response, horsepower gains, and optimum gas mileage are my main goals.. However, everyone seems to have their own theories about which of the two would be the best way to achieve these.. A CAI seems great, but I want to be able to play in the wet stuff without hydrolocking!! A snorkel seems great as well, but would I be sacrificing gas mileage, being that my JK is mostly a daily driver? I refuse to leave it stock, because we all know our beloved JKs are underpowered and inefficiant as hell!! Exhaust upgrades will be soon to follow.. Superchips will be added either before or at the same time as the new intake.. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Last edited by o09jkny; 07-29-2010 at 01:30 AM.
07-29-2010, 01:40 AM
#2
JK Freak
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Edinburg, TX
Posts: 944
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have a CAI but if your going to play in the wet stuff more often then get a snorkel and AFE makes a drop in replacement filter for the stock air box that will better than a K&N filter replacement. With a snorkel and the AFE filter you could probably get the best of both worlds.
In my case i hardly play in the water, and the water stuff I do is running my JK through flooded streets when it pours
In my case i hardly play in the water, and the water stuff I do is running my JK through flooded streets when it pours
07-29-2010, 08:31 AM
#4
Here's my take on it..
CAI = Cold Air Intake that sits in the engine bay
& draws most of its air from the engine bay
Snorkel - Gets air out the of the engine bay = Cold air Intake + the benefit of not taking in water when wheeling.
Not to bust on CAI, but; a Ram Air Snorkel with a drop in performance filter is more benefical in more ways than a basic CIA. regardless if you take it off-road or not
CAI = Cold Air Intake that sits in the engine bay
& draws most of its air from the engine bay Snorkel - Gets air out the of the engine bay = Cold air Intake + the benefit of not taking in water when wheeling.
Not to bust on CAI, but; a Ram Air Snorkel with a drop in performance filter is more benefical in more ways than a basic CIA. regardless if you take it off-road or not
07-29-2010, 08:40 AM
#5
Snorkel, you won't gain throttle response or low end torque with a CAI, in my opinion. Throttle response and torque are based of air velocity, not volume (horsepower). So you stand to lose some low end and trade for top of the rpm band power (useless to me).
07-29-2010, 08:43 AM
#6
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You don't need a snorkle. The problem with hydro locking is in the factory air box. The drain holes are way to small to let the water out once it floods. I know i've been ther with mine.
A CAI open element filter solves that problem just fine.
A CAI open element filter solves that problem just fine.
07-29-2010, 08:45 AM
#7
Kind of a one-shot "need". I have muddy water up to my throttle body in the intake plumbing. I stay fairly clear from water unless it's low speed.
Trending Topics
07-29-2010, 08:56 AM
#8
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Get rid of the air box all together. Don't make the holes bigger. You want the water to splash off the open filter. The factory box traps water in and lets the engine suck it in.
07-29-2010, 09:00 AM
#10
Regardless, there is no "calculated or set" way to say someone needs a snorkel or not. It is all dependent upon the exact conditions, speed, rpm, air dam on the front, deep water, shallow water, hood pad, no hood, pad, fan on, fan off, who knows.. However, there is no situation where you will say the snorkel caused the hydrolocking.
I've been in 35" of water with the stock air box, very slowly. If I that at a few mph, I'd probably have a different engine by now.