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I need to get COLD AIR into my CAI, Any ideas ?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by LARRYG36, Jun 6, 2013.

  1. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

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    After we bought our Pre 2 yrs ago i put a CAI on her. All 2 long trips we did (2,400 miles the other was around 1,300 miles) was done in the fall and spring, We have another 2,400 mile trip planed for the dead of summer. She going through coolant more than she should, Both coolant tanks are well below the Fill mark. I'm fill them tomorrow when i do the oil change....... So the short of it is, the CAI is sucking in hot air from the engine compartment so the engine and the inverter are running hot. So where would be a good place for a air scoop, Hood or Bumper ???

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Moved to accessories and modifications
     
  3. gliderman

    gliderman Active Member

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    Unblock your grills if they are blocked. Otherwise there is plenty of air flow to keep it all cool.

    How is your CAI making the inverter and engine coolant hotter since it is behind the radiators???
     
  4. Eugene Hong

    Eugene Hong Member

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    That's supposed to be a CAI? Looks like a short ram and looks like it does more harm than good.

    Why don't you just remove it and go back to stock? If its sucking in more hot air than the OEM box I would put the stock one back on.

    OR you could fabricate a true CAI. I dont know how much space is in the engine bay but you could piece together an intake and have it run down into the front bumper. I doubt you will get more than 1-2hp with it but at least it will help with your heat issue.

    Intake Hoses, IntakeTubing, and Intake Clamps
     
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  5. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    Never heard of a CAI mod on a Prius. What benefit(s), if any, do you actually see?
     
  6. ImeanGreen

    ImeanGreen Prius v Five BP Brigade #236

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    Totally agree. I don't see any other way to find a solution.
     
  7. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    More intake noise? Less power?
     
  8. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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  9. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

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    I can't see the CAI raising engine temp. I think you have something else going on.
     
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  10. attyjeff

    attyjeff Member

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    Having modded lots of cars this is NOT a cold air intake. As a matter of fact the stock had more cold air coming in then your set up. You are sucking hot engine air in. Further the air filter you have on it does not increase hp or mpg. I have seen it first hand on dyno. Although it will allow more dirt in and sound louder.
     
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  11. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

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    Man, You guys need to do a search on this sight on Cai's , There's all kinds of info on the Ijen Cai here. Its the only one made for the Prius/Lexus and its sold by a company that advertizes on this sight.

    Thanks for the Non-help guys.
     
  12. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    Dude, you are so welcome!
     
  13. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    No comment on CAIs but no company directly pays to advertise on here that i am aware of so the ads you see for that company are just ads that randomly appear on the site based on however ads appear on people's browser like their browsing history etc. You may see that companies ads on PC but I never have since I don't 'google' CAIs.
     
  14. Eugene Hong

    Eugene Hong Member

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    Research on what? How much more hot air it sucks in compared to the OEM box? Its the only CAI for the prius for a reason (prius' do not need an aftermarket intake). You said it yourself that your "CAI" is sucking in too much hot air. You asked for advice on where to place a scoop but that will only work when moving at a significant speed, 80+mph. There have been many, many researches done on CAI's and the best ones are true single tube CAI's that reach behind the front bumper. We gave you our opinions so you can take that knowledge and use it (by putting the stock one back on) or not (and decrease performance).

    Maybe before you do research on a "Prius Injen Intake" you should do a research on "Cold Air Intakes" that way you'll know what a true CAI is.
     
  15. drunkin master

    drunkin master Contributing Member

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    +12345 on all comments

    If you are concerned about your fluids i would suggest you put your stock box in on long trips and put back your injen for local driving.
    It maybe a great time to take the trip with your stock box and see if you have the same issue with your fluids because it could be something else.

    If everything points to the injen intake then I would not use it at all. Imha

    I hope you try this to trouble shoot your issue first. I dont want to see a tread about your prii having more issues, especially with you trip coming up.

    Good luck...

    Just a note, your Injen intake is a Short Ram intake system and not a Cold Air Intake. (Taken from Injen's site)
     
  16. Jwb2781

    Jwb2781 Junior Member

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    I have the Injen, and no issues with coolant....it does sound much better, but no HP gain. My reason buying the Injen was for the sound....when you get on the freeway and pass normal cars, it makes me grin. :-D
     
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  17. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Is it actually quieter? The less noise my Prius makes, the better I like it.

    There can be no 'cold air intake' in an Atkinson cycle engine, as 30% of the intake air came from the engine cylinder, it is preheated.

    The Prius runs heater hoses to the throttle body to make sure it does not freeze, as there is no thermostat on them, if your coolant is hot, so is your intake.
     
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  18. ImeanGreen

    ImeanGreen Prius v Five BP Brigade #236

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    Sorry LARRYG36. I'm sure some members here at some point were into doing mods like yours before and learned something from it that modifying an air intake expose to hot engine air just simply does not work. I've done this mods with my other cars before. You will be better off just replacing your OEM air filter with just the K&N filter. You get more cold air coming in this way if your goal is to get more cold air. You also need to ask yourself WHY there is only one company that makes these stuff for the Prius. On top of the air filter exposed to hot engine air, your aluminum tubing is a good source of heat - it will work like a heatsink. I don't think that the advice you got heret is NON-HELP. It is SOUND advice. The Prius was built for fuel efficiency and not built for performance.
     
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  19. ikagan

    ikagan Junior Member

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    CAI on a Atkinson cycle engine?! This type of engine needs HOT air, that is why Ingen located the filter inside
    the engine compartment. This is a sound (noise?) generator, no power gains at all.
     
  20. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

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    If i really cared about fuel "efficiency" we wouldn't have gotten the 18in Rims, and keeping it under 90mph between Vegas and here. :cool:

    Paradox--- I guess you're right, i really thought that juicedhybrid was a advertiser on the sight. Over the past 2 years i've bought stuff from PriusChat shop and juicedhybrid.

    I always wanted a Carbon Fiber Hood for her, then just do some slats or a small Carbon Fiber air scoop off the side of the Hood.

    Thanks my Prius Bothers for you input. :D