[Falcon WIng]

Smartmadness finally got the backordered CAI in stock, received it pretty quickly...

** See attached photos**

Regarding the Smartmadness induction tube, seems like a round peg into a square hole scenario...
Is there a way to create a better seal that pictured?

My 2013 Smart came with an older model CAI, and Smartmadness installed the induction tube for me , using the old CAI, when I was in for a cruise control, lowering springs, and exhaust install, so I never saw how it was supposed to fit.

Any suggestions?

 

[Johannesl]

I believe that it should flex/bend and fit over the part in the fender lining. I still have my induction tube sitting in the garage because my hands are too big and don’t bend the way I need to get all the way in there.


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[gaseosx]

It was a massive PIA to place the tube on the initial installation and subsequent filter cleanings. The smaller your hands the better because you have to squeeze the induction tube into an oval just to fit it while shoving it in there. If you have a set of side skirt clips you can just remove the rear panel and fit it much better because you have leverage from both sides.

 

[Pete000]

I think you have it in backwards...Big cone end should be at the inlet side.

 

[Johannesl]

I think you have it in backwards...Big cone end should be at the inlet side.

Not according to the pics on smart madness’ site. Has cone over filter and small end in the fender well.


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[1stiski]

Small end on the intake side , just did mine , you have squeeze it in .. I have big hands and it helped to have a bright light peering down the inlet to see that it fits outside of the oval intake . The big end compensates for the odd tilt and design of the cold air pipe and allows a flexible area between a vibrating motor solid body contact point . Seems to work nicely without motor /body interference vibrations .

 

[banzairx7]

Just got my intake too. I haven't put it on yet but I assumed large end went over the filter. With the small end at the filter it just floats in there with no sealing at all. That allows the filter to suck hot engine bay air at lower speeds.

I'm not impressed with this intake at all so far. The filter is comically tiny. Pulling numbers from the K&N website for their stock replacement filter and guessing the rubber seal around the edge is 1/2" I get 49 square inches for the area of the stock filter. The madness filter only has 19 square inches. Even if the madness cone filter magically flows twice as much per square inch it's still at a 20% deficit over the stock filter. Now with the way this silicone tube fits that's another strike.

Here's the filter with a soda can for comparison-


I'm waiting to put it on until I can get the car to the dyno(shooting for next week). I want some real before and after numbers which I haven't been able to find anywhere. My gut tells me this is going to make less power.

 

[1stiski]

I’m interested in seeing gains if any , but bring this is such a small motor, it does feel like it pulls better in the upper rpm range with the CAI. Could be wishful thinking , or honest to goodness better breathing . I don’t know , but the car seems to enjoy the open lungs .

 

[Johannesl]

I look at it this way, it’s a lot less restrictive with the intake than going through all those baffles on the stock intake tube. It may not be a gain, but it does change some characteristics of the power band. Really interested to see the dyno sheet.


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[1stiski]

If you look at that throttle body , the opening is very small and will only allow so much air to pass in , and those small piston chambers can only hold a small amount of air to fill in the stroke , I wouldn’t be surprised if the Small K&N would flow more than enough to satisfy this small Liter motor. The change is sound is surely due to the removal of the baffle box , and consequently, it sounds better IMOP . Of course Dyno results would show the truth in gains . I’ll keep an eye on this thread and see what transpires .

 

[Falcon WIng]

I appreciate everyone's input.
I will have to fiddle with it a bit this weekend to see if I can get the induction tube any closer to the inlet.... Like others have said..there is not a lot of room to work.

It may be a bit of a placebo effect, but I do believe throttle response is better, and it seems slightly quieter overall from using the old CAI my car came with, even though I have a SILA center exhaust with is rather loud.

The old filter had about 6 months, and 6k miles on it, and it was FILTHY. I will be better with the upkeep on this next one.

Is there any real gain having a Side Scoop on the exterior air intake?

 

[Jo e Lefors]

I appreciate everyone's input.
I will have to fiddle with it a bit this weekend to see if I can get the induction tube any closer to the inlet.... Like others have said..there is not a lot of room to work.

It may be a bit of a placebo effect, but I do believe throttle response is better, and it seems slightly quieter overall from using the old CAI my car came with, even though I have a SILA center exhaust with is rather loud.

The old filter had about 6 months, and 6k miles on it, and it was FILTHY. I will be better with the upkeep on this next one.

Is there any real gain having a Side Scoop on the exterior air intake?

At highway speed put your hand flat against the outside the car onto the slipstream and then rotate it. For me there is a lot of air PRESSURE there. I don't know if you ever heard of "Ram Air" it puts your intake in a positive pressure environment. At highway speeds with just a "High Air Flow" filter and a straight tube running to the throttle body, the engine has plenty of air available to it. Is it a replacement for a Supercharger or Turbocharged No not by any stretch of the imagination.
If all your driving is in town, 25mph-45mph I'd say don't bother. Ninth percent of my smart driving is 55 mph and above. So it was a no brainer to add the air scoop to the side intake, if by adding that scoop gets more air into the system. Why go through all the other changes and not finish the job with a scoop.
That is after all what the rest of your modifications were for, right?

What I don't understand, is why anyone would use metal tubing for intake tubing running next to the engine. Stainless or most any metals transfers engine heat (like a frying pan, pot) or pull hot air from around the engine, by having a cone filter situated in the engine bay. Smarts are really bad because they have the catalytic converter right there next to the engine in an already very small engine bay.

 

[1stiski]

^^^ anyone here with the CAI wrap the intake runner in heat reflective insulation, the thought is floating around on that issue in my head .

 

[lordpaige]

I was thinking of wrapping my custom intake in something like the heat shield tape used on exhaust. My intake uses a K&N filter. To me using metal for the CAI is just odd but thats what can withstand heat and what can be created easily. If someone else has tried it please speak up otherwise I will probably trying a few things here and there on my own.

 

[1stiski]

I was thinking of wrapping my custom intake in something like the heat shield tape used on exhaust. My intake uses a K&N filter. To me using metal for the CAI is just odd but thats what can withstand heat and what can be created easily. If someone else has tried it please speak up otherwise I will probably trying a few things here and there on my own.

I’m thinking that header wrap won’t provide the proper result , since it’s really designed to hold heat in the header for better flow and protect the outside from high temps .. if I do try this , this is my route :
https://youtu.be/Vwf0Yyaw-qU

 

[banzairx7]

I put on the GTS scoop a month or so back. I did some data logging before and after. I couldn't find any appreciable change. 0-60 was the same, intake temps the same. It may be pressurizing the intake tract but I couldn't say for sure. The stock manifold pressure sensor was maxed out before I put it on. So if it did make any manifold pressure you can't tell. At least data logging the stock pressure sensor. I do really like the way it looks so I guess that's worth something.

As far as insulating the intake tract I had the same idea. DEI sells a wrap specific for intake tubes. I had it on my RX-8. These wraps only make a difference at low speeds/throttle openings. And then they only delay heat soak. They eventually will get as hot as the engine bay, just takes a lot longer. But they will slow down heat soak again once you're moving and the intake air pulls the heat out of the tube. At higher throttle openings/speeds the intake air is moving fast enough there isn't enough time for it to pick up much heat so the wrap doesn't do much.

Cool Cover - Air Tube Cover Kit | Design Engineering Inc

Cool Cover GOLD? - Air-Tube Cover Kit

I called three dyno shops this week and they were all closed. Everyone is off at SEMA. Going to try and make an appointment again on Monday.

 

[Falcon WIng]

I put on the GTS scoop a month or so back.

.

Do you have any photos of this scoop, and where it is available?

 

[Johannesl]

Do you have any photos of this scoop, and where it is available?

I have one as well. Been on the car almost 2 years now. I bought mine on amazon, but they’re on a few other sites as well.

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[banzairx7]

That's the same one I have. Got mine off ebay. I pulled the stock vent cover off my car also. Figured it opened up the path to the intake a bit more.

 

[Falcon WIng]

Is there one available that is not see through??