AEM CAI vs. Comptech ice box

[Chris215Chris]

It is my everday driver so i am looking more for practicality, than the performance, although it is still important. A guy on the forum recently said his aem cai was pretty damn loud, i was wondering if the comptech ice box is any quiter, and if so, how much quiter. I would also like to know how hard an intake is to install. I am not a mechanic and i am not a motorhead, so is there anything tricky i should know about before throwing it on there. Thanks alot

[B2FiNiTY]

Comptech is much more quiet than the AEM. More of a deeper growel rather than the "racey" scream of the AEM.

The Icebox is definately more practical in everyday use because it is less prone to hydrolock but it can still happen.

Installing an aftermarket cold air intake will probably take you aroudn 2 hours time if you have never done anything like this before. It is not very difficult and nothing wrong can really happen.

Make a thread if you ever need help on installing the intake.

[pUrExTc]

AEM Cold Air Intake SCREAMS VTEC!

[Aj]

I run the comptech cold box and love it, it sounds almost completely stock, but with a more aggresive growl up high. As far as practicality and daily driving is concerned the ice box is the way to go. Comptech assures that is almost impossible to hydro-lock, and if you see it in person, you'll understand why, in addition, it's so much easier to clean it's crazy!!!!

In any case, I'd go with the ice box, it really is a heck of a lot more practical, especially if it rains, or there is a lot of standing water where you live.

Later!
Aj

[SanjayR]

Go with The AEM definatly. I just put oneon my 98 TYPE R and it just opened it up and it screams, but only when you want it to. You have to really rev it up to hear a big diffrence.

[Aj]

I dont know about all that, when I put a cold air in my car, it sounded quite different all across the RPM band, even down low. I think you just got used to it after a while.....

Any way, like I said, depends on what you're looking for, the AEM is a little more power, but a lot more noise, and WATCH FOR WATER!!!!!

Later,
Aj

[Trey]

I have both. Swap back and forth from time to time actually. I think the AEM makes 1-2 more peak HP. THe icebox seems to pull a little harder pre-VTEC.

I like the sound of the ICEBOX MUCH MUCH better then the schreak of the AEM. AEM is too oversated.

[pUrExTc]

Any way, like I said, depends on what you're looking for, the AEM is a little more power, but a lot more noise, and WATCH FOR WATER!!!!!
Aj

I thought with AEM's CAI, you only need to worry about hydrolocking from having your intake submerged in water. I've had mine in my car for about 2 months. No problems yet. As for the water by-pass valve, I heard from an AEM representative, you don't need to worry about having one, unless you're on the east coast, or where it rains a lot. Over here, on the west coast, you shouldn't really need it. Although El Nino is coming around again...
But, if it is possible to have AEM CAI hydrolock my motor up (other than submerged), I'll definately not drive in the rain. As far as I know though, you can only get hydrolocked from having your intake submerged in water.

[Bbasso]

I have had the AEM CAI for just over a year and not one problem rain sun heat cold . nothing.

As as for rain Just drive reasonable- ya know speed limit or less let the weather conditions tell you how to drive. Common sense.

[TypeRgirl#00073]

comptech is rich and deep sound... i have it and love it! I would say comptech .. for real, you will love it!!

[Aj]

I thought with AEM's CAI, you only need to worry about hydrolocking from having your intake submerged in water. I've had mine in my car for about 2 months. No problems yet. As for the water by-pass valve, I heard from an AEM representative, you don't need to worry about having one, unless you're on the east coast, or where it rains a lot. Over here, on the west coast, you shouldn't really need it.

Well of course, the guy at AEM told you what ever he needed to to make you buy the intake, or if you already had, to keep a better image and spreed to the word, just as you are now.

As far as complete submersion, funny that he mentioned that, because that's the only time that that stupid bypass valve actually works, when there is a sufficient pressure change, in other words, when the filter is almost or completely submerged, which by that time, it's way too late!!!

As far as East coast or West coast, it doesn't matter where you are, water is water, and if you ever run into any water, deep enough to get into your filter, you run a very good risk of hydro locking it, and it doesn't take any more then a couple ounces to hydro-lock your motor. Sometimes if you're lucky, the water will evaporate before it hits the combustion chamber, if not, say good bye to your rods.

It's not likely to just splash into your filter from a puddle or something, as you have a splah gaurd, and it's a lot harder to suck up water then air, not to mention, filters ussualy, if you keep up on it, have oil, which gives it a certain amount of water proofing. As I said, just beware of standing water, and large puddles, go up to your splash gaurd, and you may be explaining to your insurance company why your motor just suddenly stoped working.

In any case, I've had three friends where I live in south FL, that jave locked up their motors with cold air intakes in the last two years, on who actually had that air bypass valve, who tried to ask AEM what was up, but all AEM had to say is that they were very sorry it didn't work, but if you read the disclamer that they were not responsible. Just be careful, it's not worth a couple extra horses to have to buy a new motor.

As far as the comptech ice box, it is vented, and designed so there is not enough intrernal pressure to suck up water, and there are a couple drainage holes on the way to the filter just in case, not to mention the filter is still kept in the engine bay.

Any way, Later!!!

Aj

[Vtec_Burnin']

i've had the aem cai on my 02' rsx-S, i loved it since i first revved it up...it has a badass sound but only when revving up around 4 and higher then screams loud as hell, but gave alot of pull. it gave me about 10-20 extra hp, i can feel it...my friend dyno'ed his cai on his rsx-S...it claimed 20whp, so hes producing 225bhp and 185whp with 132lb of wtorque. i'd most likely be getting another aem cai for this itr.

[Aj]

Unfotunately for us, unlike yours, our factory intake system was pretty well designed from the factory, and therefor we don't get the same gains out of a cold air system. Aside from that, So far, other than the Weapon R box, I havn't seen any cold box setups for RSX, and including the weapon R, havn't ever seen any dynoed......

At this point, I suppose it doesn't really matter which you get, what ever it is, it'll suck air up, which is the whole purpose.

Later,
Aj

[Vtec_Burnin']

yea, that's true...gotta worry about puddles.

im gonna use my cai from the rsx and cut out some shape and install it on an itr motor. that would be badass, hope it gives some gains.

[hecklervtec]

Another possibility to consider in the Injen CAI. To me it fits better than the AEM and is a higher quality piece. Also AEM is about to come out with their V2 intake for our cars, which is suppossed to have some pretty impresive gains.

As for this hydrolocking thing, I had my car in Florida for over a year before moving here and have driven in some pretty heavy rain storms, without any problems. The only time you would have to really worry would be going through deep puddles or the like.

[RStoR]

Here is a plot of the 2 ran on same day. Forget the last 200 rpms. I let off for some reason. As you can see, pretty darm close outside of the AEM hump @ 4400. You make the decision!