How does an aftermarket air intake system work?
An air intake system replaces your existing stock one to allow more air to enter the engine. This is the single most important aspect to improve your overall horsepower and torque. With the increased airflow, the engine receives greater amounts of oxygen into the combustion allowing your car to run better. Most stock intakes consist of several twists and turns and chambers to muffle sound, which restricts the air, flow. Think of a small coffee stir stick and try sucking air through it. By doing this, the lack of oxygen would cause you to pass out. Now imagine breathing through a big Slurpy straw - much easier. Your engine reacts the same way. So the objective of an intake system is to create the least restrictive path of air into the engine. On average you can expect to gain between 5hp-11hp.

I'm keeping my stock intake, does adding a performance filter really make a difference?
Quite honestly, anything is better than the air filter your car came with. Performance filters are made of special materials and designed for specifically for better airflow. You'll not only see a slight change in your acceleration, but you'll also increase your gas mileage.

Which intake is better?
There are so many determining factors and it should be based on the opinion of each individual. Of all the intakes listed on our web site, we'd suggest either the AEM or Injen Race Division intake. Each have a similar build and quality, with both securly bolting to the frame of the car and with a flexible elbow to ensure a proper and safe fit. If one of these air intake systems is not available for your car, we suggest installing a K&N, HKS or APEXi system to replace your existing stock intake to increase air flow to your engine. Just because some of these intakes do not come with piping, does not mean that intakes complete with piping are better.

Do I need to worry about water with a Cold-Air Intake?
That's very unlikely unless you have a tendency to drive your car through flooded streets at full throttle. In order for your engine to suck enough water in, you would have to submerge the entire filter underwater and suck air/water UP the intake tube and into the engine.

If you're really concerned about sucking in water, AEM offers the Bypass Valve (works with AEM intakes only) which will feel the drop in pressure and automatically sucks air from a higher source (above the water) stopping the suction. Again, this is an extremely rare scenario.