I want to install an intake system for my 05 mazda 6, what are my best options?
November 12, 2009 in Mazda
Did you know that you can save fuel and run your car on water
Hector asked:
I want fuel efficiency and hopefully more power for my car, more performance. My car is has a tiptronic transmision and I thought my best option would be an intake system. I would like some suggestions on what would be my best options. Im not so educated about car engines and stuff. But i would like to learn more by taking care and tweaking my car.
Did you know that you can save fuel and run your car on water
Your best option is to leave the stock airbox in place. It has a cold air intake and is tuned for max power at normal driving. A bolt-on aluminum pipe may sound good but driving below 6000 rpm will show NO hp gain at all. If you insist on freeing up the intake then opt for a low restriction air cleaner element from K&N.
id go with a k&n if they have one
go to the k&n site and see if they have an intake that will fit your car
i could give you more info if you would give the size of your engine
Hector.
There are many choices of induction kit out there, for both CAI (cold air intake) and SRI (short ram intake). It really is a case of trying to find reviews of the various manufacturers kits on your particular car.
To be honest though, you won’t see a big gain in performance from an induction kit alone (maybe 1 or 2hp if you’re very lucky). It’s usually a good idea to fit a performance exhaust at the same time as upgrading the induction. There’s no real point in getting the extra air in if the engine can’t get the waste gases out quick enough.
If you want real gains, without the expense of serious engine work, then look into getting the car remapped.
I would agree with cowboy in that leaving the stock airbox is your best option just get a K&N drop in filter will improve your fuel economy and a scant improvment in power production.
A Cold Air Intake will give you a little more power but it actually does this for two reasons on the 6. The First and least of the two reasons is that there is less restriction in the intake tract allowing your engine to breathe in easier.
The other reason and the one that nets the biggest power gain is that the inner diameter of the pipe is larger in all of the aftermarket CAIs where the mass air flow meter is located, which fools your engine into thinking less air is getting in there really is causing your engine to run lean, sometimes dangerously lean. A lean mix will give you a little more power but puts you closer to your knock threshold. Solution? Add a sensor modifier or fuel controller to adjust to a safe lambda reading.
CP-e makes a cold air induction and electronics bundle for just this purpose it will give more power and give better part throttle fuel economy. They also make a electronic solution for the injen CAI
Other companies make CAIs for the 6, (mine is an injen and i got modest improvement in performance and a whole lot of increase in obnoxious engine noise)
I would recommend the CP-e if you are going to get one for your current car. If you want a car with a powerful engine than get a car with a powerful engine, leave the upgrading to real car people. If you want to be a real car person than learn everything you can about them. Read the Bosch bible, read car magazines that DONT have scantily clad girls on the cover. learn, learn, learn. Then kick yourself for getting a front drive grocery getter when you should have gotten a miata.
One more thing best way to improve your cars performance is to improve YOUR driving go to Apex driving academy where they use mazda6s as trainer cars. Cost is 195USD which is less than a CAI and absolutely worth more than one.