CAI Sound, is this normal???

[Saccus]

Well, I got my custom civic cai in today, it has a rr-3003 K&n inverted cone. My question is this, at lower rpms, i dont notice much sound difference unless I hit the gas pretty hard, is this normal or should I be able to hear it more. Also, if I only step on the gas a little bit, there is a kind of whistling noise from where the filter is, im thinking this might just be the filter sucking in air, but im not sure. I just want to make sure this is normal.

[5-lO]

Whistle = Clean flowing air :)

You wont hear it unless you punch it

[kse73]

The sound is great isnt it. My gas mileage sucks because of my CAI/SLP ~ the sound just makes me floor it too much, lol

[UNCTYPE-S]

usually around the 4k and higher mark u will hear it. its normal for not hearing it under that. i love how it sounds at a cold start in the morning. it whistles at like 2k rpms. lol

[Saccus]

o thank god, its a good thing, lol. I thought something was wrong, but its all good now, thanks guys.

PS - I took it out for a longer test drive with the CAI in, and o man does that thing sound kick ass when u floor it, i luv it. Now i just need to get used to that whistle.

[PontiacGT2K]

Heh...it shouldn't sound too much different at idle...it's not like you're running just headers, it's a CAI. But yeah I remember when I had my civic CAI like 2 years ago it was quite fun...

[Ishan]

hell yeah man.. that little whistle, gotta love it, and yeah.. better for gas.. my ass.. i'm flooring it just to listen to it all the time!

[UNCTYPE-S]

i never get a whistling sound out of mine unless its on a cold start after a few hours of the car not being on.

when the cars been on for a bit, and u floor it, its a deeper sound. no whistling at all.

if u find a long straight away where there are no cops, floor it and keep going through 2nd gear, in 2nd it sounds the best.

[SweetAlero99]

whistling is the air???? no no no.... its ur blow off valve

[PontiacGT2K]

Hm...was that a joke? I see no one in this topic that has a BOV...

[IanGT99]

BOV or not, I LOVE that whistling sound! Makes me think I have a mini-SC... lol. I agree with the gas mileage, too...If I didn't floor it all the time, it'd be better on my wallet. I really don't care. Hearing that sound is worth it. It really kicks in around 3500+ RPM, but you won't notice any difference at idle.

[Saccus]

yeah it sounds good at higher rpms, but to tell you the truth, that whisting sound is so high pitched its like a sqeak, and it annoys the hell outta me, especially since it happens right around 2500 rpms, o well, not much i can do i guess, im sure ill get used to it.

[blake]

does adding the CAI help w/ gas mileage at all?

[SweetAlero99]

if u dont floor it all the time to hear the sounds it makes.

it does help abit on the highway milage

[Cnix16]

I added my 62 mm TB from APOC and the whistle goes away alittle bit, but it does wine when im at idle now.

[GatorMan]

i love mine also...the whistle is not that bad.

[Ant]

2 questions:

1.) Do all CAI's have the same effect (whistle and cool sound)?

somewhat *offtopic*

2.) When getting an aftermarket exhaust, (SLP or Borla...SLP really), how much low end torque is REALLY lost. I mean...is it really noticeable?

[kse73]

Well if you guys dont like the whiney sound, then I suggest you do not get an SC. As for low end power....yes I noticed it....but you totally make up for it when you hit around 35-4k rpm. It just takes off w/ a little butt pullin action. :)

[UNCTYPE-S]

not all cai have same effect. my civic intake doesnt whistle unless its from a cold start. once its warmed up, it goes away.

as for my buddies home ade cai, his whistles all the time. he will press down on that thing in the engine bay that makes the engine run, while ur in park and u can hear the whistle. (lol, i dont know what that part is called)

with my magnaflow exhaust, i noticec my low end decrease.

[IanGT99]

I guess the whistling sound depends on each individual's car and the type of CAI. It'll sound, act, and perform a bit different for everyone. As for me, my Civic CAI makes a really nice whistling sound between 2500 and 4000 RPM. It has a bit of a different pitched whistle at different RPM's. Between about 3200 and 4000 RPM, it makes the engine sound incredible. But like I said, it'll be different for each car...

[5-lO]

Originally posted by UNC0808
he will press down on that thing in the engine bay that makes the engine run, while ur in park and u can hear the whistle. (lol, i dont know what that part is called)


Throttle body/throttle cable :thumbs: