I JUST PURCHASED MY NO NAME INTAKE PIPE WITH AEM FILTER, THE PIPE SEEMS TO BE HOT WHEN I OPEN THE HOOD, I'M ASSUMING THAT'S NORMAL, BUT I WONDER IF I LOSE POWER BECAUSE OF THAT? IS IT BETTER PUTTING THE STOCK BOX WITH K&N DROP IN??? OR......

OR SHOULD I HEAT WRAP IT ? SO IT DOESN'T GET THAT MUCH HOT

 

How hot is it?

 

If you are picking up cold air, and running at WOT, the air is passing through the tube too quickly to pick up much heat. After a hard drive on a cool day, the pipe should be cooler than the air temperature under the hood. Using heat wrap *might* improve low speed drivability, but I really don't know for sure. I never had any drivability issues when I had the AEM V1 on my car.

Is your pipe a constant diameter? If so, and if you're picking up air at the same point the AEM's do, then you should consider getting a bypass valve. Buy ONLY a genuine AEM valve. The look alikes don't work in the same way, and will either fail to protect your engine, or cost you the benefits of the CAI.

I like the sound of an open intake or CAI, but if you're not after the sound, you really might be better off to go back to the stock airbox. You're really the only one who can make that kind of decision.

Also, as 3ngin33r1 asked, how hot is the pipe? If you can borrow a non-contact pyrometer and measure it ...

 

hot but not to get burn,hot enough just because its metal? maybe its just normal for intake aluminum pipes, and yes i am after the sound and power gain (breate better, a little) i like that deep/mean sound of the intake

 

What is your average daily temperature (the weather)?

 

stock box will always be better colder and better than open element.

The stock box is awesome.

 

caps lock much?

 

he must be on his phone. sometimes they can't help it.

 

california, bay area so 65-75 temp through out the day

 

i'm really targeting the sound of the intake (aluminum) but if it decreases the power then stock box will be back on with k&n drop in