Cold Air = Loss of MPGs
 

I puchased a cold air system from this site (new) and installed it with the expectation of impoving the performance and efficiency of the motor.

What I got was a loss of power and MPG that dropped from around 19 to 13.

Here is a link to the kit I purchased:
Cold Air Kit

Has anyone else run into this before? :confused:

Dwayne

Check and make sure that you dont have an air leak somewhere along your piping, or on your MAF, or something along those lines. This would cause a drop in MPG of that size. Is your ECU throwing a code? Is your MAF clean? Are you drawing in water through the filter? Is the filter completely sealed off? Is the filter actually stopping stuff from getting into the air lines?

This is also the time of year where many gas companies switch to crappy gas. This could also be the reason why you see the drop.

and could you be getting on the gas more often with the CAI?

It is possible that there was a leak. The ECU has not given any codes but I was concerned about the sensor that plugs into the system. It didn't seem to protrude as far into the air stream as the stock configuration. I have wondered if the info being sent to the ECU may be faulty from this sensor.

Everything else you identified as possible causes is in good shape.

If you have no air leaks Its because of the CAI itself im pretty sure. Well actually it is the MAF not reading the air mass properly. That CAI is the same as the UPR one and everyone I talk to hates it. Theres either a problem with the MAF or the thing just wont stay together because of so many parts on it. It is not a well designed CAI.

A CAI wont let anyMORE air in itself so it couldn't be burning more gas because of that. An air leak would probably have it run a little rich and lose a little power. If its not that then it has to be a problem with the MAF signal.

1. Try cleaning the MAF sensor.
2. Try rotating the sensor housing if its not sitting straight up.
3. Make sure the filter is attatched correctly
4. Send it back for a refund and buy another kind of CAI.
5. In the meantime put the stock intake on it and remove the "silencer".

I too sensed the same problem with my gas milaege. Heres what I did and it actually worked. Im not telling you to do the same but.. I took the bottom tube off and mounted the filter right after the sensor. I too found that no matter how much I tightened the damn connections, they kept working themselves loose to many connections=a chance for a leak.

I always thought CAI's were over rated....sure, there are a few that think they see improvements, but I think it's mental, especially on a stock/near stock motor...I just put a drop-in K&N in mine and I see 25-28 on the hi-way. :D

is your iat in there right? does your car idle rough at all? if it has a rough idle then you have a air leak. did you put the screen back in the right way yes there will be a problem if its put in wrong.

put your stock stuff back on if you have it and see how the car is then. if its the same then you have a issue somewhere else.

I tried the same thing one time just to see if it made a difference and the car ran really bad for some wierd reason.

hmmmm..You have something else going on then...Have you recently put exhaust on? bolt on? if so have that **** welded...