I don't have either but when I was lookin into a cai or short ram intake I was going to go with the fujita cuz It looked cleaner and u could do short and long ram with it and I liked the black but cuz I live in Cali I went with the Trd cuz it is carb legil so ya I would go with the fujita

 

I really like Weapon-r sri, I changed my ebay cai to weapon-r and I can feel I get a little more power with weapon-r.

 

K&N Typhoon what what!

 

K&N Short Ram

 

The weapon-R and Fujita are available used right now. Since I'm cheap those are my options. (If buying new, I'd probably opt for the AFE.)

I just read a thread though in the scikotics forum that says intakes on our Scions are strictly cosmetic. They provide gains in hp for a while, but then out engine management system learns that something is different and adjusts itself accordingly so the engine runs like it did with the stock intake.

If true, I don't know that I want to spend the money on one.

 

A SRI or CAI is ***STRICTLY COSMETIC***. You will get no performance gains, and more than likely you will lose low end HP and torque. The pedal only will feel more responsive because you are able to get air to reach the throttle body FASTER. For increased performance, you would need to tune it. If you gain ANYTHING, it would be top end (read: 80 mph+) when the function of the CAI and SRI outpreform the DESIGN capabilities of the stock airbox.

Hopes this clears things up.. Oh, and I have a custom SRI. SRI for the turbo (which I have a Cobb pipe to insure accurate MAF readings.

I've heard both, but no real evidence to back it up (at least not to me).
I'd love to know if it is fact or just rumor.
Also, just one part of an exhaust doesn't make a significant change regardless, unless that part is a turbo (which is actually a major collection of parts really). An intake, header, and high-flow exhaust (making everything clean flow except the scuba tank), theoretically should work together to make a better breathing engine. Now, I've never seen that on a long term dyno run set either to confirm a long-term change, either.
But, it does sound cool to the ear . . .

For real power increases, you need some forced induction, like a turbo. Which, also, often reduces engine life (sometimes to very short), esp. if not ideally tuned.

 

I've never heard of that. My K&N short ram does increase horsepower that is slightly noticeable. When at a stop light and the light turns green, the gas pedal is a lot more sensitive than it was on stock. If you really want to save money, get a cheap-o cold air intake off of eBay and then buy K&N cone filter. You will be fine.

 

A SRI or CAI is ***STRICTLY COSMETIC***. You will get no performance gains, and more than likely you will lose low end HP and torque. The pedal only will feel more responsive because you are able to get air to reach the throttle body FASTER. For increased performance, you would need to tune it. If you gain ANYTHING, it would be top end (read: 80 mph+) when the function of the CAI and SRI outpreform the DESIGN capabilities of the stock airbox.

Hopes this clears things up.. Oh, and I have a custom SRI. SRI for the turbo (which I have a Cobb pipe to insure accurate MAF readings.

 

Well that just contradicts everything I've read about the computer being able to adjust for the CAI and "tune" itself fairly well over time. Those people need to post in here.

 

No, it doesn't contradict anything. Sorry, I should have been more clear. The computer DOES adjust for the CAI or SRI (increase in air flow).. But, the only way to really increase your low end HP or Torque, is running slightly leaner than normal. At first, the increase in air will cause your engine to run a little leaner as the ECU adjusts to the increase (which, may cause a slight increase in HP or TQ), but as the ECU adjusts more and more (within 100 - 300 miles), it'll start adding more fuel to the mixture, which brings it back to the 14.7 stoichiometric reading. So yes, the ECU does tune itself over time, but only tunes itself "back" to the equivalent of how it was.

But, what I was explaining earlier was that the stock air-box isn't designed to continuously apply the required amount of air at higher speeds because normal drivers wouldn't reach 80+ MPH normally. BUT, with a CAI or SRI, you free up a little of that design problem and allow the engine to "reach" a little more air in the higher MPH ranges, which will increase HP/TQ (adding more air, making it run a little leaner).

Also, performance gains also have a lot to do with temperature. I know with forced induction, I see a WORLD of difference when it's 75 degrees out, compared to 83 and humid. I mean, it's like night and day. A CAI escapes the area of direct heat from the engine which will allow you to reach colder (read: more dense) air (which also causes your engine to run LEANER, which equates to more HP/TQ and higher responsiveness).

Hope this helps a little.

 

I'm telling you right now no CAI or SRI will give you 5-10 hp. That's just a marketing strategy. The most you will get honestly is 2 or 3.

 

I can get a dyno to read 5-10 HP more when I bolt on a SRI or CAI intake too. Change the input numbers.

The ONLY REASON a CAI will cause an increase in performance is IF IT GETS COLDER AIR in relation to the stock air-box. This causes a leaner mixture because of the DENSE air (hot air rises, cold air sinks because it's more dense), which increases low end HP/TQ slightly. ECU's will not tune for slight adjustments in temperature as it is constantly changing.

 

Thanks for all of the posts. Education and sharing are what this site is all about!

Though rj, when you bolded "a few extra mpg" you forgot to bold "they do look nice" lol

 

Very true!! Take a look at my build thread and see mine - I love it!

 

Here is what Scion says about their cai:

• Emissions-legal in all 50 states
• Dyno tests achieved 6 horsepower and 6 foot-pounds of torque at front wheels on test vehicle
• Reusable high-flow, low restriction air filter
• Custom lower inlet grille
• Air filter enclosure designed to ingest cooler air and provide greater air flow

As for why all cars don't have them...at least one thread I've read pointed out that most people don't like engine noise and so stock intakes are designed to be quiet. Makes sense.

 

Here is what Scion says about their cai:

• Emissions-legal in all 50 states
• Dyno tests achieved 6 horsepower and 6 foot-pounds of torque at front wheels on test vehicle
• Reusable high-flow, low restriction air filter
• Custom lower inlet grille
• Air filter enclosure designed to ingest cooler air and provide greater air flow

I think the "custom lower inlet grille" is for the 2008-2010 models. Since the 2011 and 2012 models have a differently shaped inlet grille, the older TRD CAI custom inlet grille will not fit the more recent 2011-2012 xBs.

Also it appears that a newer TRD CAI is available, but without the custom inlet grille (which to me is a major oversight):
TRD Cold Air Intake at Sparks Toyota-Scion, Myrtle Beach, SC
instructions (link on that same page) do not show a grille. Kind of defeats the purpose of getting a Cold Air Intake, if you cannot get Cold Air to the Intake.

Of course you can open up the grille yourself, using an Xacto knife. That's what I (and others) have done...

 

Zinger, did you make a choice?

 

I was leaning toward the cai because I'm guessing it would be a little quieter. The xB is my daily driver and our main family car. But during all the discussion back and forth here it sold. I believe the short ram is still for sale though. I wonder how loud that would be. If I wouldn't hear it unless I floored it that would be good. If I hear it all the time - not so good. I wouldn't want to drown out my kids bickering with each other.

I have a hard time parting with my $$ and I would hate to spend $100-150 on something then not like it.

 

You won't hear it at all unless you push the pedal to the metal. That I promise.

 

Now, I'm not trying to be an ******* or anything, but this is to help the OP. I TOTALLY disagree. I hear mine loud and clear from 1500 - 3000 under medium acceleration. The ONLY reason it cuts off after 3,000 is because my wastegate starts to open up. Some of them can be louder than others...

 

This is funny since I've also been following this thread-
http://www.newscionxb.com/126-introductions/9750-2012-black-pearl-sand-scion-xb-2.html#post93576

"here we go! Sounds like a beast"
"nice bro, i installed the same intake kit today, it doe's sound like a beast!"

I have to admit, it does sound nice in that install video.

 

I thought you all might want to see this. I took my xB in for the 5000 mile service, and to get the bluetooth fixed since they apparently didn't hook up the microphone so the stereo had no bluetooth options. They gave me a new Camry as a loaner and lo and behold there is a stock cold air intake.

It gets air from the grill, that comes up those holes (that have openings on the left and right instead of straight down for indirection) and then through the obvious opening. There is also an extra box of some kind it goes into before the second box which looks to be the air filter.

 

Wow, that is really interesting to see. Thanks for posting up the photo!

 

I also have a 2011 camry and its similar. the first box is just a resonator. Nothing in it. Is to drown out noise. I do like the fact that Camry's get their ram air through the nose/grill area as oppose to ours through the snorkel deal.

So now that the thread has been derailed are we still undecided?

 

I was going to go ahead and buy the cai, but it sold about the same time I decided. I think the short ram would be cool, but don't really want the noise. I actually just added a little more sound. I put the Borla dual exhaust on this weekend - but that's another thread.

Last I saw, the short ram was still for sale.

 

I have a injen cai.Got it off craigslist $25 a steal lol.The intake sounds great but I really dont notice much until im on the freeway then it pulls a little harder. I cut out the the vent to look like a trd one, so i know it is getting much better airflow once moving. I often think about just going back to factory intake and exhaust thouogh. I find myself in the gas more just cause it sound bettter now.