Unless you add headers it will make no difference at all. The factory induction system flows more air than the stock engine can use. Installing a cat back exhaust will not make a difference big enough to require more airflow into the engine.

 

Looked at a bunch of these for my Ram and my 13 Charger. Never pulled the trigger as I never found the science for if they work. They appear to be a waste of money based on poor science.

 

all it's really good for is sound. And if hi think it looks cool when you open the hood.

 

If you want more acceleration use the money you saved from buying a CAI and put it towards a tuner and an Edge 2800 TC.
Jay

 

This is my take on CIAs. I've used them, built a couple of dozen for other people and have seen dynos first hand before and after adding CIAs.

First of all, I've never seen much of a gain on the dyno, if at all and that was only with a very expensive Vararam. A CIA by itself is basically a waste of money. If you want a CAI for the sound, build one out of schedule 40 PVC. The cost is about $25 plus the cone filter and to be honest, they keep the intake air cooler than all the metal piped ones on the market - I've measured temps at the throttle sensor myself. Not night and day but about 4-10* cooler depending on outside temps.

Where a CAI starts to be beneficial is ONLY if you've done or are doing mods that will actually make use of the added air that the increases surface area of the cone filter will net you. Unless you at least port the throttle body or purchase a larger one, you're not gonna get any more air in than a stock intake setup. Aftermarket and/or polished heads would also be where you'd use the added airflow. In fact, many of the aftermarket, high-end cams require more airflow. After these changes, you will need to improve the cam of the air exiting the systems with headers and a better flowing exhaust.

In a nutshell, unless you are planning the changes mentioned above, you really aren't going to see any benefits. Won't hurt anything to add one, but you won't have any real gains, which is why I say build one if you really want one for under $75 filter included.

Now in my case, I had one on my 3rd Gen Hemi. I did port the throttle body and installed long tube headers and a very efficient exhaust which included scrapping the crazy restrictive factory Y in favor of a stainless MagnaFlow Y pipe. But the single biggest reason was to get the factory air intake off the sidewall. I needed that wall for the passenger side battery tray ($35 at dealer) so I could run two batteries for winch/lights/etc. I made a functional air scoop into the hood and routed my CIA there...

 

Hey, i was just wondering if i was to take out the plastic square piece under the passenger side wheel well below the air intake on my 2012 ram would i get better air flow or would it just suck up more dirt . Thanks

 

You would get no more additional flow and would allow dirt and water (during heavy rains/puddles) to get into the intake system and clog the filter much quicker. Again, the completely stock setup flows more air than a stock engine can use. No amount of modifications you do pre-throttle body will make any difference in performance. Nothing.

 

I would agree. It's even possible to hydro lock an engine going through standing water if you go too far in an attempt to get cooler air from down lower...

 

don't waste your money on CIA... they don't do a thing for the butt dyno and little to nothing for mpg... just get a quality drop in washable replacement filter and keep it clean