Intake question
05-26-2014 | 10:39 AM
#1
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From: Cape Carteret, NC
Intake question
Okay, after looking around and researching. I am understanding an AEM/MS Cold air intake is kind of a waste and I should just keep the stock intake and use an upgraded K&N Filter? or should I not even bother with the filter?
05-26-2014 | 04:26 PM
#3
There are several threads on intakes..
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-aft...intake-119272/
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-aft...s-true-108444/
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-aft...intakes-90202/
Do a little reading mabye a light searching and you will find a vast amount of knowledge on this forum. I will tell you that the AEM CAI is one of the few that come even close to the stock in performance. Mazda actually did a decent job when it came to the intake. Also you might want to read a bit up on K&N after you do, you might not want to get a k&N filter anymore. I can't say anything bad about their oil filters, but when it comes to the air filter it is not the best by any means.
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-aft...intake-119272/
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-aft...s-true-108444/
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-aft...intakes-90202/
Do a little reading mabye a light searching and you will find a vast amount of knowledge on this forum. I will tell you that the AEM CAI is one of the few that come even close to the stock in performance. Mazda actually did a decent job when it came to the intake. Also you might want to read a bit up on K&N after you do, you might not want to get a k&N filter anymore. I can't say anything bad about their oil filters, but when it comes to the air filter it is not the best by any means.
05-27-2014 | 07:10 AM
#4
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From: Cape Carteret, NC
I did search but most all I could find were reviews on all the different cold air intakes and how much they suck or barely keep up with the oem setup. But mostly it was just replies complaining that people don't search that I had to weed through. Even with those 3 threads, I couldn't really find anything on the K&N OEM Replacement filter aside from a few mixed reviews. Whenever I tried to find any info on it all I can find is info on the K&N Cold air intakes which from what I've read are complete garbage. So I was really just looking for some clarification, which I got between the two of you. OEM Paper filter is A-OK.
05-27-2014 | 09:07 AM
#5
K&N paper drop filters are known to let sand and other fine particles through into the engine. It's not worth it for a 1HP gain or less (margin of error could make this a 0HP gain).
AEM, Racing Beat, or stock intake systems, or you're wasting your money.
AEM, Racing Beat, or stock intake systems, or you're wasting your money.
05-27-2014 | 09:58 AM
#6
the K&N isn't paper, it's cotton gauze according to the website.
And if you need more information, read this from a track team that used it: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tec...filter-177971/
And if you need more information, read this from a track team that used it: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tec...filter-177971/
05-27-2014 | 11:55 AM
#7
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From: Cape Carteret, NC
the K&N isn't paper, it's cotton gauze according to the website.
And if you need more information, read this from a track team that used it: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tec...filter-177971/
And if you need more information, read this from a track team that used it: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tec...filter-177971/
05-27-2014 | 12:31 PM
#9
Don't get it. Since you seemed to have missed it I will quote it here.
Wow! Thank you.
Now here is the logic: Several years ago we were blowing up engines right and left. Left and right. backwards forwards, etc. I started asking around to get some help and ended up talking with David Haskill of SpeedSource. If you've not heard the SpeedSource name before they are the Professional Road Race team running building and running the majority of 3 rotor Rolex cars in the Grand-Am Series. They built the Dempsey cars. They built the Racers Edge cars. They build the Sahlens cars....
They also built the original Renesis cars (like ours) from 2004 until a few years ago. Some of these cars are still floating around. Some have been trashed/wrecked or converted to something else.
SpeedSource has been a factory supproted Mazda team for several years now. David Haskill is the team engineer. David is also a driver. Smart guy. Super nice guy. Very busy guy.
So I contact him and share our issue. One of the first things he asks me is this: "what kind of air filter are you running?". No kidding. Did you know that their 3 rotor engines run THE STOCK RX8 PAPER FILTER? Yep.
We ran a K&N style for a few races just because I thought this technology was the best. It made about 1 more hp on the dyno than paper. So we ran it. We also toasted two motors at Daytona and one at Homestead running the Grand-Am Koni Challenge Series. When we pulled these motors apart we found (drum roll) sand blasted rotor housings where the air would enter the intake ports. Switched over to paper, ran both these tracks again and the witness marks were gone. Problem fixed. David also confirmed that he had saw this before also.
That is the basis of why I beleive paper is a better filtration media. We run the Mazda/AEM cannister style filter that comes with the long AEM/Mazda intake. We also found this intake to make the most torque.
Cheers,
Eric
Now here is the logic: Several years ago we were blowing up engines right and left. Left and right. backwards forwards, etc. I started asking around to get some help and ended up talking with David Haskill of SpeedSource. If you've not heard the SpeedSource name before they are the Professional Road Race team running building and running the majority of 3 rotor Rolex cars in the Grand-Am Series. They built the Dempsey cars. They built the Racers Edge cars. They build the Sahlens cars....
They also built the original Renesis cars (like ours) from 2004 until a few years ago. Some of these cars are still floating around. Some have been trashed/wrecked or converted to something else.
SpeedSource has been a factory supproted Mazda team for several years now. David Haskill is the team engineer. David is also a driver. Smart guy. Super nice guy. Very busy guy.
So I contact him and share our issue. One of the first things he asks me is this: "what kind of air filter are you running?". No kidding. Did you know that their 3 rotor engines run THE STOCK RX8 PAPER FILTER? Yep.
We ran a K&N style for a few races just because I thought this technology was the best. It made about 1 more hp on the dyno than paper. So we ran it. We also toasted two motors at Daytona and one at Homestead running the Grand-Am Koni Challenge Series. When we pulled these motors apart we found (drum roll) sand blasted rotor housings where the air would enter the intake ports. Switched over to paper, ran both these tracks again and the witness marks were gone. Problem fixed. David also confirmed that he had saw this before also.
That is the basis of why I beleive paper is a better filtration media. We run the Mazda/AEM cannister style filter that comes with the long AEM/Mazda intake. We also found this intake to make the most torque.
Cheers,
Eric
05-27-2014 | 01:03 PM
#11
Thank you so much for that link, blckninja. Really provided some great information! I just might go ahead and get the K&N OEM replacement then. Love the part about the factory over oiling the filters, good read. Appreciate it! I do worry about some of the poor filtration stories there. O.o
I was confused 
05-28-2014 | 07:20 AM
#13
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From: Cape Carteret, NC
I don't know yet. I'm still doing research. Leaning to standard paper oem filter though. I promise to let you guys know if I find any interesting information on either but so far apparently AC Delco paper filters are amazing but stay tuned.
Last edited by maniakrx8; 05-28-2014 at 07:37 AM.
05-28-2014 | 08:10 AM
#14
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So I realized I was going about it the wrong way and broadened my search too all vehicles and really it comes down to stock paper filters are the best way to go. A clean AC Delco filter easily rivals the air flow of the K&N but traps a lot more particles keeping the engine much cleaner. The K&N Appears to be great for off-road/mudding because it won't collapse which makes it more effective for a situation like those but for road cars like ours they're just going to hurt more than help.
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