I'm basically just browsing and looking at intakes to get after i turbo my Mazda 3 within the next 2 weeks, and I stumbled upon some Ebay intake made by L3 racing, the thing is only $40 so it's looking hella sketchy, but the seller itself has a lot of good reviews. Just wanna know if the thing actually works or not. It's hard to search the forums for it because L3 is too short for a keyword.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/251039982346

 

The letters CAI mean Cold Air Intake..... but most every aftermarket system is not really a CAI . The one mention to review are like many that look really KOOL and will more then likely produce a great "whooosh" sound of air going into the intake system but seldom will you gain power on anything but the upper limits (red Line) of the engine speed. To actually make it work a little better your would need to thermal wrap it to prevent engine radiated heat from pre heating the air charge. Another point is that unless you are at WOT .(Wide Open Throttle)for at least a minute to to replace the warmed air in the CAI with cooler air then you really have nothing more then what a stock air system already does. The throttle plate in the throttle body controls the volume of air so unless you have a CAI that has a fan to dump heated air the throttle plate become the thermostat so to say for the air charge. The next over looked component of a true functioning CAI is the raw air source. Most CAI need unobstructed ram air which you can not get at low vehicle speeds. So unless you have a hood scoop or a air intake duck well placed in the direct air stream even at low vehicle speeds then you will need another fan to pull in raw cool air into the CAI system.


So my best thoughts is find a CAI that you like, install it enjoy the looks and the sounds it makes and call it a DIY mod well done!

 

I found one on 1A auto for like 59 bucks looks legit.Has the MAF spot.Ducts to the bumper

 

Why bother; your Mazda3 came from the factory with an intake which consumes the coldest air possible for the current engine conditions.

 

Yea but it's to quiet too. I bet if I route it right. I had a celica I routed along the bumper and up the other side of the bumper and was able to drop it considerably. Like a knock off intercooler. I'm sure I can get cooler air than factory

 

Quite, yes. Colder than factory intake air? Highly unlikely.

 

Good thing it's my car not yours lol. If I wanna ruin it that's my choice. Now your gonna make me bust out the modis ultra and record sensor data

 

LOL, your prerogative; but I'm thinking you might need a refresher course on thermodynamics if you think an intercooler will somehow lower intake air temperature.

 

In the end I'm in it for the sound I'm not looking to boost my car by 1 or 2 hp at most. I've watch a million videos showing that most Cai don't do crap anyways. I'm just saying I did have a setup on another rig that most definitely lowered the incoming air temp by routing it across the front of the bumper.

 

um... I did it for my Mazda 3 with great results and have done it on a few platforms over they years as well. I will admit that I have done this for a living for several decades Engineer and design Performance Parts and may even have learned some thing along the way mostly what not to do I do like use of the word thermodynamics's because it is a small consideration of sorts when designing a true CAI but when you come close to designing something that works really well it is necessary to perform ECU calibration adjustment for optimal benefits.And more about controlling the IAT which is directly effected CFM controlled the throttle body percentage from idle to WOT position

Drawing from the front bumper is a good one source of raw air but not always the best because you could be pulling in hot air on those summer days increasing your IATs. And then there is dumping the heated air in the intake system before you can make use of which you would like cold air. This requires more then a single intake source and also a system to dump hot air for a cooler air charge when needed. Ain't so simple as a cone air cleaner and getting rid of a stock air box on most any platform.


I am of the STRONGEST OPINION that we all should play with our cars the way we want to and to try anything we think we like regardless of forums and members comments. If you are trying to build a race car then that would be a different matter and likely your would be on a different forum for advise and recommendations?