| Engine [2.4 Quad 4 Performance Mods] |
Air Intake
An air intake is known as the filter and tubing that leads to the throttle body (or, in turbocharged applications, that leads to the turbocharger inlet).
Contents
1 Warm Air Intake
1.1 eBay
1.2 AEM
1.3 Injen
1.4 RKSport
1.5 Cosmo Racing
1.6 Vibrant
2 Cold Air Intake
2.1 Induction Dynamics
2.2 Custom
3 Bypass Valve
Warm Air Intake
This type of intake draws warm air from inside the engine bay, where the filter is located.
How-To: Install a WAI
eBay
The cheapest amount you can pay for an intake setup. All you really need to worry about is the intake piping and the silicone PVC hose. The filter is likely to be made of low-quality materials and you will need to buy a high quality K&N, Tenzo Racing Sports, or similar conical filter with whatever inlet size your piping is. The only true WAI is one whose piping reaches the throttle body. Many on eBay are sold as only a short S-pipe, which connects to the stock airbox/resonator area, not to the throttle body. For the most unrestrictive setup, ensure your warm air intake looks like the one pictured. All of these intakes are usually listed on eBay as for a Cavalier 2.4L, which is fully interchangeable with the Alero, as are most performance parts.
AEM
If you're into spending a lot of money in order to have the AEM sticker on your piping, or if you just want to make sure your piping is high quality, anodized in one of 3 colors, and comes with a high quality filter straight from the start, then the AEM is the way to go. Sold at many retailers as an AEM Cavalier intake, such as CarCustoms.
Injen
With the same backstory as the AEM intake, Injen also manufactures a warm air intake for the 2.4L Cavalier that is interchangeable with the Alero. Sold online in many locations, such as Car-Stuff or TurboTechRacing.
RKSport
Exclusive to RK Sport, we have this beautiful aluminum intake custom manufactured for the popular 2.4L, Ecotec Cavaliers and Sunfires. Intake installs in just minutes using all the OEM mounting points and hardware. Complete with our million-mile washable air filter, you're sure to enjoy this performance enhancing accessory. Available at RKSport or TurboTechRacing.
Cosmo Racing
Cosmo Racing's Air Intake System increases your car's performance by providing cooler, denser air to the engine. Give your car a boost! Designed for street and track use, the aerodynamic piping and non-restrictive air filter allow maximum air flow into the engine without compromising air filtration. Available at Cosmo Racing.
Vibrant
A lightweight, CNC mandrel bent intake tube manufactured from T6061 aircraft grade aluminum. We also include a high quality funnel ram style performance air filter.
Cold Air Intake
This type of intake draws its air from the cooler exterior of the engine bay, normally located in the fenderwell. Cooler air is always better. It is denser, contains more oxygen, and allows you to make more power.
How-To: Make/Install a CAI
Induction Dynamics
Induction Dynamics intakes are constructed from only highest quality mandrel bent piping that retains its true inner diameter throughout the bends. This is important since crimps and pinches that occur in the regular pipe bends hamper the airflow. They are also ceramically coated INSIDE as well as OUTSIDE using a proprietary process called Cermakrome. The primary purpose of this coating is to completely eliminate the heat pickup of the cold air as it is passing through the pipe towards the engine. What good is a cold air intake, if the air is heated up on its way through the engine bay? Additionally, the inside coating provides yet another barrier for the heat, but more importantly, provides a smooth surface for the air to flow over. This coating is thick and it’s permanent, it will not oxidize or discolor.
Induction Dynamics uses only the conical filters made by K&N Engineering. We use these filters because they are simply the best. Available at Induction Dynamics.
Custom
To take the lower priced route, one can take two warm air intake systems from eBay and splice them together by cutting one in half in order to make the extra 90 degree bend to relocate the filter to the fenderwell, and then adding another coupler or two to get the filter around the windshield washer fluid tank. Check the How-To above as to how this works.
Bypass Valve
If you're afraid that, with your cold air intake setup, you will inadvertently suck up water and hydrolock your engine, you can purchase the AEM Bypass Valve for peace of mind. What happens is when water begins to suck up the intake piping, the bypass valve opens from sensing the added vacuum, and allows the intake air to be supplied from the engine bay until the cold air intake's filter area is out of water.
Realize that in order to suck up water into your engine, the end of the intake piping must be completely submerged in a pool of water and remain there long enough for it to suck up a massive amount through the piping into the engine. So if you regularly drive through 1.5 feet of water, this is for you.
