WHY OEM INTAKES and FILTERS ARE BETTER

Originally Posted by GTLAW

After Installing aftermarket intake systems on all my cars I have owned from 2008 350z HR, to 370z, and now my 2011 G37. From Injen to Stillen to K&N!

Nothing is going to give you that cleaning power of OEM filters with no lost of lowend!

I have been thinking hard about the OEM intake system and the design is perfect! it sucks cold air being rammed into it from when the car is moving and it never gets heat socked at 100F. The OEM filters are very well made and hold up to all dirt! I think most people who have switch over from OEM to aftermarket and they feel all this power and better throttle is because the filters are new! if you would to replace your OEM filters with new ones you feel the same way! Also because you are now having to press harder on the Gas to get the car going you think it feels better and pulls had!

Question?? why do you want your car to pull hard? that would mean you are having to floor the car more and eat more gas just to make more HP with a open filter then OEM?? right..

Because that's why you buy a sports car, for the acceleration...

So I'm like why do I want my car to pull hard!! I don't! I want to use my foot and eas on the gas not harder to eat more gas to feel more power to think I am getting more power!

I know this has been said but OEM is the best! and also keeps your throttle body from getting dirty with oil and dirt from the aftermarket filters!

If you don't over-oil your filters, this won't be a problem, so it's operator error. Not a fault of the filters/oil.

So if any HP is to be had with our cars it not from intakes it's from doing a highflow CBE! I bet my OEM intakes with new filters with CBE would make almost 300WHP with a tune!

For all the people who feel more power with Stillen G3 you are just leaning out your A/F and making your Eng run rich when you are above 6K RPM.

Hence a tune to level it back out again.

The HP numbers like 15/20 HP is when you are on a dyno you are running the car at almost Max eng speeds! and because the filter is open yes it will suck more air and your Eng will burn more air and gas!

If you could dyno the stock intake system with new filters going down the road at 40Mph because it's ram air design you would see more HP then the car is just running on a dyno!

So what about the fact that when running a dyno, they have fans blowing air at speed, comparable to being on the street? Forced air just like on the street.

So yes I'm going back to Stock! and never again will I invest money into a aftermarket intake! My money would go for high end CBE and tune!

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

Because that's why you buy a sports car, for the acceleration...

Originally Posted by Drex

dude, you just insulted brz/frs drivers everywhere

Originally Posted by Adam426

Most of the gains people "feel" are an illusion. Plus they are financially vested in seeing a result. In reality, the OEM manufacturer has put as much or more time researching the issue of airflow and its relation to HP/torque as the aftermarket producer, while balanced against the need for long-term engine protection, that OEM determination cannot be surpassed.

People aren't satisfied with enjoying and appreciating what they have. Instead, they constantly try to improve (in reality just make something different-ususally worse) and turn their cars into Frankensteins from Pep Boys. The market bears this out. No one ever wants to buy your worked on car. Actually, you get less for it. Why? Because it is no better, and is usually worse, than OEM.

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

Apparently you've never been to a real auto auction then...

Barrett-Jackson is a waste of time because they never make money back on their cars...


That's why most people save their stock parts and revert the car back to stock after they decide to sell it. You're assuming the average car buyer is an idiot. While there are plenty to go around, the median driver is not so stupid to assume anyone will have the exact same taste as theirs. Plus you are overlooking the fact that a car is a depreciatory asset the day you drive it off the lot. Modded or not, no one ever expects to get dollar for dollar for their car when they sell it unless its just that good of a deal.

Originally Posted by Adam426

Then again, if value is what you are after- then get a Honda Fit Sport 5MT

Originally Posted by Adam426

True. It is a depreciating asset and time, not mods, are the main driver of the depreciation. And I will say that there are effective mods. For sure. Mods that increase performance (whatever that is- acceleration, handling, whatever) are readily available. But I question their value. Then again, if value is what you are after- then get a Honda CR-Z. I guess I was really debating the merits of stock versus modified cars for myself. To each his/her own. There are some cool mods out there.

What I am sure of-is that OEM wise- we are experiencing a golden age of automobiles. Look at the performance we get stock for the money. A stock $35k Z that will blow the doors off of 95% of cars made 10 years ago at any price.

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

So if I buy a car, it depreciates. Correct?

I mod it, it depreciates faster. Correct?

If I return it back to stock, prior to selling, does it magically regain that extra depreciation back? Because that's what you're alluding to...

Originally Posted by kenchan

it's weird how dealers and carmax offer me more if i put the car back to stock vs selling as-is with mods.

carmax even offered to give me the full stock-car price if i brought in the factory bits. so i did the next day and they kept their word.

same depreciated-faster car but just with stock bits.

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

So if I buy a car, it depreciates. Correct?

I mod it, it depreciates faster. Correct?

If I return it back to stock, prior to selling, does it magically regain that extra depreciation back? Because that's what you're alluding to...


If you want value on your return, you obviously get something more economical and mass produced. However most people that buy a Z fit into two categories. They want a Z and it is the epitome of fun for them, or they buy a Z because they can afford to buy it, enjoy it, and sell it to get their next fun car at their leisure. Modded or unmodded has nothing to do with either.

Of course it's going to smoke lots of 10 yr older cars... That's the nature of advancement. But whos to say the "new" developments 10 years ago in their prime didn't mean the golden age of automobiles, some would say the muscle car era was the peak due to the fact no one cared about emissions or restrictions. It was build a good looking car, put the biggest motor you could find in it, and melt tires.

Originally Posted by Adam426

Most of the gains people "feel" are an illusion. Plus they are financially vested in seeing a result. In reality, the OEM manufacturer has put as much or more time researching the issue of airflow and its relation to HP/torque as the aftermarket producer, while balanced against the need for long-term engine protection, that OEM determination cannot be surpassed.

People aren't satisfied with enjoying and appreciating what they have. Instead, they constantly try to improve (in reality just make something different-ususally worse) and turn their cars into Frankensteins from Pep Boys. The market bears this out. No one ever wants to buy your worked on car. Actually, you get less for it. Why? Because it is no better, and is usually worse, than OEM.

You see these clowns with their worked on cars driving around. Their owners think they are so unique and special. Nope. Just a tool who bought a bunch of snake oil.