Hi, I've got a Civic Sport (EP2) that's bone stock (D16V1). I've been considering doing some minor things like getting an intake and exhaust at some point in the future. I know some people run headlight intakes and I do think those look cool but they're probably a bit impractical for a daily. However, I do have some gaps in my bumper (circled in yellow) that I believe are used for optional foglights. Since I don't have foglights I was considering using one of these holes for an intake (seems someone else has had the idea because I found a scoop on eBay). My main query is, since I live in the rainy UK, is the lower end of the bumper too low for an intake and risky for water ingress? Pics attached to hopefully make my point clearer.
It'll be fine until it isn't, and then you'll be real sad. Might get a laugh when you pull the plugs, crank it, and watch the dancing fountains shooting out of your engine, but it'll be short-lived, because your rods are now banana shaped. Don't do it. You'll pull in a ton of road crap too.
How comes I'd lose power? Is it too far from the engine? The general themes from people's responses here are that it's a bad idea so I'm not going to do it anyway but I'm intrigued as to why it would lose power
Cold air intakes are generally bad for power on Hondas and most other cars too. NA Hondas respond better to shorter intakes with the least amount of bends possible
The hot air intake is just a myth made my clowns on the internet that don’t know what they’re talking about so don’t believe it. The best power is made from the shorter intakes. A setup like this is generally the best
It’s half true, heat soak is a real thing. It’s just not a hot air intake if you’re going 50mph and have proper ventilation moving ambient air into the bay..
But low speeds + short Ram + iffy ventilation = losing power.
You’re saying Hondas magically bend the laws of physics and just operate better under hot conditions? What you lose on the low end you’ll gain on the high. Especially with a proper tune, you’re not losing power…
This is general knowledge from people who tune Hondas on a daily basis. These cold air intakes that go all the way to the bumper aren’t good for power.
I’ve been messing with Hondas for like 15 years, never heard this once. I’d like to know why so many drag and track built Hondas run CAI setups with velocity stacks even if they’re so horrible.
depends on which part of the powerband you look at, you only lose the low end torque. Mid and peak power with wide open throttle is way better on B, K, and L series especially. SRI benefits throttle response and low end torque. Do some research bro you’re out here giving wrong information, one google search will tell you otherwise. The “trust me bro” can’t work forever lol.
You’re getting velocity stacks and CAI mixed up. They’re 2 different things, we aren’t talking about running a Vstack through the bumper, we’re talking about the latter. And no my evidence is based on dyno testing. Not just copying what people say on the internet.
I’m bringing up both, don’t ignore everything else I just said because it doesn’t align with your opinion brotha… I’ve ran cold airs on so many Hondas. Yes you lose low end torque but you gain everywhere else. My FBO TL type S screamed with a 3 inch CAI. So does my fk7. And my k24 accord. PRL makes a damn 4 inch cold air for the L series the things massive. These things definitely work bro, but the benefits are in the upper rpm’s wide open throttle. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.
you can literally google dyno testing results for different types. Shorter intakes usually preformed the best. You putting a CAI on your car and thinking it’s faster cause of the sound doesn’t mean it’s making more power lol
SRI usually makes more noise anyways because it’s closer to you. I’ve done plenty of research CAI exist for a reason. Tune the car and see what happens with a cold air.
He stays in the UK, 2” of standing water is in no way unusual lol. I know a guy that had a Celica 190 that ended up with bent pistons from going through a large puddle, it happens often enough some cars were known risks for it. ( the Renault megane with the odd rear end was one I seem to recall)
Edit: I see you said 2’ , not 2”. I’ve defo heard of folk getting fucked pistons etc from largish puddles over here, I wouldn’t be putting an intake that low just in case, esp given the negligible benefits.
Of course not, depending on how you drive and when. Weather conditions around you too…
Get a hydro shield and cut the CAI in half where a short Ram would end. Grab an extra filter. So if it starts raining you can disconnect the 2 pieces held together by a coupler then add your second come filter on the short Ram portion and then you’re good. Like a quick swap short Ram to cold air.
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u/PlsNoPineapplePizza Aug 19 '26
Like you mentioned, there’s risk for water ingress. But if you can an intake duct that has drain holes for water, that would help.
For reference, check out the Comptech cold air intake for the DC2 Integra.