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Just Installed Injen CAI: Thoughts and Pictures

17K views 52 replies 21 participants last post by  prodigy1979 
#1 ·
Well I've had the Hennessey CAI on my 2012 and transferred it over to my 2014. (I know its not really a CAI). Anyway - after seeing high IAT temps with the Hennessey consistently 30+ degrees over ambient, I've been searching for another CAI without having to do any modifications like with the BWoody. I landed on ordering the Injen CAI - it's the only one I found that actually has a heat shield. It was shipped in really nice box, packaged well, very good instructions. I am "really" impressed with the design, setup and installation with this CAI. You can tell some engineering went into it versus the Hennessy which is pretty much a big ass filter with metal pipe.
Now the Injen CAI instructions and fitting alignment is for the 2012 and 2013. I did find with the 2014, there were a couple of things I needed to do, so the bolts where the heat shield fit would work. Looks like on the 2014 they took up one of the holes behind the washer tank where one side of the heat shield fits to. It was just a plastic clip holding one of wires for the front headlights. Easy to clip and move out of the way.
Overall impressions - "very impressed". The immediate notice for me was improved throttle response. With the Hennessey and even stock airbox. I always felt like I couldn't quite figure out the right pressure to press the gas from a stop light. Either was pressing it too hard and it would sort of jerk you through the multiple gears or too light and it didn't feel like I was moving as fast as I wanted. For some reason, with this intake; response is instantaneous, the jeep moves forward with ease, pulls at the slightest press of the pedal and shifts very quick into lower gears even in auto mode. I haven't been able to run any comparison 0-60 in best optimal conditions. My best run is usually 4.4 seconds with decent conditions. On the way home, I stopped at my usual spot and ran 4.5 second 0-60 run and it was not optimal conditions today. About 80 degrees on long island and very high humidity. I would bet in better conditions I would definitely see about a 4.3. The IATs are much lower than the Hennessey. Temps were only 10 to 15 degrees above ambient with driving normally. Mid to low 90s with a 78 to 80 degree day. Obviously at stop lights it would climb up a little higher.
Here's some pictures of the intake, tried to capture as many angles as I could. Enjoy and let me know what you think:







 
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#2 ·
:thumbsup: Thanks for sharing, that looks pretty awesome! I was thinking of going this route myself and this pretty much solidified my decision. A couple questions:

- Injen vs stock airbox, any notable MPG and intake temperature differences?
- Where did you end up picking up the Injen CAI from?
 
#3 ·
Not enough driving time to notice mpg difference but I will watch this. The stock intake temps were usually 15 to 20 degrees above ambient. I would say that this one is probably right in line with the stock IAT temps; a lot better than the Hennessey. It's probably pulling in more air than the stock at or around the same temps, given the stock intake was enclosed to protect heat and this one has the heat shield.
 
#19 ·
i have the wrinkled black injen and after a short drive, the adhesive became warm and i peeled off logo with my fingers.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Looks great and functional. Do you think removing the plastic piece above your driver side headlight will help with airflow? The piece I'm referring to is actually not present on regular WK2 as this is where their stock airboxes get outside air from.

Actually removal or just trimming out a hole to provide more airflow while retaining the structural integrity of the piece and the factory seal...

Pic below?...

Auto part Engine Vehicle Car Fuel line
 
#10 ·
Looks great and functional. Do you think removing the plastic piece above your driver side headlight will help with airflow? The piece I'm referring to is actually not present on regular WK2 as this is where their stock airboxes get outside air from.

Actually removal or just trimming out a hole to provide more airflow while retaining the structural integrity of the piece and the factory seal...

Pic below?...

View attachment 26003
I'll look at that - I know in the 2014, right in front of that area is where the headlight is, there's also a beam there which holds support for the radiator and where the right side of the heat shield bolts into...

I'm still flat out amazed on how this intake has improved the throttle response. It almost feels like the auto and transmission are in sport mode while still in just auto driving. Must be in their MR technology step down process in the metal piping (it chokes down before it gets to the air flow sensor).
 
#11 ·
I also have this intake and the difference from stock is noticed immediately. I believe the MPG is better by 1-1.5 points but hard to say. I added the Borla Atak at the same time and I find myself stepping on the gas more. Throttle response is way better and down shifts are much more noticable. I would recommend this to CAI to anyone. The best part is that it is much less expensive than the others out there. I bought mine from Fasthemis.com for $232 + shipping.
 
#13 ·
Shouldn't be a problem. There is really no water that gets in this area. While stopped, the intake temps do climb, just like the Hennessey; on a 80 or 85 degree day it can get up to 140 degrees but as soon as you start moving, it drops fast into the 90s to low 100s.

I would be interested in what the sitting idle temps are with the BWoody
 
#17 ·
Shouldn't be a problem. There is really no water that gets in this area. While stopped, the intake temps do climb, just like the Hennessey; on a 80 or 85 degree day it can get up to 140 degrees but as soon as you start moving, it drops fast into the 90s to low 100s.

I would be interested in what the sitting idle temps are with the BWoody
I have the 4" long bwoody cai. At idle on a 75 degree day mine sat at 110ish during the course of 2 hours of driving.
 
#20 ·
just installed mine. After approx 200km it is making a very high pitched whistling sound as it is sucking it air... almost sounds like a blow-off valve releasing. I wonder if this is actually inhibiting air flow.

I have checked for tightness about 100km ago and will recheck in case it's sucking air somewhere else. anyone else had this issue?
 
#21 ·
Mine does the same but haven't considered it an issue...
 
#27 ·
Sorted the whistling. It was the clamp closet to the throttle body that was loosening off... was definitely sucking air. After 500km now with the injen, my impression is that while initial throttle response is improved, it does lack some low end torque and has a bit of a flat spot around 2200 rpm. I've put the stock box back on, and it is definitely much smoother and feels like it pulls better below 3,000 rpm. The gear shifts also feel smoother. Could just be my imagination, but unlike my 2011 overland the CAI made a huge positive improvement in driveability and it's just not there with this CAI. I wonder if the flow is too turbulent.

Anyway, that's all subjective feeling stuff.. the computer says my 0-100km times are 0.2 seconds worse, 5.5s instead of 5.3s (same stretch of road, same conditions etc), but my 0-200m times are the same (9.1 seconds)
 
#28 ·
Of what I've seen and read around the place it appears the factory air box is pretty damn good. Same with some guys changing full exhausts and dropping bottom end power....Maybe the SRT designers have spend the right amount of hours with their high tech engineering gear and come up with a bloody good factory set up???
 
#29 ·
so are you saying that the injen isnt as good as the stock one

i do have the bwoody one on, and honestly i miss my washer tank and the brackets keep constantly breaking.

please advise me all on a good sub for bwoody
 
#33 ·
I have the injen and I wouldn't say awesome persay. I do like the whistle. The heat shield helps...

Going lower in the engine bay or the front grill would be a better option. I love the injen though for it's installation with no compromise...
 
#34 ·
Pictures of the black wrinkle coated style.
 

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#35 ·
Yup same one...

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#36 · (Edited)
Gettin' one. Black wrinkle.

Also, if you stick your hand inside the left side front wheel well, you'll find the black lining material gives a bit and leads directly to the air box space. I imagine that this also aids in getting cold air into the box instead of drawing it from the engine compartment. A more adventurous type might just mod it and cut a hole and cover it with some kind do screen or mesh negating the need to go full CAI like the Bwoody.

EDIT: Just bought one off Ebay at a really good price. Brand new but well below normal price for some reason. $189.88 + shipping. We here in Oz always get screwed with shipping so it worked out well. Shoulda bought two.
 
#38 ·
#39 ·
Just installed mine tonight after picking it up from FedEx. Couldn't wait for them to deliver it. Noticed improved throttle response and nice deep growl at WOT. Super easy install. Took me 15 mins. Not a big fan of the temperature sensor grommet though.

Can't comment on before and after air temps as SRT Pages weren't available for the 'before' readings. Can't wait to get it on the road for tomorrow morning's run to work. Hope there's no cops around. :D
 
#40 ·
No one puts thermal wrap on these to try and keep the thermal air temp inside the CAI down ? Especially in Australia , if I was still living in Darwin I would do this as I can only imagine the heat soak at the traffic lights in the build up . I'm just asking out of curiosity


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#41 ·
No one puts thermal wrap on these to try and keep the thermal air temp inside the CAI down ? Especially in Australia , if I was still living in Darwin I would do this as I can only imagine the heat soak at the traffic lights in the build up . I'm just asking out of curiosity

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Yes this has been done, may take a while to find the pics.
 
#43 ·
#45 · (Edited)
After running the Injen CAI for a week now I figured I'd go for a launch. Throttle response has been great, sound is great and I haven't noticed anything different with fuel economy. Air temp is about 5degrees different than ambient when moving at a decent speed. It was a Beautiful day about 20 degrees C. I was expecting the launch be only marginally stronger as I've been told not to expect much from a CAI but I was shocked a how much harder and stronger it pulls. It actually caught me off guard and maybe because I skipped lunch it gave me that tense feeling when you first hit the big fast descent on a crazy roller coaster or like when you get a hot lap in a V8 race car. It nearly brought a tear to my eye. Awesome. Unfortunately, I had to abort halfway because some dick in a Commodore decided to pull out in front of me even when sitting there watching the big 2500 kg white brick coming at him at nearly 100kph. As disappointing as it was and from my previous pre-CAI launches, I reckon I would've hit 0-100 in 4.7 secs easy. But then again I hit 4.7 before with the old box but this felt way stronger. Yeah, easy to say but the temp was right and I had less than just less than half a tank of BP Ultra. Unfortunately, I just filled the tank so I may have to repeat next week when I have less fuel in the tank and hope the temp is just right. Really looking forward to it.
 
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