CAI = better or worst MPG

[97Lude]

So i had my honda checked out today due to the gas smell i mentioned before, and i also gave them a list of what some cb7tuner member wrote of what to check for bad gas mileage. They said everything was fine, but i'm due for a tune up. They also said i'm getting bad gas mileage due to my cold air intake. I've always heard CAI's can improve gas mileage but I never heard it can cause it to get worse.
Guess its back to the OEM intake for now

[Ghostyman]

Did they give you a reason to back up that assertion? The only reason I know of for getting worse mileage with a CAI would be that you're more likely to stomp it to hear the sound, especially when new.

Who checked your car? Was it a gas station or a dealership?

[97Lude]

Honda dealer. I talked to the receptionist on the phone, so i guess thats what they told her to say.

[jumpman83]

IMHO 95% of mods have the potential of going either way depending how you drive. Stomp it they'll make your milage worse than stomped with stock. Featherweight it, they'll make your milage better than featherweighted with stock.

[Ghostyman]

Here are the facts (as I understand them):

CAI = more air = gas/air mixture burns better = better MPG

The stock intake system is what Honda decided was a good trade-off between performance and quietness. An aftermarket intake just trades more quietness for performance.

As I noted above, the offset is that people tend to drive more agressively with them because it's more fun. If you drive the same way you did without a CAI, you'll get better gas mileage than with a stock intake.

Not to mention that a CAI is lighter than the stock intake airbox and resonator.