Buying Guide - Short Ram or CAI (Cold Air Intake)?

There are essentially two different variants of air filter kits for most car models. One is Short Ram and the other is CAI (Cold Air Intake). We are often asked which variant is best and what advantages and disadvantages they both have. Here we will try to explain as best we can so that you can more easily choose the kit that suits you best!

Cold Air Intake

A CAI, or Cold Air Intake, is exactly as it sounds an air filter kit designed to introduce the coldest possible air to the engine. It is often drawn in such a way that the filter is as far from the heat of the engine as possible. The most common location is behind the bumper, in front of one of the front wheels or in front of the radiator. Of course, this can vary depending on how the car is constructed. These kits usually have more pipes and parts, which makes them more expensive and more difficult to install. They also require more testing by the manufacturer to get a good setup that also doesn't turn on the engine light.

A clear disadvantage of a CAI is that if it sits very far down, it can suck in water if you drive in heavy rain or large puddles. This in turn can cause major damage to the engine. Most of the time, a CAI can be rebuilt easily by removing pipe parts, it is recommended in cases where there is a risk of the engine sucking in water!

Image: BRZ / FR-S Cold Air Intake with Filter Black 3" PERRIN

Short Ram

A Short Ram kit is the most popular air filter kit. Their function is simply to replace the OEM air filter box with pipes and filters that have better airflow. When developing new cars, the manufacturer must take the intake noise into account and therefore uses intake mufflers and other tricks to reduce this. This means that you limit the air flow and this is remedied with an air filter kit.

These kits are much easier to mount but have the disadvantage that the hot air around the engine is much easier to be sucked into the engine. It lowers the oxygen density of the air supplied to the engine and thus does not produce as much power as with a corresponding CAI. However, this can be changed with a heat shield, which most kits being developed today include. If you are faced with the choice of choosing with or without a heat shield, there is nothing to hesitate about. It must be included!

Image: E82 / E88 3.0L Twinturbo 135I N54 08-10 Short Ram Air Filter Kit INJEN

Which one should I choose?

It depends on which kit suits you best! Whichever you choose, always keep in mind that there is a reason why the quality kits are a little more expensive. There are many hours of testing to get it to flow optimally. The cheapest kits ignore all that and in many cases can give less power than OEM, which is really sad! That's why we always recommend looking at the quality kits right away so you won't be disappointed!

A CAI usually gives more power but costs more. A Short Ram doesn't give as much power but doesn't cost as much either. Many also like the latter for the distinctive intake sound, which is heard even more when the filter is in the engine compartment! It also gives a feeling of power, which is at least as important!