from what i have heard from roaming around the boards is that the ram air is one of those things that u put on a 2.3 just to say " hey i have ram air" and the cai maybe gives u a couple of hp but it has an awsome sound to it. i do know that either one is definately better than stock because if its stock it sux ( unless its turbo).
oh yea back to ur question ram air usually involves runnin a collector of some sort underneath ur bumper to get the cold air from down there and when u get to goin fast enough it will actually ram the air in hence the name ram air. a cai is just usaually a peice of pipe or something that replaces ur stock stuff and is more free flowwing and it usally keeps the air temps down a lil bit which gives u more power. i hope this rambling nonsense helps u out lata
Pretty much as they are named...cold air is pulling air from a cool place (ie not the engine bay). Ram air is getting air from a pressurized area or area in the path of moving air (under the car, through the grill, etc.).
I dont know if you read my CAI plan. But in it I am having my PVC run underneath my front grill, which is sucking in air when mostly when the car is going. Therefore it is as you say, "getting air from an area where there is moving air". Could this almost be classified as a RAM air?
Thanks for the help Stinger and robbo. I appreciate it. Now, what are the power differentials between CAI and RAM air? Which of the two adds more power? I would imagine that by the logistics of it, it would be the RAM air setup, but maybe I'm wrong. And if any, what do these air intake setups do for your fuel economy?
I hate to bring up an older post but in my opinion Ram Air and Cold Air Intakes are the same thing. The Ram Air will not pick up any more air than the CAI. The reason for this is the atmospheric(sp) pressure. The engine only needs a certain amount of air and the rest stays in the tube. After a few seconds of driving the pressure inside the intake tube will be the same as the outside air and then the excess air will flow around the Ram Air box. It will not pressurize because air flows to an area of lower pressure. If it started to pressurize in the intake tract then air would actually flow out of the engine.
I built a CAI last weekend and my gas miliage is awesome!! I filled my tank last Friday and I drive 20 minutes back and forth to work all week and I'm still at a 1/4 tank which is good. I would of have to fill up yesterday cause it was on emty. Needless to say everyone really only ever mentions power. Well My throttle response has increased considerably , I run up to 140 KMPH with no effort on the highway anymore and I have to watch my heavy feet cause its that easy to climb (around 2800-3000 rpms I see a real difference). I also get a real cool rumbling sound from the exhaust too. But with these gas prices theses days I have to comment that you get better miliage. Anyways thats my experience. from what I understand the only time you benifit from a RAM AIR intake is highway driving when you forcing the air in, From a stand still theres no benifit.