Upgrade Your Honda Civic's Engine with a High Performance Cold Air Intake

Upgrading Your Civic with a High Performance Intake

The Honda Civic is one of the most popular and customizable cars for tuning enthusiasts. With a proper cold air intake upgrade, you can unlock more horsepower and torque from your Civic's engine. In this article, we'll look at why an intake upgrade is worthwhile, what to consider when choosing an intake, and how to install a cold air intake on your Civic.

The Benefits of Adding a Cold Air Intake

Swapping out the factory intake on your Civic for an aftermarket cold air intake offers some key advantages:

• Increased engine power - By allowing more cold, dense air into the engine, you can expect horsepower and torque gains of 5-15% or more.
• Improved throttle response - An intake allows more immediate airflow when you hit the gas pedal.
• Enhanced engine sound - Most intakes create a deeper, throatier sound from under the hood.
• High performance looks - A new Civic intake gives your engine bay a customized, racing-inspired look.

The exact power gains you'll see depend on your engine, the specific intake used, and supporting mods like a tuned ECU. But for mild to heavily modified Civics, an intake is one of the easiest ways to get more power from your engine.

How a Cold Air Intake Works

Factory intakes are designed for quiet, economical performance. But to make more power, your engine needs colder, denser intake air. Aftermarket intakes work by:

• Drawing in air from outside the engine bay, away from heat sources
• Using smoother tubes and airboxes that allow air to flow more freely
• Utilizing hydrophilic cotton filter media that provides high airflow

This cold, free-flowing air allows your engine to more easily produce its peak designed power. For forced induction Civics, an intake also optimizes the temperature and speed of air reaching your turbo or supercharger.

Choosing the Best Intake for Your Civic

The intake that will give you the best performance depends on your specific Civic's engine, mods, and needs. Here are some factors to consider:

• Engine type - Choose an intake made for your exact engine, whether that's a D, B, H, or K-series motor.
• Forced induction - If turbocharged or supercharged, look for an intake optimized to feed your specific charger.
• Filter type - Choose between open and closed box intakes depending on your performance goals.
• Tuning - Intakes require an ECU tune to reach full potential. Factor in the cost of dyno tuning.
• Single vs dual intake - Some intakes feed both sides of the VTEC engine for maximum flow.
• Brand - Stick with reputable brands known for R&D, fitment, and performance.

Talk to experts and other Civic owners to dial in the best intake for your build. Avoid ultra-cheap eBay specials and ensure your intake fits properly.

Installing a Cold Air Intake on Your Honda Civic

While it's easiest to have a shop install your intake, you can DIY it with some mechanical ability and tools. Here are the key steps:

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal to avoid electrical shorts.
2. Remove the factory airbox and intake tube running to the throttle body.
3. Transfer any factory sensors like the MAF to your new intake tube.
4. Mount your new air filter and secure the intake tube with clamps.
5. Route the intake tube for a clean fit away from heat sources.
6. Reconnect all sensors, breather hoses, and the battery.
7. Start the car and check for leaks before enjoying the added power!

With the right intake installed, don't forget to also tune your Civic's ECU to optimize fueling and timing. A full tune is required to get the most from your upgraded breathing.

Maintaining Your Civic Cold Air Intake

While cold air intakes require little maintenance, here are some tips for keeping yours running smoothly:

• Check filter cleanliness - Clean or replace the filter periodically to avoid power loss.
• Inspect for leaks - Ensure all clamps and couplers are tight.
• Wash debris - Use pressurized air or water to remove debris around filter.
• Check engine health - Fix any underlying issues like vacuum leaks to avoid intake damage.

With a quality intake properly installed, you can enjoy years of increased performance and clean, cool air flowing into your Civic's engine.

Conclusion

Installing a high flowing cold air intake is one of the best bang-for-buck upgrades Civic owners can make. With the right intake matched to your engine and build, you can safely extract more horsepower, torque, and response from your Honda. And with some mechanical know-how, you can tackle the install yourself and be enjoying a louder, faster Civic in no time.

FAQs

How much horsepower can I expect from adding a cold air intake?

Most cold air intakes will provide gains of 5-15% extra horsepower when properly tuned. For a stock Civic making 200 HP, that can mean 10-30 additional HP. Gains depend on your specific engine setup and supporting mods.

Will I need a tune after installing an intake?

Yes, an ECU tune is required to optimize fueling and ignition timing with an upgraded intake. The tune helps your engine take full advantage of the new airflow. Skip the tune and your intake won't reach its full potential.

What are some top intake brands for Civics?

Some of the best Civic intakes come from AEM, Injen, Skunk2, K&N, and PRL Motorsports. Stick with a major brand designed specifically for your Civic's engine.

Should I get an open or enclosed airbox intake?

Open intakes like cone filters provide the most airflow but may require more frequent cleaning. Enclosed intakes offer nearly as much flow but with built-in filtering. Choose based on your performance goals.

How difficult is it to install a Civic intake at home?

With some mechanical ability, proper tools, and patience, most DIYers can install an intake in a few hours. It's a relatively straightforward bolt-on upgrade if you follow install directions.