I recently got an AP, i have a 06 wrx and i'm reading the manual and it says you "MUST USE STOCK INTAKE OR COBB'S SF INTAKE" i use a CAI and was wondering if i need to take this off or is this a way for cobb to try to scare people into buying their intake. i really don't know that much about it so any help would be good.

You shouldn't use a CAI unless you have been tuned for it. It can affect how the ECU sees the amount of air coming in an can mess with the AFR.

thanks, thats sort of what i thought, i'll just go back to stock intake for now and maybe get cobb's intake and sell mine. there is a guy coming down from atlanta who tunes so i might put it back on when he gets down to florida where i am.

You shouldn't use a CAI unless you have been tuned for it. It can affect how the ECU sees the amount of air coming in an can mess with the AFR.


12345...... just take it off. youll notice no difference unless its for the better (drivability). hell you could possibley put it back on with a protune.

thanks again. i have no problem putting the stocker back on, i kept everything i've removed just in case something like this came up and i needed it. like i said i'll just wait for a protune and see what the guy says if he thinks i should put it back on.

In english, the meaning of "MUST USE STOCK INTAKE OR COBB'S SF INTAKE" is VERY clear to me.

I guess there are a GREAT MANY non-english as a first language speakers, here.....

so whats so special about COBB SF Intake? Why is it that only their intake can be used and not other intake?

- Charles

so whats so special about COBB SF Intake? Why is it that only their intake can be used and not other intake?

- Charles
Because they make it & offer the maps they know the MAF levels. I think the Perrin Short Ram is another intake that has the same diameter as the stocker.

Because they make it & offer the maps they know the MAF levels. I think the Perrin Short Ram is another intake that has the same diameter as the stocker.

After market intakes tend to not flow consistently, and they tend to flow with turbulent air. This turbulent air is often not read properly by the air sensor in the intake. When the air cannot be calibrated, there is usually a loss in power. The stock intake is not a restriction on the Stage 1 and Stage 2 street tunes, and it will flow the more consistent over any aftermarket intake.

If what WRC51 say is true, then I assume COBB intake is superior as it will provide consistent flow and non turbulent air which will be read properly by the sensor. Humm.. How is that so?

Is this a marketing gimmick my COBB or am I wrong? Any pointers?

- Charles

The Cobb SF Intake has a radiused edge and air-flow straighteners. It also does not change diameter or have any bends that will negatively affect airflow. Other intakes without these features can cause air to move at different speeds, angles, and even loop back past and across the MAF sensor leading to false and inaccurate readings. Some intakes can be tuned for because they are consistent(actual airflow X = sensor measured airflow Y), but others can be problematic because they lead the sensor to read one airflow level when different levels might be occurring(actual airlow X = sensor measured airflow Y = sensor measured airflow Z)

Cobb, marketing?!?!? :);):)

COBB marketing still recommended to me to use the stock intake, I even asked about their SS intake and they were honest enough to tell me take off my AEM and use stock for stage 2.
They could have told me to remove my AEM and buy their SS intake.
I got my Protune with the stock intake.
Mike at Innovative Tuning in Seneca Falls did a great tune. Great noticeable gains.

It depends on your power levels

(Marketing at it's finest :))