Advice and Education Needed Please

[XanderWiFi]

I have just recently started exploring the option of modifying my Alero but I am completely lost in the sauce. I have searched the forums for the information I need but it only comes in bits and pieces, and most of those I do not understand. So I apologize ahead of time for posting a redundant thread.

I have the V6 3400 engine in a 2004 sedan. I am looking to modify the air intake as I hear this can provide a boost in HP as well as MPG. But from what I have seen, there is CAI and WAI (which I do not even know the difference), custom made, etc. So this being a more specific circumstance, what would you all suggest, where I could find one at a decent price and could any differences be explained please?

I am also looking at modifying the muffler if there is the possibility of an HP boost. I would not mind a low rumble muffler but nothing obnoxiously loud. Any suggestions and locations for such items? And how do they provide the changes they make in HP and sound?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Again, I apologize for this common question but what I have seen so far has not been detailed enough or specific to my plight. :coolio:

[AbHeLlRaZoR]

I don't have the 3400 but doctorspeed.com should have an air intake that suits your needs and any exhaust shop should be able to help you find the right exhaust system to suit your needs, be sure to at least get a cat back though modifying just the muffler itself is considered a huge no-no.

[XanderWiFi]

Why would modifying just the muffler be a no-go? How exactly does the exhaust system work to make desired changes?

[XanderWiFi]

I also checked out the doctorspeed.com website. How is that a cold air intake when it doesn't have the tube extending to the fender? It looks like it just pulls air from the engine block area under the hood? They also say the Olds Alero lasted until 2005 which is incorrect and actually spell Oldsmobile "Aldsmobile" seems a bit sketchy...

[AbHeLlRaZoR]

typical typo lol, get the stage 3 below the the "cold air box" I'm almost certain that you'll find people on here that have purchased intakes from them, as for the muffler you want something that frees up the flow of exhaust gases that's why I say a cat back system because then you'll have larger than factory piping. and just a muffler doesn't do much but make the car noisy and gets you labeled a ricer

[XanderWiFi]

Definitely don't want the rice burner label. I am not trying to create a race car, I have neither the money or skill for that. I just would like a little appearance and performance boost. Is a "cat back" system something I could actually google and find to buy? What would be a brand name or part name to look out for with that?

[hahano404]

wai (warm air intake) is probably more suited for you. a cai (cold air intake) is better but there is a risk of sucking in water during the rain.

reason for the intake modification is 1. less restrictive better air flow and throttle response. 2. cold air is more denser than warm air. more air that can be brought into the engine means more fuel can be delivered which in turns creates more power.

on tha muffler any straight threw exhaust will be loud and most likely ricey (not always) a muffler like a flowmaster is better than stock because its less restrictive than oem (original equipment)

an engine is like a large air pump. the more air that u can move through it the more effiecient it will be. so in reality a straight through ricey muffler theoreticaly should be better.

where to buy? for things like intakes and exhaust ebay is fine. there is'nt much some one can mess up on a muffler or intake. milzymotorsports.com has a good selection of things if you want to go further. the rest will be custom

[hahano404]

for a cat back look up pace setter exhaust.

[XanderWiFi]

So I imagine living in a snow belt is another reason I should probably stick with a WAI? The CAI based on the theory of more air=more power, sounds like it gives more HP then. I have heard people can switch them out relatively fast. At the doctorspeed website, are those both WAI and CAI? Do you have another site that you would suggest to look at?

[mfuller]

www.mpracing.org (http://www.mpracing.org) is a great site. I know the owner personally and will vouch for his credibility.

[billytheman1188]

wai (warm air intake) is probably more suited for you. a cai (cold air intake) is better but there is a risk of sucking in water during the rain.

Everyone always says that.....but unless your driving through a 2 foot puddle, or driving in TORRENTIAL rain then your going to be fine. I have a CAI and i've driven many times in the rain without a problem. When winter comes around i change my CAI to a WAI so the salt doesnt kick up and get in my filter. Get a CAI.....much better.

As for an exhaust.......

http://www.car-stuff.com/store/?N=11412+4294965145+1686+11920+9292

Thats where i bought mine from....it sounds AMAZING....nice deep sound and its not raspy at all. I bought it for like $250 back a few years ago......you can check other sites to see if they are cheaper.

[XanderWiFi]

How simple is it to put this stuff in. I'm no mechanic, but I'm not mechanically illiterate either. The air filter seems like it would just be a lot of arranging and nuts and bolts. The exhaust though...seems like quite a task and I don't have a garage full time or one designed to mod cars.

Either way, I am looking at having to get both a CAI and a WAI aren't I? For the seasonal changes?

[hahano404]

wai fairly simple. just remove stock box and replace with pipe and filter. cai youll have to pull bumpr cover or pull back on wheel liner.

cai is your choice. i see engine damage from cai suckin water all the time. if you want to run risk so be it. if you did get cai and want to go wai just remove lower portion.

2009 legacy gt with missing rod, hole in oil pan, and a piston in four pieces.
cause? water pulled from the intake.

my solution? run a warm air. and have custom tubing ( stove pipe , dryer pipe) route out side air up from the bottom to the engine bay. less effective standing still but how much power and fuel economy do you expect sitting still?

[XanderWiFi]

There's no doubt about it, the area I drive in can get WET! Not to mention tons of slush and other crap. For those who are familiar with Ohio, I live in the snowbelt of Ashtabula county. What is the down fall of a WAI compared to a CAI? Less HP due to less dense air?

Any chance there could be pics where to route the CAI if I go that route?

Thanks for all the responses so far, they've been really helpful.

[cherrington17]

i'm not sure if someone said it.. but don't get the doctorspeed version.. save yourself the money and just get it from ebay. its the same thing, and 100% cheaper.

[AJules]

Cold air intake + bypass valve = solution to the rain/snow problem

don't go to doctorspeed, I've heard too many stories about people ordering things and not getting them from them.

For exhaust, you can get pacesetter like billy said for pretty cheap, or you can get the borla exhaust which is probably more than twice the price, but will last a lot longer and be quite a bit quieter.

The diameter of the borla exhaust is 2.25 inch and the pacesetter is 2.5. Because you aren't going to be doing other modifications to your car, 2.25 inch exhaust will be large enough.

[billytheman1188]

The exhaust isnt hard to put on. put your back wheels up on a ramp so you can get under the car easier. The ONLY hard part is getting the bolts off where the cat and exhaust go together.....the bolts rust over time, so you will have to cut them off. putting the exhaust on is easy.....just look how the stock exhaust ran and do that with the new one. it might look a little complicated when you get it and take it all out of the box.....but just use your head. its not bad at all. and if you dont want a 2.5in exhaust cause your not going to do anything else to the car.....just go to a local exhaust shop and have them make a 2.25in. DO NOT spend $800+ on a borla exhaust.... yea, its stainless steel and will last longer. but you can buy spray to put over your exhaust to slow down the rust. Mine isnt coated with anything and its still in pretty good condition (and i drive this car in the winter too, with the shit loads of salt on the road). During the winter i periodically wash under my car to clean up all that crap under there.

[XanderWiFi]

All good info. Now what about wires and plugs? Any choice picks?

[alerored04]

Anything but bosch. Either way you should do a search, all these questions have been beaten to death.

[XanderWiFi]

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=FRM%2DXP606&view=1&N=700+4294924385+4294908158+4294907386+4294840048+ 4294842813

How would these plugs work? Also, below is a set of new wires. Do these make a difference as well in comparison to regular stock?

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=TAY%2D82600&N=700+4294924385+4294908158+4294907386+4294840048+ 4294864973+115&autoview=sku

[hahano404]

nothing noticable performance wise. unless u require a larger longer spark because of heavy mods. unless u have a misfire id leave it be.

[alerored04]

Its all the same. Dont waste your money until you need new plugs and wires. You will not see any gains.

Mod oder goes: IMO
1 CAI
2 Exhaust
3 PCM

Those three will make a noticeable difference and leave you smiling.

[meadus101]

What kind of Mileage are we looking at?

The Plugs and wires will be a great difference depending on how old your existing ones are. Mainly due to the fact that of course, they wear out over time. When you replace them, it will allow you to run better.

A CAI will not suck up water unless you drive through a pond, but due to the weather here in NL, I went for a Wai. We still use salt on the roads here, And I've plowed up snow with my headlights in my Alero, So I didn't go for the Cai.

The muffler only exhuast is a No Go by Aleromod standards. but it will give you minimal Horsepower gains. However, the full cat back provides you with better performance and airflow.

[XanderWiFi]

I heard someone mention putting a bypass valve on a CAI to avoid any kind of water intake issues. How does this do this and is it recommended? What would be a good valve to get and where?

[Gr1m]

if you haven't touched your wheel well covers and you install the CAI properly on the inside of your fender then you wont need to worry about it getting wet and hydrolocking your engine or causing any damage. its when people dont mount the filters properly, or in my case, dont have inner wheel well covers anymore because i am bagged and removed them for more clearance

[XanderWiFi]

I purchased a CAI off of eBay for about $45. It is a chromeintakes brand with a K & N filter. I'll try to get some pictures as soon as I can.

[XanderWiFi]

The CAI that I got seems like it just free hangs with the filter towards the bottom. Does this sound correct? Shouldn't there be some bolts to hold it in place and such?

[cherrington17]

don't think so. its usually a tight fit. at most it has a screw flange that tights it to the tubing.

[XanderWiFi]

I finally got my CAI in...it's the middle of winter here though. I'm liking it pretty well, though the roads haven't allowed me to do much heavy driving. Did your guy's engines sound a little bit throatier and meaner after putting one in or is it my imagination? lol

[01OldsAleroGt]

for the 3400 it does sound beefier

[XanderWiFi]

Installing after market fog lights...worth it and how much trouble?

[xXManwhoreXx]

Depends on how good you want it to look. Function or Show is more of the question. And I would say it is worth it definitely, I notice a huge change in visibility when driving with them on or off.

[XanderWiFi]

Any good recommendations for product?

[CBLOHM3400]

as far as plugs and wires go
1: wires are in good shape no nicks or cuts in them and they come off the spark plug without ripping the end off they should be alright but if you second guess them replace them
2: plugs in my opinion go with acdelco platium witch are irridium plugs factory and the last time that i changed them my acdelco had nkg stamped on the hex part of the plug

[XanderWiFi]

sorry, fog light products

[XanderWiFi]

So yeah, what would be some good sets of fog lights to buy and what would the best method of removing road tar be?

[xXManwhoreXx]

goo gone for tar and stuff and

http://www.andysautosport.com/oldsmobile/1999_2004_alero/lights/fog_lights/spyder_auto/

those are the stock alero fog lights, they look the best of any other fog lights I have seen on our cars, sooo yea they aren't to expensive either.

[jayson_waltz]

do you actually want fog lights or driving lights? people often get those 2 confused and call them the same thing. just do wat i'm gonna and do functionality fisrt. i'. getting 2 sets (4 lights) one fog and one driving and putting them both on my car. light everywhere, all the rural driving where there is nobody else for miles there is no such thing as too much light

[XanderWiFi]

Would you have an example or pic of this? I haven't heard or seen what you are suggesting, but it sounds like a good idea as I do a lot of rural driving.

[Nate's Alero]

for a cat back look up pace setter exhaust.

u fail

[XanderWiFi]

what?

[xXManwhoreXx]

u fail
look for a cat back look up pace setter exhaust.


HAHA omg I lol'dirl



Just straight pipe all the way back and be a man :-)

[XanderWiFi]

When you guys put in your CAI...did you have a noticeable decrease in mpg? I keep it under 2k rpms usually, and never higher than 3k. I do a lot of city driving and it has been cold as balls in ice water, but I only have like 120 miles to like half a tank right now...

[cherrington17]

Just straight pipe all the way back and be a man :-)
you need to follow what you quoted
u fail

[99alerogirl]

When you guys put in your CAI...did you have a noticeable decrease in mpg? I keep it under 2k rpms usually, and never higher than 3k. I do a lot of city driving and it has been cold as balls in ice water, but I only have like 120 miles to like half a tank right now...

DANG. 120 on a half tank? I got 180 miles on my whole tank last time... crap.

[cherrington17]

holy bad gas mileage batman!

i average 25-27mpg

[XanderWiFi]

Well, it's cold and 80% city driving...any explanations?

[99alerogirl]

tune up? but i spent like 150 and did a big tune up.. plugs, wires, coils, system treatment... and it didn't help.

[cherrington17]

o2 sensors?

keep your rpms under 3k?

keep tire pressure good?

fuel filter?

oh, and xander, my comment was to alerogirl. not you. yours is decent considering lots of city and its cold. your looking at a little less then 20mpg.

[cliffordwoeller]

i get about 200 to the tank

[99alerogirl]

yeah i keep neglecting my "low tire pressure" light that came on the other day, just before the ABS and trac off lights. but the psi was 27 in one tire, so i figure the next time i stop at a gas station i'll fill the tire back up, since it's not too low. and i find it hard to keep my rpm's under 3k now with my exhaust, i'm still enthused by it, and the fuel filter was changed during the tune up too, but i've been waiting for a warm day to check it.

but i've been getting this gas mileage for a long time before i even got the exhaust or had slightly low tire pressure. i think i need a new fuel pump too, she doesn't like to start sometimes (warm or cold), unless you put your foot on the gas while you start it.

[cliffordwoeller]

i dunno i think i have a few things wrong with h er... cause I have the 2.4 and I feel like I should be getting at least 300 miles

[cherrington17]

i think i need a new fuel pump too, she doesn't like to start sometimes (warm or cold), unless you put your foot on the gas while you start it.

doesn't matter for Fuel Injected cars... sorry

[99alerogirl]

oh, then why does it start and go to 1000 rpm then dies? unless I catch it and rev it right before it dies?

edit: I see what you're saying, I mean put on the gas after I start it when the rpms start to fall, not as I'm starting it.

[cherrington17]

that makes more sense then.... i'll let it go... this time....

[natedawg9640]

2009 legacy gt with missing rod, hole in oil pan, and a piston in four pieces.
cause? water pulled from the intake.

how did you diagnose that? and was it a spec B? running stock turbo? or engine management?



I get 390-400 mile on a tank in the summer... drops a bit in the winter.

[99alerogirl]

that makes more sense then.... i'll let it go... this time....

yeah, my fault for wording it like a total noob.

[XanderWiFi]

halogen headlights? Worth and good places to find them? In noob wording: the really bright white ones that look damn flashy...or blue... : D

[XanderWiFi]

window tinting? Good price range?

[99alerogirl]

i got mine done (all windows and a brow) for 200. but that was my only option seeing as how it was the only place in town who would go under 30%. Ziebart quoted me at 125 for the legal tint, and no brow.

[XanderWiFi]

Ziebart quoted me at 125 for the legal tint, and no brow.

What is a brow? I can assume...but I'd rather be sure. I see the smartass comments coming already...lol

[Nate's Alero]

I see the smartass comments coming already...lol
:haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha:

[99alerogirl]

hahaha it's that strip on the top of your windshield. cost me like an extra 25 for that damn thing.

[XanderWiFi]

I got my oil changed today and they told me my transmission fluid was dirty...but I just flushed it 15-20k miles ago. Could the color just be the leftover residue? Is it even a clear indication of anything except that the transmission has been used? lol.

[XanderWiFi]

What is the fully skinny on a PCM?